The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-04
DEMOCRATS PREPARING FOR THE FRAY
Prospect of the Passage of the Elec.
tions Bill Alarms Thorn.
Free Coinage Craze Threatens to
Have Its Own Way.
The Copyright Bill Secures a MaJorI-
ty In the House.
Especial to the Press.l

WASHINGTON, December 3.-The debate
upon the election bill proceeded in the Sen
ate today, with long speech by MIR. Turpie
of Indiana. Turpie is a bitter Bourbon, and
his speech was practically an argument in
favor of disregard of the fifteenth amend
ment to the Constitution. Senator Hoar
made no speech, and no disposition was
shown on the Republican side to provoke
heated retorts. 1t will probably be the Re-
publican policy to let the Democrats have
full swing for a time and then bring in an
order closing debate. For this hour, the
Democrats, under Germans lead, are lius-
banding their strength. They seem to real
ize that they have a fierce struggle before
them, as the confident and prompt action of
Senator Hoar and his colleagues has not
been without its effect Senator HOar said
today that he was confident that the bill
would be passed, and without any unreason-
able delay either. Both Hoar and Chandler
anticipated little or no Republican opposi-
ton.
Last session there was unquesti0nably
considerable Republican opposition to the
bill, perhaps enough to have defeated 1t. but
since then there has been change OF 0pin-
ion. Western Republicans who have suffered
because of the heavy stay-at-home contin-
gent in their party last month say that dis
gust at the pusillnanimity of the Senate last
session played prominent part In keeping
Republicans at home. But while the Re-
publican Senators are apparently consolida-
ted in favor of the bill it is too early to say
absolutely.
There is another great question which may
have an effect upon the election bill and tn 1t
is the silver question An imitation craze
has struck the country and those men who
are bound to open the mints of the United
StQtQs n the 6QnrlNiatQd silver 0f the wide
world are unquestionably on top in both
Senate and House. Almost the entire Dem
ocratic party is for free silver and a c0nsid-
cradle section of the We-tern Republicans
favor 1t. The recent Farmers Alliance VIC
tories have probably alarmed enough mem
bers of the House to make the passage of a
free silver bill certain there IN
spite of the conservative influence
of the Speaker and other eastern leaders.
The silver men declare that they will have
free coinage bill this session, and they have
begun their movement If the election bill
should happen to drag on too long. In the
Senate this condition of affairs might have
an important bearing
The financial condition of the country has
been the subject of considerable quiet talk
for day or two. Money is so very scarce
that it has been suggested that Congress
ought to authorize the purchase of more sill
yer bullion in order to relieve the tightness
which seems too severe to be relieved by the
VI IiOdoulg Cdon AOA OuSosahuAhB
government bonds. Probably no such legis-
lation will occur, since aside from questions
of public policy any attempt to pass 1t would
lDqite free coinage amendment thus precip-
itating an issue which sound money men
wish to defer.
Business in the House proceeds with more
or less obstruction but obstruction can only
retard, not prevent. The copyright bill was
passed today, shining monument of the
ability of the House to do business in spite
of obstruction.
The admiral of the visiting Brazilian fleet
last evening acknowled the eourtesies which
he has received by giving a brilliant dinner
in the great dining room of the Arlington
Hotel, which was elaborately decorated
with tropical plants for the occasion. The
guests were seated according to rank, Vice
President Morton being upon the right, and
Speaker Reed upon the left Of the Admiral,
while opposite sat the Brazilian Minister,
with Secretaries Blaine and Tracy on either
hand. Mr.. Boutelle, as chairman of the
House naval committee, was also present.