Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-04
PERFECT HARMONY PREVAILS
Republican Senators Exercise Wis
dom and Moderation and Reach
An Agreement.
They Will Freely Use the Rights
Which are Theirs as the Ma
jOrity.
And VIII Settle Cue stions as to Order
of Procedure Without Democrat
ic interference.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25-Wisdom and
moderation on both sides have enabled
the republican majority of the senate to
adjust its differences and unite on a COM
mon and harmonious plan of action. Both
the leading measures before the senate, the
tariff and the election bill, to which the
party is pledged are to be pressed, and
the republican majority as a whole is en-
gagged to bring them to final decision.
The result is to be reached in the only way
in which a result can be gained satisfac-
tory to the republican party and IN har-
mony with public interest. The republic
can majority proposes to assume control as
a majority Debate is to be restricted,
the rules are to be amended and the senate
placed In situation where its members
can pass as well as make speeches. The
first and most important restriction In de-
bate is to be made in the case of the tariff
bill, and the five minute rule which Sena-
tor Edmunds proposed over week ago is
to be adopted This is to be accompanied
by other important provisions, fixing a
date for the tariff bill arranging for the
passage of the anti-Iottery bill, and de-
terming time when vote shall be taken
upon the election bill The details of
these new rules and orders remain still in
part undetermined There has been some
change in the plan since tie compromise
was first agreed upon The attempt to
adopt a resolution at this session providing
for a previous question on the election bill
at the next session has been abandoned
A paper is to be signed by forty three re-
publican senators designed to give effect
to the decision of the caucus by binding
each senator to vote at the beginning OF
the next session to fixing date in Deem
Der for taking a vote on the election bill.
That was the chief feature of the caucus
agreement. 1T is entirely satisfactory to
the friends of the election bill, p" said a
senator to-day, las it secures the passage
of that measure at the next session.
The election bill goes over until Deem
Der, but under an agreement that it is to
be taken up at the beginning of that session.
and special rule is to be adopted fixing a
day on which a vote is to be taken on 1t.
All the republicans, it is understood, will
agree to this proposition. 1t does not
bind any senator to vute for the bill, bDt
simply to take it up and to fix Il date when
a vote will be taken. 1t is not believed
that any senator will vote against the bill
when it comes up for final passage. SEN
ator Plumb has been quoted as against the
bill, but he now states that was mistake.
He is in favor of an election bill, only he
thinks the Federal elections should be en-
tirely under the control of the federal
government, and should be held at a sepa-
rate date from the State and local elections.
He does not believe that the bill now be-
fore the Senate goes far enough, but he
would not vote against it. Senator Teller
also has been quoted as against the BILL
but he will vote for it, and when it comes
up on its final passage it will probably re-
ceive all the republican votes. The strug-
gle will be on changing the rules at the be-
ginning of next session, so as to fix date
for vote upon the election bill.
1t is not probable that anything more
will be said about the election bill in the
senate at this session. An agreement is
expected to be reached with the democrats
whereby final vote will be taken upon
the tariff bill on Sept or 8. The special
committee appointed will argue upon an
order of business, which will probably in
clude the anti-lottery and some other bills
to be disposed of after the tariff bill is out
of the way. The other business will in
clude whatever bills a majority think
essential to be passed at this session. Some
of the friends of the election bill in the
house, especially southern members, feel
disappointed that is not to become a law
at this session of republican Senators as a
cowardly surrender. But Representative
Rowell and some of the other advocates of
the election bill in the house are satisfied
to secure an agreement that a vote shall be
taken In December on the bill
1t is very probable that one of the pro-
visions of the agreement at which the re-
publicanS arrived at in their caucus was
that special session of congress shall be
convened Immediately after the congress
ionaI election in November. The purpose
of this will be to gain nearly month adj
dltional time to dispose Of the election bill
and to transact the other very important
business which must of necessity be done at
the next short session of congress. If an
extra session should be called in November,
the republicans might dispose of the cleo
ton bill and make some progress with the
apportionment bill before the regular SEES
sion would ordinarily begin. The presi-
dent is so very much in earnest in his de-
sire to have national election bill placed
upon the statutes during his administra-
ton. that If it shall seem advisable he I'M
doubtedly would call Congress in extra
session. And great many of the repub-
licans in both houses would prefer to come
to Washington the second week in Novem-
Der to remaining here now continuously
until November. Moreover, at that time,
the results of the Congressional election
would be known. The democrats then
would not have the same excuse for oppos-
ing the election bill on the ground that
they do not want 1t operative in the COM
ing election, and the republicans could
support it on its merits without expecting
it to have any Immediate application.
Moreover. the result of the census will be
known and congress will be prepared to
proceed with the apportionment bill. In
the limited period between the first Mon
dap in December and March 4, there is
not time enough to dispose of these two
great measures IN addition to the ordinary
routine work which must be adjusted by
the congress in that session unless the ap-
preparation bills should fail and an extra
session of the Fifty-second Congress made
necessary after March next
1t is not absolutely known that an ex-
ira session of the congress after the fall
elections has been determined upon. But
it is very possible that that is one of the
secret provisions of the agreement at
which the republicans have arrived. More
over, this delay will result in increasing
the membership of the senate by four The
republicans are very confident that the
four new senators, two from Idaho and
two from Wyoming, will be elected by
their party, and they are confident that
they will be republicans of the kind VINO
will be disposed to vote for the election
hin and To suppo,t all party measures