The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-07

GORMAN OPPOSED 1T.

WAsHINeToN. Dec 7.-Yesterday's
Democratic caucus directed the steer
ing committee to prepare an order
for business which should present for
the consideration of the senate the
following subjects Of 1egislation: A
bankruptcy bill. a bill for the con-
struetion of the Nicaragua canal. a
currency bill. bills for the admission
Of Arizona and New Mexico, bill
involving the interest of the Indian
territory, for the considera ton of the
joint resolution of the house of rep
resentatives on the election of United
States senators by the people, and
such other measures, including the
appropriation bill. as the steering
committee may deem important
That in their report to caucus the
steering committee shall provide the
order in which the above subjects of
legislation shall be considered
The caucus was in session from ,
o'clock until 4.30 p. IN. and almost the
entire time was devoted to the dis
cussIOn of the first proposition of Sen
atOr Daniels, instructing the com NIT
tee ON rules to bring in an amend
ment for q clOture. and the speeches
were at times very spirited Senators
Vest, Villas, Berry and George made
speeches tavoring the proposition.
while Senators German, Morgan.
Palmer, Harris. Pugh and others OPP
posed it with vigOr and warmth.
The speeches were in the same
vein as those which have been made
in the senate, except that the speak
ers discussed party questions with
more freedom, pointing out the fact
that on one side the Democrats would
soon be in the minority in the senate
and probably in need Of the protec-
tion which the present rules would
afford. while on the other side the
advocates of clOture urged the imDor-
tance of the supDleIne ntary tariff
bills, and admitted very frankly that
there was 10 possibility Of su oh ac-
tion without a rule for the linn atiOn
of ebate.
The opponents OF the change had
the best Of tine argument from the
beginning. Tt is understood thew
even invoked the ghost of the force
bin and urged that f the Repu blicans
should get into power they would re-
vive the measure Senator German
took the lead in pressing the views
of the opposition to cloture Senator
Palmer, who had here tOfOre been an
advocate of cloture, indicated a
change of position and made a vigor-
GUS protest against the adoption Of
the resolution He said the Demo
Gratis would lose their majority ia the
senate within a few weeks and said
10 would be the acme Of fOOlishne IS
TO tie their hands at such a critical
time The protest against the pro-
posed change was so general that
when a vote was taken no one cOnsid-
cred it necessary to ask for the
ayes and nays When the cloture
provision was defeat ted the friends of
the tariff bill gave up the fight, con-
sidering it unnecessary to revive their
consideration in view Of the Opposi-
sion of maj ority OF the Repu blicans
and because Of the fact any deter
mined opposition under the rules
would insure their defeat Hence it
is that those bills DO not appear IN
official list of bills to be presented for
the consideration of the senate.
The order for a preparation of the
currency bill by the finance commit
tee carries with it Instructions to take
the recOmm endatiOn of the president
and secretary Of the treasury into
consideration. The order is also
broad enough to include any other
suggestion Of a financial character
which may be presented and the SEN
ators favora BILE to silver. who were
present at the caucus say it is also
understood feasible proposition for
the utilization of silver Is To be in
cluded in any currency scheme pre-
scented to or BY the committee.
No meeting Of the steering commit
tee has yet been called and there has
consequently been no agreement as
TO the order in which the bills agreed
upon shall be taken up