Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-03
AFRAID OF THE ELECTIONS BILL.
How the Famous Measu.s Has Influenced
Other Legislation.

How the Famous Measu.e Has Influenced
Other Legislation.
There has been a genuine scare over the
federal elections bill during these dying mo-
ments Of the Fifty-first Congress. The whole
thing grew out of the disposition of some of
the southern Senators to prevent the shipping
bill from becoming law. The revival of force
bill talk occurring close upon the death of SEN
ator Hearst gave rise to the suspicion that Mr..
Hoar might make another attempt TO get his
bill through the Senate, the open opposition
being by that death reduced to a minority, but
it was not the death of the California Senator
which provoked the danger Of q resurrection
Of this moribund measure.
From some quarter certain friends Of the
shipping bill got an impression that if the force
bill failed the democrats would not make fac
tious fight upon the shipping bill, but would let
1t come to fair vote at all stages of its pro-
gress. opposing il on principle on the various
votes, but not filibustering against it,
HOLDING DEMOCRATS IN CHECK.
When the bill went through the House in
amended form an opportunity was given to de-
feat it on its coming back to the Senate. Sew
eral democratic Senators said openly that they
would see that no action was taken on the
amendments. and that, with even 80 much as
a chance at 1t, they would talk the bill to death
This made the friends OF the bill very angry
They promptly accused the dem ocrats of bad
faith, and threatened to join with Mr.. Hoar's
forces and put the federal elections bill through
the Senate as il passed the House, if the threats
against the shipping bill were carried out.
They were in earnest ard proposed to do in
a few hours what their party had failed to do
afte.: many months OF labor. Just how they
were to do it is matter concerning which
some difference of opinion exists, but the threat
coming Immediately afte- the death of Mr.
Hearst, and coming from sources supposed to
be opposed to the force bill, was sufficient to
make the democrats cautious and to secure the
action on the shipping bill which followed yes
terday. All day Sunday, and until the mat
ter was settled yesterday, the democratic lead
ers were ANXIOUS and there was deal of hard
work done by them on SUNDAY. To this fright
is due the acton on the subsidy bill yesterday.
Had it not been for the fear that the force bill
would be passed there are several Senators who
would have consumed enough time when the
measure came up for action on = the House
amendments TO have defeated il.
HOW LEGISLATION WAS AFFECTED.
When the truth of history is all told the pub
lie will be astonished at the tremendous infiu-
ence the force bill has had on all the Legislation
during this session. OF course, by the con-
sumption of time. it has defeated many meas
uree, out TINS Is one OF tne lnulrect results OF
its presence on the calendar To the casual
observer it appears that it effected the passage
of the free coinage bill through the Senate.
Undoubtedly the democrats helped Stewart.
Teller. Wolcott and the other silver men to get
their bill through at the tail Of the session. partly
out Of gratitude for their opposition 70 the
force bill and partly for the reason that
they were ready to give consideration
to any measure which could crowd the force
bill on. Of place for awhile. But by paradox,
the most conspicuous result of the presence Of
the force bill in the Senate was the defeat Of
all legislation on the silver question. There is
reason to believe that this was the purpose of
some of those most active in its advocacy II
is almost a certainty in the minds of most stu
dents Of legislation that had not the elections
bill been constantly before the Senate there
would have been time to pass q free coinage
bill through both the Senate and House. 1t is
said by a leading authority that at the opening
of this session the force bill was TO be held BY
certain eastern republicans in the way Of silver
legislation as long possible. Besides killing
silver legislation the force bill secured the pes
sage Of the postal subsidy bill and various other
measures, and had far-reaching influence upon
the whole session.