The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-04-11
THE EXCLUSION BILL
Tho Chances for Its Passage
go. Through the Senate.
A LENGTHY DISCUSSION PROBABLE.

Another Subject to Come Before the
Upper House Is the Proposed Com
stitutional Amendment Providing
for the Election of United States
Senators by Popular Vote.
WASHINGTON, April 11.-Considerable
interest is felt as to the probable course
of the senate committee on foreign re-
lations ON the house Chinese total ex-
clusion bill, which was referred to that
committee on Wednesday last. No &C.
tion was taken on the bill by the COM
be made by the Pacific coast senator's,
through Mr.. Dolph, who is member
of the committee, to force a favorable
report on Wednesday next. Failing in
that an attempt will probably be made
to release the committee from further
consideration of the bill, and to pass it
through the senate by hurrah vote.
The Scott exclusion bill of 1888 was
signed by both house and senate with
out reference to the committee on for
eign affairs in either body. The only
three votes cast in the senate at that
time against the bill came from Hoar,
of Massachusetts,; Brown, of Georgia,
and Wilson, of Iowa. But point
strongly urged in the previous discus
sion was that China had substantially
agreed to treaty covering the stipula-
tions in the bill, and only withheld its
ratification of the treaty because of
some verbal amendments inserted by
I the senate The present measure is
much more drastic, and mas no such
quasi treaty backing it as had the Scott
bill.
During its passage through the house
it was assailed by Hooker, Dem, of
Mississippi, and Hitt Rep, of Illinois,
both members of the foreign affairs
committee, as a violation of national
faith. In previous debate on the Scott
bill in the senate Mr.. Sherman said:
"No one doubted the power of congress
to mako law for the public safety,
even in violation of a treaty" This
proposition was, however, advanced by
him with sundry qualifications which
may possibly be held to exclude the
pending measure from the operation of
that principle.
A lengthy Chinese exclusion discus
sion in the senate is, therefore, not en-
tirely outside the possibilities of the
week.
Senators by Popular Vote.
Among the other subjects which are
likely to come before the senate during
the coming week one of the first will be
the proposed constitutional amendment
providing for the election of United
States senators by a direct vote of the
people. Mr.. Chandler has given notice
of an intention to speak against the
proposition. After that it will go to
the committee on Judiciary, which has
already prepared, through a sub-com-
mittee, a bill favoring the measure.
The old arrangement of last week that
two uninterrupted days should be de-
voted by the senate to bills on the cal
endar, which, as anticipated, was broken
in upon by the appropriation bills and
the silver debate. still holds good. Mr..
Dolph, the mover OF this order of busi-
ness has at the top of the list measure
for the purchase of lands for coast de.
fenses in the state of Oregon. There are
altogether about $50 unopposed bills on
the calendar. There are also several
bills adversely reported, which have an
equal chance of being called up under
the five minute rule which prevails in
respect to calendar business. Mr. Stew.
arts free coinage bill is one of these
but the fact is generally accepted that
Mr.. Wolcott pronounced the funeral
Grafton over the dead body of the silver
bill, for this session at least, on Tuesday
last.
In the Lower House.
Tho coming week in congress will
witness slight change in the subjects
which have been under discussion for
the past three weeks. The tariff will be
temporarily laid and attention will be
given to the appropriation bill. To-day
is district day, and there are many
measures of local interest which will re
ceive favorable recommendation. To
morrow the naval appropriation bill
will be taken up and at least two days
if not three, will be consumed in its
discussion. The question of the new
cruisers will give rise to considerable
debate, The sundry civil bill may also
be taken up after the naval bill is dis
posed of, and ON Friday there will be al
attempt to secure the day for the bill,
upon the private calendar. The mex
tariff measure to receive consideration
is the binding twine bill, but it is alto
gether likely that this will not be taker
MP until next week.