Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-23
WHAT 1T MAY COST.
The Effect of a Continued Filibuster
in the Senate.
TARIFF MEASURES IN DANGER.
Establishing Precedents That May
Thwart Democratic Plans.
MR.. VOORHEES, FOLLOWERS.

MR.. VOORHEES, FOLLOWERS.
The consideration that what they do now
| to defeat the silver repeal bill will probably
furnish the precedent for the defeat Of the
tariff and other legislation may cause the
democratic anti-repeal men to desist from
filibuster before they reach the extreme.
The theory upon which the Senate dis
penses with any rule for the previous ques-
tion Is that ultimately a majority can al
ways get vote on any measure. the con-
sideration of which has begun early enough
in the session. 1t is evident that a deter
mined minority cannot be hurried or worn
out by continuous sessions but the same
custom which permits them to talk to their
hearts content presupposes that when they
have no more arguments to present and
there Is no longer any hope Of their gaining
more strength for their cause they will
permit vote to be taken.
Therefore 1t Is persistently asserted that
measure having the constant and earnest
support of a majority is sure to be voted
on. If this theory holds good, however, II
does not necessarily follow that a vote can
be had on the Voorhees, repeal BILL for the
reason that though a majority of the Sem
ate are committed. in one way and another.
IN FAVOR OF the measure, there Is not yet a
majority who really want to see the Sher-
man law repealed Internationally. There
| Is excellent authority for this assertion and
very Few. II any, familiar with the situa-
ton doubt its accuracy.
There are three classes of democrats and
three classes of republicans. nominally in
favor Of repeal. who are not counted as
greatly in earnest. and this fact accounts
has resorted to any method for forcing a
vote. A considerable number Of those Sem
| Rtors who make up the majority who will
vote for repeal II q vote Is reached cannot
he counted this time aSaiqt in
bringing about a vote.
The Fifty Repeal Men.
A reliable canvass Of the Senate shows
that there are fifty Senators who are COM
mitted to repeal and thirty-five against 1t.
All Of the thirty-five anti-repeal men cannot
be counted as filibusters. and a number
OF the fifty cannot be relied on for any
thing but their votes on the final passage
of the bill. If that stage is reached.
When the Senate was first reorganized
| there were forty-nine Senators opposed to
unconditional repeal, or a majority of thir-
teen against unconditional repeal. Since
then, by one means and another, enough
changes have been brought about to give
the repealers fifty votes.
OF this number there are some who are
honestly opposed to the unconditional repeal
| OF the Sherman law. who think that there
should be some legislation favorable to
silver substituted for 1t when 1t Is re-
| pealed. but who feel the necessity of sup
porting the democratic administration and
are willing to make almost any sacrifice n
they have to. to hold the party together.
These men would be glad II something
would happen to make this sacrifice on
their part unnecessary.
Some other democrats who are committed
TO repeal believe in 1t as much as does the
President. but they represent Constituents
majority OF whom believe in silver and
these Senators know that the casting of
their votes for the Voorhees, bill is liable
| to cost them their seats in the Senate
They, too. would be glad IL they should he
deprived of an opportunity to cast the votes.
There Is still another class smaller than
the otner TWO classes. who believe that the
law should be repealed and whose constitu-
ents agree with them. but who are prevent
| ed from holding any great interest in the
eHort TO reach vote on the bill because
they DO not enjoy the confidence of the Pres.
| ident, and would take some satisfaction in
MS defeat In matter which he has SO
much at heart.
The democrats in these three classes can
not be relied on to do much to aid Mr. voor-
hees In his efforts to get a vote on the bill.
Position of Republicans.
Among the republicans there are some
| from the west who are giving their SUPPORT
| to this bill because they believe in II. but
they know that in doing so they weaken
| themselves at home. A majority OF their
people may agree with them, but by their
votes they are sure to offend a considerable
element of their former support. If they
can avoid this they will not be sorry 9th
ers three or four, perhaps. are personally
opposed to repeal, but representing eastern
states In the Senate, where the sentiment
| Is supposed to be all one way they ha We
| thought 1t wise to advocate repeal They
count to make up the majority for repeai
but they have no heart In it. One of these
said today that he believed he was mistaken
| In his assumption that the people of his
state were interested in having the law
repealed since the only communicate he
had had from his home on the subject were
a ora h0 Il
fully that he was committed to the measure
! and would vote for 1t II a vote were reached
Another class Of republicans who are num-
bered among the supporters of the admin
istraton In this matter are a few who want
| the law repealed, but who would regard the
| repeal as dearly bought II along with II
went the destruction Of the federal election
laws now on the statute books. These men
are not willing to do anything in aid of the
Voorhees, bill which will also facilitate the
passage through the Senate Of the bill re-
pcalng the election laws. AS much as they
| would like to knock out silver they would
still be complacent with the Sherman law
standing on the statute books, IL the meth
| DDS which prevented its repeal should also
prevent the passage Of a low tariff bill and
the federal elections bill. 1t is evident that
II filibuster can kill the Voorhees, bill that
! the Senate will be like a stone wall during
the rest OF the Congress and against it will
be shattered all these other PROPOSITIONS.
From this 1t may be seen what an uncer-
TAIN suppoTt tHe NOOrneeS Dill mas. Yet
| there Is this in its favor: The senators who
| have reluctantly committed themselves to
vote for it. If vote is reached" may, by
reason OF the fact that they have cut them
selves off from their old associations with
silver. be compelled to help to bring about
| vote on the bill, lest, being 1T outs with
one SET and Of but uncertain standing with
| the other. they lose all their prestige and
| find themselves with friends on neither side.
Again, the fear Of losing both the tariff
| bill and the federal elections repeal bill NAV
render more conservative some Of the dem
ocrats who are now bent on ilibustering,