The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-02
RADICALS IN CAUCUS.
THE SENATORS DETERMINE TO
PRESS TEE FORCE BILL.

Its consideration Will Be Resumed
To-dey-The O,d aucus COMMITTEES
Entrusted With the Preparation of
the Subsequent Programme Re
publican Represen, ,atives Discuss
Reapportionnent.
WASH NGToS, Dec. The republican
senators were this afternoon in caucus for
an hour and a half, engaged in considera-
tion Of the order of business. The main
topic OF discussion was the national elections
bill The friends Of this measure recalled to
their feilow-senators the pledge given at the
caucus last session that the bill, if allowed
to go over until the reassembling of con-
gress, would be taken up and pressed TO a
hnal vote without the intervention OF other
business. They urged that the time had
come TO redeem the pledge, and that the
senate should at once proceed to considera-
tion of the bill.
OBJECTION or IT'S OPPONENTS.
Certain senators who have in the past
oeen oeen sat down as opponents Of the elections
Dill, CT who at least were supposed TO be
lukewarm IN its support, objected, not to
the general principle Of the bill itself, but
to the adoption of policy that in their
Judgment would probably result in block
ing all other important legislation during
the remainder OF this congress
without guarantee OF sue
cessful termination of the attempt
to pass the elections bill. Several western
senator's. however, insisted that with a
| proper spirit of determination on the part
OK the majority the bill could be passed.
TO BE TAKEN UP TO-DAY.
After long discussion. the caucus agreed
that the elections bill shall be taken up in
the Senate Tomorrow, with the under
standing that it shall be kept before that
body until finally acted upon. Further
more. 70 guard against expected opposition
from the democratic minority in the line of
dilatory tactics, q committee OF five s,n-
ators was appointed to cooperate with the
republican members Of the committee on
rules III the preparation OF rule TO secure
closure Of the debate when desired by the
majority.
The old caucus committee on order Of
business was reappointed and instructed to
| prepare programme 10 govern the pro-
ceedings OF the Senate after the elections
bill shall have been disposed Of.
1t is stated thai there were no votes cast
against these determinations of the caucus
REAPPoRTIoNMENT DISCUSSED.
About thirty republican representatives
| on appropriations this afternoon after ad-
jourhment and informally discussed the re-
apportionment question. Nearly all of the
leading republicans were present, including
the speaker, Messrs. ISlcKinley, Cannon,
Chairman Dunnell and Messr2 Boutele,
/ Mchenna. Adams and Frank of the census
| committee. The latest political almauacs
were sent for and the changes in
population shown by the census and the
| political effect Of these changes were care
| fully canvassed. There was no intention TO
| press any proposition TO vote and the only
! cOnclus ons reached were that for the pres
ent there was no reason to hold party
caucus, and that the census COMMITTEES
should be left free to deal with the matter.
a QUORUM OF REPUBLICANS.
The probabilities OF the Republicans hav-
| ing quorum of their own members entered
| largely into the discussion. and a majority
were sanguine that the party could secure a
full attendance OF members if necessary.
Several OF th se present. when asked If 1t
| had been decided that an apportionment
bill should be passed, said that no decision
was reached, but each one personally in
sisted that the bill would unquestionably be
| passed.
GOSSIP ABOUT TIE FORCE BILL.
Special Dispatch to the Ne,cs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Senator Hoar
seems TO nave neither learned nor FORGOTTEN
anything since the adjournment of the last
| session. lie still thinks the force bill should
pass. He would have called up the force
bill this afternoon II Senator Sherman had
not unwillingly prevented it by moving an
adjournment. As it was, he promptly
called itup in the republican caucus which
followed immediately, and insisted siren
uously that it should be given precedence
over all other measures The two argu.
ments employed were that there was tacit
agreement in the last session that it should
be pressed now, and second, that the Presi-
dent would be left in an embarrassing DO
sition If it was not taken up.
QUAY AND CAMERON AWAY.
Senators Quay and Cameron, tle leaders
of the opposition to the bill, abseuted them
selves from the caucus. La their absence,
the opponents of the bill made but feeble
opposition to Senator Hoar's proposition
and it is given out that none of them voted
against taking up the bill Tomorrow
When it came to the practical proposal to
really put the bill through by changing the
rules they were not so ready, and the real
question was, therefore, deferred
by appointing committee to
prepare scheme for closure.
Mr.. Hoar was content with this, because
he counts upon the partisan feeling to be
engendered on the republican side by the
discussion of the bill to overcome the op-
position TO a change OF the rules. The
democrats viii resist the attempt to pass
the force bill by every means in their power.
Even if it passes the Senate they are hope
ful that 1t VIII nos get through the House,
but it will only get through the Senate,
they say, over the dead body of senatorial
tradition.