The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-12
THEY SEE BAYONETS IN 1T.
OPPOSITION 10 THE FORCE BILL IN
THE SENATE CAUCUS.

Adopted BIZ the HEouse-Othor Senators
Oppose the Passage OF Any Election
Hill This session-They All Agreed that
No Party Measure Can be Passed with
out the Adoption OF . Gag Rule, but
Edmunds, Hoar, and Teller Opposed Any
such Radical Change in the RuIes or
the tsenate-The Question to be Decided
ty Another CHucus-The democrats.
Under tho Leadership OF Senator Cor
man. Prepared 10 Fight tho Gag R"ie
and the Force BiIi at Every Step.
WAsuINaToN. July 1.-THE all-absorbing
question In Congress now is What will the
sena,e do with tho House Federal Elections
b,ll?" Nobody knows. The Republican eau
Gus called last night for the purpose OF finding
an answer to the important question, failed to
accomplish anything. The meeting lasted for
moro than three hours. and great many
speeches we're made. Only one thing was de-
cided. This was that II any further Legislation
IA TO be enacted by the Senate at the present
session u new rule must BIO adopted. giving
tho majority the right to limit debate. NO
other conclusion was reached by the
caucus A score OF Senators delivered
highly seasoned speeches touching upon
all phases OF the peculiar situation In
which the Senate finds itself but nothing was
developed except the fact that twenty-eight
Senators out of q total Of thirty-three In the
caucus nre OF the opinion that gag rule must
be adopted or the session brought to close
without the adoption OF any OF the party meas
ures which Speaker Reed has sent over to the
Senate for its endorsement. 1t is possible that
should the Republicans succeed In adopting
gag rule and passing their Tariff bill within
reasonably short time majority OF them
might be persuaded to pass some sort OF an
election bill At present, however, the chances
are against such action.
Friends and opponents alike OF the Federal
Elections law Joined in voting for such q
change In the Senate rules as will permit Re-
publicans TO PASS those bills that majority
favor. What bills these are it is impossible
yet to say. 1t Is also very doubtful yet whether
the proposed new rule now being prepared by
the Caucus Committee. can be adopted. If 1t
can be. the question will then come upon APP
plying 1t to the Tariff bill. the Subsidy bill. and
one or two other party measures, and then the
Republican managers will be confronted with
the question: Can we pass a Federal Election
bill 2" The Democrats say they cannot, aud
declare that no power on earth can avail to
make them yield A conference OF the Dem
ocratic Senators has been held and the deter
mination reached to stand firm against the first
proposition that the Republicans shall bring
up. no matter what 1t is. Senator German
has. it is understood. been chosen as
the leader to point out the road for the
Democrats to travel, both in the Senate and
In the House. In the latter body the Demo-
Gratis have already begun their work OF OBJ
struction. and will stick to it Until the Repub-
lican Senators announce that they do not in
tend to pass an Election bill the Democrats
,ioa 70 iyn all tbn
passage OF any party measures whatever. II
they follow out this plan OF action the real fight
will probably begin when the Republicans
bring into the Senate their proposed new rule.
The Democrats can make them fight on this
rule as we'll as on anything else. and will be
obliged to do 30 in order to accomplish any
thing as with such rule asthe Repu bicans
propose the tariff and other measures could
be passed with ease. The Democrats declare
that there will be no faltering in their ranks.
but that they will stand together to oppose the
Republican programme rs long as there Is
possibility that Federal Election law will be
brought forward.
The caucus was called together for the pur-
pose OF deciding whether 1t would BIO good pol
10y to attempt to pass an Election bill. but this
object was not accomplished. The efforts of
the radical managers OF the Republicans In the
SENATE to create a sentiment that would justify
them in rushing through the caucus an order
OF business. which should have the considera-
lion OF the Elections bill at its head were futile
Senator Fryes announcement that forty
throe Republicans must stand together. and
agree to sleep and eat In the Capitol
II necessary, in order to coerce the
minority. fell dead. The so-caled address"
Of Chairman Belden, issued prematureiy on
the night that the Republican caucus was
proved n boomerang the
kind and instead OF causing a flood Of tee-
grams &c, how in npon the Republicans
Bill it created only disgust, and amuse.
ment. The fact is that this document was
was Intended ultimately 10 appear in the Re-
publican press Throughout the country as
Of oh"5@" neIdsnS sTs
should tol!oS in the present crisis. When the
game Of blqlf was started and Senate caucus
KeDupIican. 70 die in ths last ditch II neces,
sary." some one invented the happy plan Of
spdsR out oa tho heeS 81 the
call Mr.. Brldcn was communicated with, and
by telegraph tho bugle cry went forth, and has
HaIeer issued BY MIR; Beden since DO assumed
nitlec ana no has little cause 10 DO proud, OF It.
6oon after tho committee, WAS, organized. Mr..
BBeIden forced tho newly elected secretary. Mr.;
ofilri0usness and announced that he Mr..
Beden was to DO the real Chairman. and sign
every circular that went out from the commit
tee. Mr.. Odds has had his revenge. because the
first paper was not even prepared by Mr..
Beden. 1t was sent out over his name. how
ever; and caused him to be the laughing stock
q his, party in Washington. 1t IL not likely
that the Senators will. mt present invent any
new scheme for influencing newspaper opinion.
The first result has been too disastrous.
ALL ough nothing was decided upon in last
nights caucus except that. In order to pass
party measures. the Republicans must adopt
some Reed rules there Were many signs given
IN the speeches and conversation OF the Sena-
tors that show which way tho wind is blowing.
As to one fact there Is no doubt whatever
That is that tho force bill, which passed In the
House, the authorship of which is generally
credited to. Mr.. Lodge. although 1t belongs
really to John. i. Davenport and Representa-
siVe howell. isa very unpopular measure In the
benate and will not be adopted BY that body.
Thirty three Republicans attended the caucus
last night 1t met In the Senate chamber, q
very unusual place for holding caucuses. and
$as presided over by Senator Edmunds OF
Vermont. Chairman OF the Caucus Commit
zee. Conspicuous among the absentees
were the Pennsylvania Senators, Matthew
stanley Quay and James Donald Cameron.
The Republicans have felt much anxiety to
ths subject OF a Federal Election BIN. and they
had hoped to hear him give his opinion IN the
caucus last night They waited some time for
nm but he did not put IN an appearance. and