Evening journal., 1890-08-14
TO PASS OR NOT TO PASS
That Is the Question Agitating
Republican Senators.
QUAY AND THE ELECTIONS BILL.

His Resolution TO shelve the Measure fer
the Present Session of Congress Created
Sensation in His Party-A caucun
Called for Tonight to Take Action.
WASHINGTON, Aug. A. Republican sen
ators will tonight hold what will probably
prove to be the most important caucus Of
the session. Then is 20 be determined the
fate Of the federal elections bill. The omis-
sion Of this measure in the Quay resolution,
which cited pieces Of legislation Of which
disposition should be made before adjourn
ment, greatly disappointed the supporters
OF the bill, and az soon as the resolution
was brought before the senate Wednesday
Senator Hoar submitted an amendmeulb to
include the federal elections bill in the list
10 be considered before the session ended.
II was referred, together with the Qsaay
resolution, TO the committee on rules Smd
that body win probably hold il Rntil the
caucus has been held
senator Quay's Reasons.
Senator Quay was Induced 20 offer lsis
resolution because Of a very strong seata
ment that the tariff bill, at the present rate
of progress, could not be voted upon bsfore
the November elections 0ocur. The Rs
publican party, he argues, must again 20
before the country upon the prvsectvs
tariff Issue A sufficient number OF sona-
tors cannot be induced 10 support an
amendment to the rules and dispose o6 the
federal elections bill in time TO utilize il in
the battle for the next house Senator
Quay has therefore become cunvmeed t1Ana
both the tariff and federal elections kllls
cannot be passed as she present sesslon.
He regards the former as by farthe aore
important and therefore 1t was that hh
resolution TO insure is approval was pre-
sented
Twenty Republicans with pfr. Quay.
Senators Hoar and Spooner together
with other supporters of the federal eles-
tions bill, proposed the caucus ia order W.
make ain earnest EFFORT 10 secure the bills
incorporation IN the programme OF legisla-
ton Advocates Of the Quay resolution
say that at least twenty Republican sem-
ators have agreed 20 support It as II stands.
Vice Chairman James S. Clarkson, of
the Republican national committee, ex-
pressed himself last night very vigorously
in his criticism OF the Quay resolution
He said: THE party has pledged itself b
pass the elections bill, and its patiencs is
wearing ont in seeing the Republican sen
ate virtually controlled both on this and
on the tariff question, by the defiant and
boastful Democratic minority. A failure
TO pass this bill and the tariff bill before
the adjournment Of this session OF con
gress viii be betrayal Of the Republican
party.
Tie Attitude Of the House.
In case the Republican senator's deter
mine to postpone action on the federal
elections bill il Is limited that the RepublL
cans Of the house, unless they find il too
late, win refuse 70 consider a resolHtion
for final adjournment until action upon
the bill is taken in the upper house.
Speaker Reed Chairman Belden, Of the
Republican congressional campaign com
mittee, and other house leaders are more
anxious than ever that the bill shall speed
lily become law. They believe It will de-
eide the political complexion OF the next
house. They hope that either the I'd
munds or Hoar or a similar resolution to
limit debate may he approved.
Think Quay win Win.
Those who support Senator Quay in the
attitude be has assumed predict the adop-
ton Of his resolution at the caucus by
large majority. Those who have not sur
rendered all hope Of enacting the federal
elections bill into a law say that II they are
outvoted ia the caucus they will join with
their brethren in fastening the passage OF
the tariff bill and final adjournment