Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-25
SENATE BUSINESS
Groundless Fear That Some Appro-
priation Bill May Fail.
TEE PROGRAM OF THE LEADERS
Criticism of the Policy by the
Southern Men.
ALL w E l. l. IN II \ n d

been expressed about the backward condi-
tion of the appropriation bills IN the SEN
ate. X has seemed strange that with so
many of those bills to dispose of session
after session should be devoted exclu-
sively to long speeches about Hawaii and
the Nicaragua canal Now and then an
overanXous and inexperienced person has
asked the questions: Does il mean the fail
ure of one more of the supply bills?
Is an extra session of the next Congress
to be made absolutely necessary in that
way?
The leaders in the Senate are not in the
iE fact. that business in that body is pre-
Ci@6ly in the shape thought best for the
party and the country, and has been care
fully so arranged. 1t was seen at the out
set that the danger to be avoided was re-
opening of the tariff debate. The coaserva-
tives among the democrats felt confident
that this ought to lie prevented at all haz-
ards, and for that reason they resisted
every effort TO change the Jules and invite
an order OF procedure which might cancel
all existing calculations. They welcomed,
therefore. both the discussion of the Mica
ragua canal bill and that growing out
OF latest developments in Hawaii, and be-
gan to lend assistance at once in one way
or sHother 10 drawing out both debates.
Both topics Were to their liking, bringing
forward. both did, the foreign policy
anu subordinating for the time the domes-
tic policy of the government An oppor-
trnity to talk about national pride as in
volved in the Hawaiian matter, and nation
al duty as involved in the canal project,
was certain, II was seen, to be preferred
by Senators on both sides of the chamber
TO one relating only to tariff schedules ard
to tariff blunders.
The Currency Question.
Then came up-in some measure unex-
pectedly-the currency question in its new
and enlarged proportions. The democratic
conservative leaders did not want too
much discussion of that in the open Sem
ate They saw how serious the divisions
in their party were already on the subject.
and that no remedial legislation of a com
prehenslYe character would be possible at
this session. Time for the full ventilation
OF individual views would, they considered
be worse than time wasted. So, here again
Hawai and Nicaragua appeared in the
nature of boonS, and were grappled by the
democratic managers to the party bosom
with hooks of steel. Every hour spent in
the discussion of either subject has pleased
them beyond expression. Mr. German
takes no interest in Hawaii at this time
He has at no time manifested any concern
Tor the ADMINISTRATORS embarrassmentS
with regard to the islands. The belief IS
that he has from the outset rather held
with the Morgan democrats on the subject
At any rate. he considers the admin!Stra-
ton as fully committed by the record. and
way or the other by anything that can be
said in mere debate now.
The important point to he noted there
fore. in the present state of business in
the Senate is the fact that whatever may
be done with regard to the revenues or the
currency must in the nature of things be
by almost unanimous consent, and practi
cally without debate on the floor. There
will rot be time enough for protracted talk.
Any measure calling either for much urg
Ing or much explanation would be de-
feated by that fact alone. Senators on
both sides concede this. The effort-what
now is making worthy of the name
Is for simple measure of some kind.
which, coupled with short statement of
what the situation calls for, would inn
medately command support. The demo-
Gratis asking republican nelp on this
lire, and it is only on this line that the re-
pubiicans are considering the request.
Hence Mr.. Allison's proposition about eX-
chequer notes, and Mr.. Sherman'S measure
about bonds and the general impression
that if anything at all is done at this scs-
sion ii will take form after one or the
other. or both, of those suggestions.
Criticism of the Program.
The only criticism heard about this pro-
gram s that no measure of so great inn
portance should be fashioned by side con-
ferences and in committee rooms, and then
put through Congress in the expiring hours
of the session. Some of the southern men
offer this suggestion, and they emphasize
which. they now believe. would have
been better bill. and without any of the
elements of disaster. IL 1T had been con-
struCted more in the open and less under
the whip and spur of caucus dictatiOn.
They don't want to see that blunder
peated and some of them couldn't afford
to take another such risk. They will be
coming up for reelection in the next year
or two, and the Generalization existing
among their followers at home warns them
to be very careful as to all their future
steps. And about bonds in particular they
are very shy. Bonds and Wall street are con-
vertible terms throughout the south, and to
tag q public man with Wall street in any CT
the states between the Ohio river and the
Gulf of Mexico is to mark him for coffin
well nailed down and an early political
grave of full depth.
Appropriation Bills Well I'm Hand.
So far as the appropriation bills are con-
cerned. they are we'll in hand. No fear
whatever Is felt in senatorial circles as to
the failure of any of them. The Senate at
times appears to put some of these bills in
peril but il is said that this is always with
a purpose. The policy Is frequently adopt
ell when risky undesirable legislation is
threatened or damaging party debate is
ready to be sprung on the majority. The
Senate rules, against which so much iS
urged on other scores, seem, when applied
by skilled party leaders, to lend themselves
very well to this sort of thing. Both sides
employ this policy, the republicans, when
In power. freely and successfully as
do the democrats. 1t is regarded as alto
gether likely, too, that whenever the ques-
ton OF changing the Senate rules comes up
seriously for action this old practice will
be borne in mind. and any changes be made
with due regard to it. Many Senators con-
slider il essential to the securing of good
general legislation that the aDproprie ton
bills be used as buffers at any stage of the
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