Evening star., 1894-04-11
TIME FOR DEBATE
The Present Agreement Governing
the Senate Discussion.
TIE LEADERS SPARRIEG FOR POSITION
The Prospect for Heightened Ses-
slons Next Week.
THE REP PUBLICAN PLANe

The truce entered irto by the opposing
forces in the Serate, whereby Il was
agreed that for the present week the de-
bate on the tariff bill should be confined 20
the hours between l and 5 o'clock each
day, end that during that time there should
De no interruption by roll calls or for any
other cause. was the result Of an under
standing, first among the democratic lead
ers and secondly between the republicans
and democrats
SEM tor Hlrris who has heretofore been
acting UIon his individual responsibility I'm
The efforts he has made to expedite bus
mess, has called the members Of the DEM
ocratic steering committee together ana
told them that he desired henceforth TO
have their constant cooperation and ad-
wee In the management of the bill The
result OF this conference. due largely TO the
advice of Senator Harris himself vyas ,hat
the democrats decided that il the republic
cans would agree TO any definite arrange
,,n,,, ,r,en, oevotlng reasonable time TO the
uninterrupted discussion of the bill they
would come TO terms. This discussion was
baseo upon the belief general among them
mat II was yet early in the debate 10 press
very hard for prolonged hours
consequently. when Senators Aldrich ana
ridIe, on behalf OF the republicans sought
senator Harris. he was empowered 10 en-
yer INTO negotiations with them, and the
result Of this conference
senator Harris said in discussing the
agreement that the democrats appreciated
.lle importance OF the tariff bill and the
necessity for a thorough discussion OF lis
provisions. They realized. he said that
time must be consumed in general debate
ana the desire of the democratic managers
was 10 provide definite time for the dis
cussion, which should not be interr,lDted
ms they had not succeeded in obtaining
and Senator Harris said they were en-.
urely satisfied with the arrangement
Plans for the Future.
The general impression about the Senate
is that the agreement entered into win
probably continue for a fortnight but
Senator Harris said he had not agreed To
extend the time beyond the present week.
for the reason that he did not wish 10 be
,S pound when 1t should become apparent
that legitimate debate is exhausted
we may" he said, wish 70 extend the
hours at any time. at first TO g. then prob
ably to 4, :, 3 and II O'Clock and after that
all night, and TO provide for sitting contin-
uously. / can't say he added, when we
shall undertake to make this change. We
have TO exhaust the speeches before we can
pass the bill, but when IT is evident that
the legitimate debate is concluded. we
snail press the consideration with ali the
means at our command. under the rules
OF the Senate. We expect TO have 10 keep
quorum and be prepared for a severe
physical test before the end, but the i'm
portance of the bill is such and as I re-
gard it, the importance of early action
is such that we shall be justified in press
ing the subject as rapidly as we possibly
can
The republican steering committee OF the
Senate held a meeting in Senator Hale's
committee room today for conference con-
cernlns the program to be pursued by the
republican side Of the Senate on the tariff
bill. There was a general exchange of opin-
ions among the Senators present. but no
decision was reached. except to allow the
DEBATE 10 90 on under the present arrange
rhent as long as the speeches hold out ana
the democratic managers are acQuiescent
The members of the committee were in
clined TO congratulate themselves over the
present agreement. which calls for but four
. hours a day of speechmaking, and the feel
ing was general that they had succeeded
IN securing a very liberal concession.
The opinion also seemed quite general
that the present truce would continue for
at least another week. This belief they
Dase upon private conversations with the
democratic managers, and if this further
concession is made the republicans will
probably be satisfied Hence they con-
cluded that IL would not be wise even in
accordance with their wishes TO attempt
TO delay the consideration Of the bill as
long as the democrats should show a dispo-
sition not to crowd the bill too much and
the opinion was expressed by some OF the
Senators present at the conference that
/ two weeks more of uninterrupted debate
would be sufficient to exhaust the speeches
in general debate. They will, therefore,
probably say to the democrats that IL the
agreement can be allowed 10 continue I'm
effect for another week after the present
they will make an effort to conclude the
general speech making as TO take up
the schedules at the beginning of the week,
commencing on the 23d instant
IL the democrats agree TO this PROPOSE
ton the present order of speech making
will run along smoothly for ten days until
the bill shall be taken UP paragraph by
paragraph. when the real contest will be-
gin. go