The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-15
HATCH DOINGHARDWORK
THE ANTI-OPTIONs BILL MAY BE
PASSED UNDER CLOSURE.

Mr.. Hatch Working to Secure a Ma
jority of the Democrats on a Peti-
ton to Have a Closure Resolution
Rsported-A Fair Chance That He
VIII succeed-A Veto Then the Only
Remaining Chance of Killing the
Bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Chairman Hatch
is very non-oommunicative as to the plan
he has formed for carrying the anti-option
bill through, but he has had an increased
air Of confidence for the last few days which
leads people to believe that he has perfected
a plan which he thiuks will succeed. The
plan attributed to MIN is similar to that
tried by the advocates Of repeating the
Sherman silver law last week. II he can
induce the committee on rules so bring in
special order providing for consideration of
the anti-option bill and the Senate amend
ments, he might ask his friends TO vote
down the previous question on the adoption
Of the order and then offer an amendment
providing for a vote at q certain hour
Such motion on his part would probably
command majority of the House, for the
mass Of the republican members are re-
ported TO be ready to vote with the option
bill democrats in favor of closure. Mr..
Hatch has first, however. to get his special
order before the House.
AFTER SIGNATURES.
This he is seeking to do by a petition TO
the committee on rules, for which he is try
ing TO get majority Of the democratic sig
natures. The committee on rules do not de-
sire to report any such order, but they can
not well refuse it If Mr.. Hatch succeeds in
getting majority of the democratic mem~
bers OF the House to ask for it. There is
undoubtedly such a majority in favor of
the anti-option bill, but some of them may
not be so strongly in favor of it as TO Join
heartily in Mr.. Hatoh's plan.
II the anti-option bill becomes a law, it
will be largely because of the indifference
of the business community toward it,
There are plenty Of members Of the House
who would have voted against IL If they had
heard from their constituents on that side
of the issue. The members who have led in
the fight against the bill have repeatedly
| urged upon the business community of New
York, Chicago and New Orleans that the
course tor them to pursue was to impress
upon their correspondents all over the
country the injury the bill would work to
legitimate trade In cotton and grain, and
the resulting injury 20 even honest in
dustry.
MUST BLAME THEMSELVES
The members who have urged this policy
say that if their advice had been taken the
bill would not be now within a hairs
breadth of going upon the statute books and
that frantic expostulation at the last
moment would not be SO necessary. Mem
bers who are comparatively indifferent to-
| ward the measure have committed them
selves by voting with its friends, and do not
now like to turn backward upon
their records. If MIR. Hatch carries a
closure amendment nothing but veto mes
sage from the President will stop the bill
| There have been rumors that veto would
| be forthcoming, but no one seems to be
| qualified to speak with authority on the
subject. The pOstponement of the action in
the House until the middle of next week
might help the President to kill the bill by
enabling him to withhold his signature and
let it fail by the adjournment of the two
houses within the ten days allowed him for
consideration.