St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-11
Republicans May Stifle Debate
in the Senate on the Elec-
ton Bill.
That Is the Sentiment of a Ma
;jority Of That August
Body.
President Harrison Signs the
Bill Admitting Wyoming
TO Statehood.
Jerry Rusk Trying to Raise
Bpitain's Embargo on
American Cattle.

WASHINGTON, July 10.-The Repub-
liean members of the senate held eau
Gus tonight to consider the order of bust
ness for the rest of the present session
of congress, particularly with reference
to the federal election law and the tariff
bill. 1t has been understood generally
that the Democratic members of the
senate intend to prevent the passage of
the federal election law, if possible, and
that to achieve this purpose they are
prepared to fifibuster against the
tariff bill, and any other measure
which may be brought up for
consideration, with view to prolong-
ing the session and firing the Republi-
can senators into an agreement to
compromise by which the federal cleo
ton law will be allowed to go over until
the next session. Members OF the
finance committee who are interested
in the enactment of tariff law have
urged upon their brethren the adviS-
ability of coming to an understanding
with the Democrats under which the
tariff bill will be passed within rea-
sonable time and the federal election
bill allowed to go over. Butt friends
of the election bill have brought
Great Deal of Pressure
to bear in favor of forcing that measure
to a passage before the adjournment,
titles of action they have examined the
rules of the senate and the record of
past contests under similar rules, the
result Justified them in the belief that,
in spite of the fiIibustering of the DEM
0crats. the bill could be passed, In sup
port OF this claim it was recalled in the
caucus that. when the bill to provide
for supervisors of election was under
consideration in 1871, Mr.. Thurman
offered, one after another, thirty amend
mendments intended to delay the con-
sideration of the bill, and by eOneentrat-
ed action by the Republicans under
which one Republican senator was
recognized regularly to move to lay
each amendment on the table, all of
these dilatory amendments were dis
posed of within tWenty-four hours. 1t
was proposed that the senate should
put out the consideration OF the election
bill if it took three months. This prOpO-
sition was debated at great length. Mr..
Frye, the chairman of the committee
on commerce, who has the river and
harbor bill in charge, said that lie would
like to have some determination
reached as to the time when it would
be considered, as he was anxious to
Get 1t Into Conference.
Mr.. Allison said that the sundry civil
appropriation bill was ON the calendar,
and it was necessary that it he disposed
of at an early day. An agreement was
reached finally by which the postal sub
Sidy bills, which have been under de-
bate for several days, will be taken up
again tomorrow with view to taking
vote ON them before adjournment, and
that Saturday the sundry civil appropri-
alton bill be called up. 1t was sug-
gested that the latter bill was one on
which the discussion could be pro-
longed indefinitely il the Democrats
wished to begin their obstructive
tactics on it; but, as it would naturally
days nothing would be lost by having it
taken up Saturday even if the caucus
reached no determination before that
time. The discussion OF the possibility
of passing the federal election bill was
then resumed, and debate was had un-
der the five-miRute rule for nearly three
hours. Senator Spo0ner. Senator HOar,
SenatOrFrye and Senator EvartS, all
members of the elections committee, eX-
pressed themselves as in favor OF pass
ing the bill. Mr.. AIdrich, the chairman
of the committee on rules, said that it
would be possible to pass it only by one
of two ways-either by sitting it out as
had been preposed-or by
Changing the Rules
Of the senate so as to permit limit to
be placed on debate. This suggestion
gave rise to long discussion about the
possibility of making change in the
rules. MI. Edmunds bitterly opposed
the proposition, and Mr.. Teller, mem
Der of the committee on privileges and
elections, also expressed some OPPOSE
ton to it. A general debate which en-
sued developed the fact that majority
of the senators favored the passage OF
the federal election bill at this
session of congress, and that
majority favored change III the
rules which would make this possible
The caucus adjourned at 11:l0 with the
understanding that another caucus VIII
be held Saturday night to come to
final determination on the subject. In
the meantime lothing will be done with
the tariff bill. A leading member OF
the caucus said after the adjournment
tonight that the tariff bill would prob
ably occupy three weeks in discussion.
but that the federal election bill would
be put through in weeks time, II 1t
was determine to consider it.