Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-08-28

lucy my pt veg z et.tlF ulsappOlnt II IN
tjis, but their theory il that tley viii be
republicans, and that it will rot be pos
sible. with the addition of four votes in
favor of the election bill, for any conbma-
tlon - be made between the democrats
aud the republicans who are opposed to tie
election bill to defeat the latter measure.
In Fact, it is not absolutely clear that more
than two or three republicans are now dis
po4ed to vote against the election bill.
And they have announced their opposition
with the reservation that they would
change their minds if instructed to do so
by their state legislatures. The recent
caucus has disclosed one fact very clearly,
namely. that there are but thee republi-
can senators who are absolutely opposed to
the force bill and three more who are con-
ditionly opposed to it. So that giving
the opponents of the election bill all that
they claim. the deadlock here during the
entire winter has been occasioned by the
fact that six republican sena ors bave been
seek ing to dictate to the majority Of their
parry. In other words the majority of the
senate has yielc ed to the demands of that
fac iona. minority of its own Number,
Just as lhelepubllcdn majority as whole
has permitted the democratic minority OF
the senate TO control the legislation or that
body. That is the latest concession TO
senatorial courte7y ant to what is called
the traditions of the senate. This princi-
pie, carried to its lowest terms, would
mean that any single republican senator
opposed to any special policy could shape
the entire legislation of the party in a eau
Gus. 1t is not principle which the peo-
pie of this country will recognize and when
they understand The facts the republican
senators will hardly be able to excuse
themselves for the policy to which they
have assented during the entire winter
Whether or not the election bill will be-
come a law at the next on of congress
will doubtless depend in very great meas
ure upon expressions of republican SEMI
ment in the country between this and
then.
Mr. Aldrich, in charge of the tariff bill,
will simply ask unanimous consent that
the vote be taken on the tariff bill at a
certain time. and the consent will be
given. The republicans will not endeavor
to submit formal resolution to carry out
their caucus agreement. Of course it
would be impossible to accomplish that, as
the democrats would oppose it as earnestly
'es t.ey would the election bill itself.
The friends of the election bill have
been fighting for two things: first, for a
vote for q motion to change the rules and
regain the control of business, and second
Dy, vote on the house measure to secure
honest elections for representatives. They
have insisted naturally that an effort
should be made to neutralize the frauds
which are sure to be practiced in the south
aud elsewhere at the approaching con-
gressional elections; and but for the alb
solute impossibiity Of getting forty-three
republican senators together at this last
stage of the session aud holding them
here for several weeks perhaps the com
mittee on privileges and elections and its
supporters would have consented 10 yield
so far to the sentiment represented by Mr..
Quay as to postpone even for three months
a vote on the pending election measure.
But there is plainly no reasonable hope of
obtaining quorum of republican senators
until next winter, and Mr.. Hoar and his
friends have only yielded to the force of
circumstances in agreeing to delay vote
on changing the rules and on the passage
of the proposed election law until the short
session begins.
John |. Davenport, who has been watch
ing the election bill very closely all winter,
is authority FOR the statement that there
will be an extra session of congress imme-
diately after the November elections. He
says: Nothing could be more erroneous
than that the election bill is dead. Pre-
cisely the opposite is The truth. The cleo
ton bill will pass 1t will not be passed,
however, this session. Why? Simply for
!, oh
lean senators. OF these Senators Morrill,,
Chandler, Farwell and Stanford are absent,
three of them on account of sickness.
This leaves forty-three present. 1t would
be necessary to have every one of these in
attendance to debate and pass the bill this
session. But we cannot depend on that.
One or more of them are liable to be sick
In fact, Mr. Edmunds aud Mr.. Sherman
are both away for a weeks rest now. 1t
is imperative, therefore, that the bill
should go over until the next session.
which will be called Immediately after The
fall elections. That is settled beyond ques.
ton. The character of the committee APP
pointed at the conference to report OH The
bill indicates the attitude of that body on
the question. There is no doubt that the
report of this committee will contain an
order setting date for vote on the
measure"
Whatever may be the ultimate agree.
me,lt between the parties in the senate as
to The time of voting on the tariff bill, it
is evident that the present session will not
end for some weeks, even though the e;ec-
ton bill is out of the way. Senator
Aldrich. who is in charge of the tariff
bill, will probably offer resolution on
Monday to close debate under the present
rule about Aug. 30, and to continue dis
cussion of the remaining paragraphs under
the five-minute rule until Sept. or Sept.
9. Some OF the democratic senators asked
for the extension of the latter date, and
the republicans will probably consent to it.
1t will still remain to consider the senate
amendments in the house and 10 sett e diff
ferences in conference A number OF i'm
portant matters remain to be acted upon
by the senate and it is the general i'm
preston that the session will not end until
nearly the 1st of October.
CAJJEORNTA DEMOCRATS.