The Helena independent., 1891-01-10
THEY ARE MUCH RELIEVED
Republican Senators Pleased With
the Shelving Of the Force
Bill.
Idaho Senators, Unlike Montana
Frauds, Do Not Bctray Their
Eacred Trust.
How the Significant Proceeding Was
Brought About Clingrin Of Honr.
Etlmunls and Others.

WAsHrNaroN, Jan. 9.-The correspondent
of the st. Louis Globe Democrat tele-
graphed that paper as follows: For turning
sharp corners the American senate is max
ing reputation. The so-called force bill
has had the right of way for months. few
minutes before three o'clock one afternoon
this bill was the pending subject OF legisla-
tion. Senator Hoar WAS in charge OF 1t.
A few minutes after three the force bill
was side tracked. 1t could interfere with
nothing--its engineer WAS out in the lobby
walking around. with nothing to do. The
subject which had displaced the force bill
was financial legislation. Senator Stewart
was occupying the track on which Senator
Hoar had been running things this session.
This all happened in ten minutes. Some
will insist that there was deep-laid con-
spiracy. There was nothing OF the kind.
Senator Stewart was almost as much sur
pYised as Senator Hoar. As for the DEM
ocrats, they had no IDEA OF what was
going to occur ten minutes before
il WAS done. Senator Stewart has been
thrs te ming forseyeial days that he would
not wait much longer on the election bill.
He hns made no secret of his intention to
substitute for it. as the pending question.
fnaneia! legislation. senator Stewart s
colleasu uc, stnator Jones. WAS III his seat
TO. day Tor the first time this session. 1t
seemed to senator Stewart that the time
was auspicious for his proposition. The
hour devoted to routine matters expired
shortly before three o'clock.
The election bill WAS the next thing, to
the exclusion OF oil other legislation. II
could only lose its right OF way by major
IAv,th NJ Ind favN ,Q1
out. President pro tempore Ingalls, had not
arrived, and Senator Harris, OF Tennessee,
had been Temporarily called to the chair.
Mr.. Stewart suddenly arose from hia seat in
the rear row near the midGle door and said:
'Mr. President. l move that the senate
proceed to the consideration of senate bill
Here the senator stopped, adjusted hrs
glasses, and read the title of the financial
bill. Senator Hoar WAS already on his feet.
Ho said this couldn't be done. The matter
before the senate WAS the election bill. and
on the election bill. Senator German. the
manager for the democrats in the election
bill fight, arose and stood expectant. The
occupant of the chair said the election bill
WAS before the senate and Senator George
had the floor. Mr.. Hosr looked satisfied
and started back to take his chair; but soon
he came forward with his face aglow. Mr..
Stewart looked across the chamber and said
if the senator from Mississippi would yield
to him he would move to take up the hnan-
cinl bill.
Before Senator George could reply sena-
tor Hoar declared that it was impossible to
do that The senator from Mississippi had
the floor. but he would not yield it to the
senator from Nevada for the purpose stated.
Then Mr.. George stated his Willingness to
yield to Senator Stewart if he would not
lose the floor thereby. The chair replied
7 that the senator from Mississippi could
yield to the senator from Nevada, but
whether he recovered the floor again would
have to be determined later on. Again Mr..
Hoar protested. Mr.. George said he yielded
to the senator from Nevada to make his
motion. The motion was put. Nobody
could tell whether it was carried or lost.
Yeas and navs, Mr.. President" went up
all oyer the chamber.
A roll call Vas ordered. The democrats
all voted "Yea'' and the republicans all
voted No" until the name of Jones, of
Nevada, was reached. The senator cast his
first vote Of the session, and it was YEA"
The next break in the republican line was
yet warm. He had been a United States
senator Just two hours ard thirty minutes
He voted full round YEA on the motion
to drop the force bill and substitute for it a
financial bill. The other Idaho senator
(Shoup) followed suit.
rare study. The Idaho senators were seated
to-day in haste. that their votes might be
used to advantage Ill behalf of the election
bill; and yet they voted against it. Senator
WOicott sat in the rear row, and when he
heard Shoup and Mcconnell vote he almost
rolled off his chair. like a bad boy in a tit OF
ill-suprressad mirth. Stanford, of Cali
fornia, vas the next republican to vote for
@tewart's motion. Then came Stewart and
the two Colorado senators. Teller and
Wolcott, and Washburn, OF Minnesota.
Plumb voted No" So did the Montana
'enator. As the call progressed senator's
came hurryipg in. Both sides mustered
their full strength. Pairs were adjusted
and Ieadjusted SO as to get in as many
votes as possible. Sir. Hoar kept tally on u
sheet of paper. Mr.. Wolcott followed the roll
call by keeping count on his fingers in the
good old fashioned way. Toward tie close
Senator Hoar's face lengthened. At the
same time senator stewatt's st. Nicholas
features roadened into smile.
When all of the changes had been made
the chairman announced that Senator
Stewards motions had been carried by n
vote OF thirty-fou. to twentyy.,nine. The
contest was over. The force bill was side
tracked. Senator Hoar sat for a moment
studying his sheet of paper, then he and
Hawley and Aidich put their heads to-
gether and conyersed earnestly. Shortly
afterwards Mr.. Hoar arose and walked out
III Lue bc1IhLc CudJbDcT. lie Ola UOt return
The surrender was complete. The force
bill was shelved. The result might easily
have been different. just before the vote
was announced Senator FRYE arose and sale
his colleague, Senator Hale, had beer
obliged to go away for half an hour. THAI
was one vote lost, for Hale was not paired.
Just after the result was given Senator In
gals opened the door of the cIoa. room
and entered. He was back from Kansas il
response to Senator Edmunds' urg-
ent telegram, and had arrived tif
teen minutes too late. That VIZ.
another vote lost. With ingalls, and Fry,
the election bill would have had thlrty-on.
votea. SO the Idaho senators really shclyed
the bill with their maiden votes This ac
ton OF the new senators was one of tht
most notable features of the short, shar,
contest. Senator Hoar reported the Gre
deutials of the two senators onIy to-day
But for his promptitude they might hay.
beer delayed a few days. And yet on thei
first roll call the two senators went agains
their sponsors most earnest wish
Is the force bill sheIyed permanently
The answer is, that it is certainly out O
the way until the senate passes a tnancia
bill. 1t will take a majority vote to pu
aside the financial bill, and it cannot b
had. There are several republican sena
tors who voted With I, cir party to-day
but who will not vote to lay aside til
financial bill now that it is befo:
ara Plumb and Inealls. The tinancia
bill is Sure of continuous consideration no,
until it is passed or the eight weeks remair
ing of the session expire. Senator Spoons
believes that the election bill will come II
again. Other republicans do not think q,