St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-24
WASRBURN'S HOBBY.
Present Indications Are That
1t Will Be Laid on the
Table.
The Nicaragua and Immi-
grafton Bills Likely to Be
Used as Clubs.
Many Senator'S Fighting to
Prevent Anti-Options From
Coming to a Vote.
Senator Washburn Still Pro-
ReSses Confidence That the
Bill Will Pass.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-There are
rumorS of senatorial revolt against
the anti-option bill. The revolt is led
by the friends of the Nicaragua canal
and immigration bill. The particular
champion of the former is Senator
Sherman. who has thus far been
ready to vote for the anti-optiOn bill
should Senator Washburn succeed in
getting it to vote. But he does not
care to sit idly by and let the session go
to absolute waste just because Senator
WaShburu cannot get the senate to vote
upon his pet hobby. The majority of
the senators are getting tired of the anti
option debate, to which there appears to
be no end, and a determined effort
will be made to obtain a hearing for
other measures which are demanding
attention. Several senators have re-
Quested Mr.. Washburn to lay aside the
anti-Option bill for time, in order to
permit the consideration of bills In
which they are interested, but with only
one or two exceptions these requests
have been denied. Mr.. Washburn re-
CARDS his fight on the anti-option bill as
the vital point in his senatorial career,
and, having succeeded in placing it in
the advantageous position it now holds,
he does not propose to yield until ne has
brought it TO
A Test Vote.
The opponents of the bill are honest
In thinking and declaring that such
lnx TO hnx hn
mercial and business community. and
they feel themselves fully justified in
taking advantage of the fact that there
is in the senate rules no provision to cut
off debate. Their purpose is to keep on
talking about the bill until, at least,
such time as they may judge it to be
safe to allow it to go over to the house
for conference in the amendments Of
senate, hoping that when that time ar
rives it will be TOO late to receive cor-
Slderatlon at this session. Meanwhile,
however, some of them are considering
the advisability of antagOniZing it with
some other measure, and incidentally
testing the sense of the senate Oh the
bill. The first measure that will be put
forward to this end is the Nicaragua
canal bill. Senator Sherman has already
given notice that as soon as possible
after the holiday recess he will call up
this bill for consideration, and the votes
which will support his motion will
probably not allow them 10 be counted
for
The Canal scheme
when the proposition comes to be
passed upon. 1t will be really test of
strength between the supporters and
opponents of anti-option legislation. Ii
a majority of the senate votes against
the displacement of Mr. Washburn's
bill by other proposed legislation, the
present programme will be continued,
and there will be more speechifying on
options and futures. Senator Wash
burn, speaking of the situation, said to-
day:
II should not think it would be good
policy for Mr.. Sherman, or any other of
The friends of the Nicaragua canal
bill, TO place it in antagonism to the
anti-option bill. Personally, | favor
the proposed legislation for the canal,
but not TO such an extent as 10 permit
it to take the place now occupied by my
bill. There is a majority of two to one
in the senate in favor of the anti-option
measure. and this fact will be proved
when we get to direct vote upon it.
which | anticipate may be done about
he 18th or 18th of January"
what Will become of it in the house,
Benator?"
Four to One.
"Well, you know it had a majority of
nearly four to one there last session,
and the amendments which have been
adopted in the senate are not Of a char
acter to affect the principle of the bill.
| think they will be readily adopted by
the house. There is such an over
Rhelming sentiment in that body in
favor Of the measure that it may be the
bill will not be referred to the commit
tee, but will be taken up and passed
nnder a suspension of the rules. No
lime would thus be lost, and the bill
would quickly go to the president. who,
believe, is ready to sign it as soon as 1t
comes to him."
But, though the senator claims to be
confident, there is good reason to be-
ieve that he is far from confident. He
knows what a power Senator Sherman
Is, and besides Sherman there is the
persistent fighter. Senator Chandler,
who Will claim that the needs of the
country will require the consideration
Of the immigration bill. and that it is a
matter which will affect the health of
The whole country. Such plea will ap-
peal TO the senate very forcbly, and so
will the Nicaragua canal scheme. A
great many senators have promised to
vote for the anti-option bill, not be-
cause they themselves believe in it nor
because Washburn asked them, but
because number of their constituents
are farmers who have been befogged
by the sophistries of the anti-optionists,
and have insisted that their senatorial
representatives should vote for it If it
gets to vote. But they will do their
best to prevent it getting to vote and
ut the same time not arouse the sus-
picions of their fanatical constituents.
They believe that they can do that by
advocating the consideration of the
canal and immigration bills, and to-
gether with the opponents of the anti
option bill lay Washburn's hobby on
the table for the rest of the session.