New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-05
THE CRISIS IN THE SENATE.

THE CRISIS IN IHE SENATE.
A CAUCUS TONIGHT WILL PROBABLY FIX
UPON A FINAL PLAN OF ACTION
! BELIEF THAT THE ELECTION BILL WILL PASS
ONLY FOUR REPUBLICAN, SENATORS AGAINST
IT-IMPBRATIvE NEED OF PASSING
TIE CLOSURE RULE TOO.
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TFdnusE1
Washington. Jan. 4-Thls week will undoubtedly
bring TO a crisis the stubborn fight which has been
| made upon the Election bill since December ! in the
senate The majority In that body has az last reached
the point at which further obstruction OF the public
business will not be tolerated. and the minority feels
that II will now have to abandon the mask OF reason
able discussion" 10 delay action on the Election bill.
and enter openly upon a course OF hlibus'ering ana
quorum breaking. The beginning OF actual hostiltes
has been postponed two weeks BY the holiday season.
which served as breathing spell before the final con-
test II also served to engthen 20 five full weeks the
period given edtmacly to the debate on the bill-a
greater stretch Of time than ever before allowed.
perhaps, for the DISCUSSION of any similar measure
| one more day-tomorrow-w be devoted to the for
nal general debate" when Mr.. Evarts is expected TO
close for the Republican side in one OF his char-
acteriscay forcibc and brilliant arguments. To NOR
row evening the Republican Senators will hold caucus
at the house Of Senator stocbrdge and the details Of
,
bill be arranged and agreed on Tuesday morning will
probably see the Republican programme put In force,
and by the latter part of the week It's success or fall
ure will undoubtedly be assured That the Senate win
reach and pass the Election bill is. however the
opinion Of almost saeacios observer OF politics
here. -
The caucus tomorrow night will he called TO Do
eide especially whether the majority shall attempt to
pass at once the rule closing debate resort first to
the tmchonOrcd usage of continuous session. TO In
ducc the minority to captulatc II Is urged by some
Of tho more conservative senators that the continuous
session should be tried first In order to show tn the
country that all other means Of obtaining vote have
been exhausted before the rule Is brought forward
and passed 4 continuous session. 1t IS added. Will
force the opposition to open flibuserng and expose
the preencs that its only desire is to have free and
full discuss on Of the Lodge measure before vote Is
taken. There are. perhaps. few ultra conservative
Republican senators who imagine that vote can be
reached by holding session OF twcntyiour or forty
eight hours AZ stretch that no previous question
rule will thus be necessary to reach a conclusion. But
TO obtain a vote on the Election bill without first
adopting the new rule would be little gain 10 the ma
orty. For the bill Will have 10 60 into conference
committee and when II is reported back for reference
by the senate the Democrats will have an opportunity
10 renew the discussion Of last month in all ts tedious
ness with the chances OF talking ont the session In
creased threefod. The continuous session may be Of
advantage, therefore In emphasizing the necessity for
a rule Il close debate But beyond this 1t IS altogether
barren and unpromising In results The adoption OF
the Adrich resolution Is the only clear and safe way
out Of the pcrploxte, NJ the present situation and am
action taken by the which leaves out tins vital
feature Of the programme will offer little real ell
conracemen 10 the friends Of the Election bill and Of
all other upon tic Senates calendar OF
business.
To insure the successful working Of the plan tho
caucus adopts, the presence Of full quorum OF Ke
| NNcN
the remaining senator from ldaho Is admitted the
Republican membership will be increased Ia fifty one
Forty five senators will then make a quorum Iher'
are now forytw Republican, IN the ciiy or Within
easy call. The nine Others, absent with or without
leave are Mcssrs Blair ard Chandler, of New lamp
shire Farwcll. Of Illinois; Jones Of Nevada Moody
Here y Sorh DaEots and squire. Of Washington
The New Hampshire senator VIII yt"fn W aat OF
tai gle at Concord. who're Mr. Blair Is making can
to succeed himself The two south Dakota s M
atOrs are likely {" b. here carly IN the week. Nr
Moody ha, fight for re election on his hand ana
brother. Mr. Pierce. who is Jng To- succeed hinseh
| in North Dakota. has rs canvas In such promN-
ing shape that he can anon 10 rclHrn NJ sea- Yy
i; also about 10 leave lis llcutcnants IN charge at
c6ilea.Ies Mcssrs Jdic, ard squire arc the
Pacific Coast trying 10 be returned by The Legislatures
Of any immediate service to the party Mr. Pa I'd
dock went home to Nebraska cw days ago on " IN.
p0rtant business He may return shortly, but ms
mona appearance Will surprise no one. Mr. Paddock
Is rather lnkewarm supporter Of the Election nv:
forty seven forty eight Republicans here BY Iuesd
or Wednesday and there scarcely be less on hand
than ne nrc,- 5iry forty i've. Another important
matter-that Of freeing all pairs In the event ~ no
guoruu-has air, adv been attended 10. The charge
of all Ecrucan Lalrs has been turned senator
Casey OF North Dakota. and he VIII see that no Demo
cratic senator. by abScnng himself VIII he able 10
! deprive an additional Republican vote rom being
couutcd Ia I'll ont broken quorum. Mr. Ca'rv hA'
proved . careful and pain taking whip. ana me
na-co - week, ago. when VIZ. fi"af 'ohh
get than thirty votes recorded On his motion 10
hold an session. h. not hciN to occur AGAIN
IL il Significant that the NOTICE 4" al! Republican sen
atorS - have their pair, rcarfauged came from the
caucu, committee the order Of business. aud "aN
signed hy Nr. plunb. Of Kansas, who IT, chairman
Mr. Plumb il + understood. i n0" actng ~ harmony
with tn great majority Of hi, coll agnes ana VIII sup
/ port both the ruc and the ElcrtlIn BIZ Ih"re
are n fact only fOur Republican senator. left who are
/ likely vote against Tie Election l-Mca'rs. Sic"
! art Teller Nolcrtt aud Wa-hlurn.
scuatorclcc Mcconnell, OF Idaho. NAV bc sworn IN
10 morrow morning, and IN THAT case the drawing ioF
term from that STAT" viii take place at once MI
! NcConncrs crcdeutal, arr now before the Scu1t"
Committee ~ Privilege, and Elections. but thor" j. no
uctcucc Of contest against him, ana no reason why
! he should not promptly take his seat