The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-12-13
IN WASHINGTON.
cMocRATs pIscuss A PLAN.

directed the "steering committee" to
prepare an order of business which
would present for the consideration
Of the senate the following subjects
OF legislation:
A bankruptcy bill; a bill for the
construction Of the Nicaragua canal |;
currency bill.
Bills for the admission Of Arizona
and New Mexico; a bill involving
the interests Of the Indian Territory;
for the consideration of the house
OF representatives on the election Of
United States senators by the people,
sad'such other measures, including
the appropriation bills, as the steer
ing committee may deem important.
That in their report in caucus the
"steering committee" shall provide
the order in which the above subjects
of legislation shall be considered.
The caucus was in session from Q
O'Clock until 4:30 p. M, and almost
the entire time was devoted to the
discussion of the first proposition of
Senator Daniel, instructing the
committee on rules to bring in an
amendment for closure, and the
speeches at times were very spirited.
Senator Vest, Villas, Berry and
George made speeches favoring the
proposition, while Senators German,
Morgan, Palmer, Harris, Pugh and
others opposed it with vigor and
warmth.
The speeches were in the same
vein as those which have been made
In the senate, except that the
speakers 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
protection which the present rules
would afford, while on the other side
the advocates of closure urged
the importance of the supple
mentary tariff bills, and admitted
very frankly that there was no
possibility Of such action without a
rule for the limitation of debate.
The opponents Of change evil
IDENTIFY had the best of the argument
from the beginning. 1t is UNDER
stood that they even invoked the
ghost of the force bill and urged that
If the republicans should get into
power they would revive this
measure. Senator German took the
lead in pressing these views in oppo
sition to closure.
Senator Palmer, who had hereto
fore been an advocate of closure,
indicated a change of position and
made vigorous protest against the
adoption of the resolution. He said
the democrats were losing theil
majority in the senate and said il
would be the acme of foolisLness tC
tie their hands at such a critical
time.
The protest against the proposed
change was 80 general that when q
vote was taken no one considered II
necessary to ask for the yeas and
nays. When the closure proposition
was defeated the friends of the
tariff bills gave up the fight, consid
ering it unnecessary to make any
attempt to revive their consideration
in view of the opposition of ma
jority of the republicans and because
of the fact that any determined
, opposition, under the rules, would
. insure their defeat. Hence it is that
those bills do not appear in the
official list of bills to be presented
, for the consideration of the senate.
The order for preparation of the
, currency bill by the finance com
, mittee carries with it instructions te
, take the recommendation of the
, president and secretury of the
treasurery into consideration. The
order is also broad enough to include
/ any other suggestion of a financia
character which may be presented
and the senators favorable to silver
| who were present at the caucus say
that it is also understood that 9
J feasible proposition for the utilization
, of silver is to be included in any
, currency scheme presented to or by
/ the committee.
SENATE DISCUSSES CHANGE OF RULES.
In the United States senate las
week there was q spirited debate