St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-19
TO-DAY TO SETTLE IT.
The Fate Of the Elections Bill
Depends on the Republic
can Caucus.
Blair and Chandler Return to
Complete the Party
Quorum.
Everybody Watching the Free
Coinage Bill in the Lower
House.
Gar Reed and Little Ben Lay
ing Pipe to Throttle the
Measure.

/
States senate is on the verge of break
ing one of the most sacred of senatorial
tradltions-the unwritten rule that de-
bate on any measure may continue in
definitely. What is considered party
necessity has triumphed over custom,
and, though the change contemplated is
only temporary in it's character, it will
probably lead, if it be effected, to other
radical changes that will be permanent.
The crisis of the senate is at hand. The
fate of the elections bill will be de-
termined at caucus of Republican
senators to be held probably on Mon
day night to devise mode
| of procedure during the tendency
of the bill. At this caucus plans for
disposing of the closure rule without de-
lay will be discussed, and it is believed
that satisfactory arrangement will be
effected. although the unsatisfactory
proceedings of previous caucuses in
connection with the elections bill do not
held out much hope to the advocates of
the measure for settlement of the mat
ter. Senator Aldrich gave notice yes
terday that he would on Tuesday call
up the rule for closing debate on the
elections bill. The provisions of the rule
do not extend beyond the end of the
present session. Mr.. Aldrich has been
instructed by a Republican caucus to
report and call up the rule, and the
caucus Monday night will be confronted
with the task of finding means for dis
posing of it speedily, without offending
the public. Calling up
The Closure Rule
for discussion on Tuesday will probably
show what the Republican policy will
be, and, until then, or until after the
caucus is held. it is useless to attempt
to predict what the programme for the
week in the senate will be. Tomorrow
the Republicans will have quorum of
their own members by the return of
Senators Blair and Chandler. and con-
sequently there is no likelihood that the
Democrats will, as a last resort, attempt
to break a quorum by leaving the cham
Der. The proceedings in the house dur
ing this week will be governed in
a large measure by the progress
of the senate with the elections
bill, the purpose Of the Democrats
manifeStly being to delay business as
in the senate. The senate proceedings
will therefore furnish the motive power
for whatever Scene-Shifting takes place
in the house. The district aparopFia-
ton bin has right of way, and the pres
ent indications are that it will make no
more rapid progress this week than dur
ing the last Other appropriation bills
are treading on the heels of the dis
trict bill, and a day will be set for con-
sideration as soon as the de-
parting shadow of the bill now
before the house points the way.
Tomorrow, under the rules, will be
committee suspension day, and the
poStoffice committee wish to pass the
bill to reclassify the railway postal
service, but the outlook is not promis-
ing. The shipping bill and bills for
private relief are possibilities, though
not probabilities, for action during the
week. The principal interest is centered
in the proceedings of the house commit
tee to which the
Free Coinage Silver Bill
has been referred. The fate of the bill
depends largely upon its action, as the
committee practically has power to
shelve it, and thus render action by the
house almOst.if not quite impossible. For
this reason the proceedings OF the CON-
mittee will be followed with the liveli-
est interest. Its first movement of the
week will occur Wednesday, when Mr.
Leech, director of the mint. is expected
to present and give his views with re-
gard to the effect of silver legislation.
1t is the understanding that no attempt
shall be made to order a report
on the bill at this meeting of the COM
mittee, so that at the very earliest the sill
yer bill is not likely to engage the at
tention of the house until the following
week. The Post this morning, in dis
cuSSing the probable fate of the silver
bill in the house, after reciting the va
rious rumors which have been current
of the president and Speaker Reed says:
thine will develop that Speaker Reed,
both as member of the committee on
rules and as presiding officer of the
house, will lose no opportunity to thwart
the silver men in their attempts to get
tue bill before that body. The majority
of the committee will stand by the
speaker, and unless the silver men are
strong enough to take the matter out
of the hands of the committee it will
get no show in the present congress-
Should the bill pass the house,
the Post feels justified in saying
that it will meet an emphatic
veto by the president. giving
his reasons why such financial
legislation does not meet his approval.
While the president is strongly in favor
of the passage of the elections bill, and
may have received a direct promise
from the advocates of the free coinage
bill that they will pass the former if the
latter can become law, he cannot by
that method be brought to sign a free
coinage bill. The Post prints the above
very prominently, and the statements
made are doubtless by authority.