Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-03
THE PLOT THICKENS.
Republican Senators Again Change
Their Plan Of Action.
THE CLoYURE RULE LAID ASIDE
For Another Trial of Strength Under the
Old Senate System.
TIE REAL FIGHT AGAINST SILVER
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. ]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-It is pretty well
decided among the Republican Senators
that the cloture amendment shall not be
pressed until the Democratic Senators are
forced into the. position OF being unnis-
taxable flibusterers. It is possible, there
fore, that the caucus fixed for Monday even
ing may not be held. 1t is believed that
when all of the Republican Senators are in
their seats they will muster sufficient moral
courage by dint of association and numbers
to insist on closing the debate on the
elections bill, and possibly to take the step
suggested by Senator Hale and compel
cessation Of speechmaking and vote on the
bill bv the method adopted in the passage
of some of the famous war measures.
No matter what movement has been made
in the direction of Parliamentary tactics to
deliver the majority from the absolute, au-
tocratlc grasp of the minority, the leading
Senators have had to look in the face the
fact that it will be just as easy to secure a
vote on the elections bill as on the cloture
amendment.
lighting Against Silver Legislation.
The strangest feature of the whole matter
is that Senators are so slow to recognize the
simplest inevitable phases of the situation,
long evident to everybody else, and this and
many other incidents of this strange general
ship of Hoar and Edmunds continually fur
nish proof to nearby spectators that the
grand aim is to defeat silver legislation, re-
gardless of the fate OF the elections bill.
Certainly, if that had been the purpose from
the beginning, the tactics of the opponents
of free silver could not have been better de-
vised.
Some quiet consultation has been in
progress among the Republican Senators in
the city with reference to the next week s
proceedings. The speeches made by
Senators Teller ard Woicott Tuesday have
made some impression, but as they were
expected, their effect was not so marked as
that resulting from the few remarks made
by Senator Hale. In his complaint that
trial had not been made of the old-fashioned
methods to secure action upon the elections
bill, he undoubtedly voiced the feelings OF
some other conservative Republican Sena-
tors, who feel that it would be unwise to
change the rules and adopt cloture until
the usual routine methods had proven to be
ineffective.
To Convince Them by Trial
The talk this morning reveals DISPOSE
tion to allow this conservative element 10
satisfy itself by-an actual trial of the old
system OF campaign, which resolves itself
into matter of physical endurance. This
would involve the holding of night sessions
of the Senate, in addition to the usual day
| light sessions; Just how many no one can
tell, but as many as may be necessary TO
convince the Sepators who are still leluct-
ant to admit the necessity for cloture
! rule.
Inasmuch as there is a general desire
among the Republican Senators to confer
upon the subject, there was no disposition
| evidenced to arrange a programme upon
this basis to-day, but the general tone of the
discussion may be significant as foreshadow-
| ing one result of the lcaucus. Or course,
| there is no comfort for the silver men in
such programme as indicated above, for it
| will merely prolong the fight and thereby
render still more unlikely any silver legis-
lation.
It Cannot Pass the House.
Thus far five Republicans have agreed to
vote against the elections bill, on a direct
vote, and there are a few others who say
| they would vote for a motion to lay it aside
| tor, who is earnestly opposed to the elec-
tions bill, said to-day that in time it would
\ pass the Senate, but it could by no posi-
bility be passed by the House in its amended
| form. By the time it got to the House, he
said, it would be too late for the attendance
of quorum to be secured in that body The
bill, he said, could never become law. II
| is understood tina. Mr.. Aldrich has decided
not to bring up his cloture resolution on
| Tuesday.
Although it was understood when the
Senate adjourned on Wednesday that the
session to-day was to be merely formal. there
III
was read. The Senator-elect from Idaho,
Mr.. Mcconnell. who has not yet been sworn
in. vas present, and was introduced to a
| good many OF the Senators, as was also Mr..
Dubois, of Idaho, who has been elected for
the term 10 begin ON the 4th of March next.
| No business whatever was transacted, and
the Senate, on motion of Mr.. Spooner, ad-
| journed till Monday at noon.
LIGHTNER.