The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-11
VOTE WILL BE VERY CLOSE
WITH THE CHANCES SLIGHTLY In
FAVOR OF ADOPTION.
Bill Reported BACK by the Ways and
Means Committee with Recon-
menaation that 1t he Passed.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

except Mccall, or massachusetts,, Ordered
the Porto Rico bill reported back to the
House with recommendation that all the
Senate amendments be concurred in. There
was little discussion in committee. the mo-
ton to concur being made by General Gros-
venor, the personal representative of the
administration in the committee and on the
floor. The roll call resulted:
Yeas-Payne, Dalzell, Grosvenor, Russell,
Dolliver, Steele and Long, all Republicans
s.
Nays-McCall, Republican, Richardson,
Swanson, Mcclellan, Underwood, Demo-
crats-5.
The committee on rules, of which Speaker
Henderson is chairman, will meet at IL
o'clock tomorrow morning, when a special
order will be framed regulating the length
of the debate and the time for taking the
final vote in the House. The programme
tonight is to set o'clock tomorrow after
noon as the hour for taking the vote. In
der this arrangement the time for debate
will be two hours on each side
The fate of the bill is still shrouded in
uncertainty, with the chances slightly in
favor of its passage by a majority some
what less than that with which 1t was
jammed through the House five weeks ago.
outlook tonight is that If 1t passes to-
morrow it will be by not more than half
that majority. Notwithstanding the Repub-
lican vote in the House has been increased
since then by the unseating of two Demo-
Gratis on contests and the seating Of two
Republicans In their stead. The Repub-
lican majority is now eighteen. not count
ing Sibley, of Pennsylvania, who was elect
ed as a Democrat, but who is now candi-
date for denomination as a Republican.
EIGHT REPUBLICAN REBELS"
Eight Republicans are sure to vote against
the bill-Crumpacker. Fletcher, Heatwole,
Lane, Littlefeld, Lorimmer, Mccall and
Warner-all of whom, except Lane and
Warner, voted against 1t before, these two
being unavoidably absent. This will re-
duce the regular Republican majority to
two. Sibley will swell it to four. De Vries,
a California Democrat who voted for the
bill before, is now against 1T. Davey and
Meyer, the two Louisiana Democrats who
voted for it before, are in doubt. The
ways and means leaders claim that they
will be here and vote to concur. If this
is right their votes would swell the major
ity to eight but Mr.. Underwood, the Demo-
cratic whip. claims that no Democrat will
vote for the bill. He has ceased counting
Sibley in that class, but, of course. counts
Davey and Meyer in it. He does not say
they will vote against the bill, but contents
himself with the oracular statement that
no Democrat will vote for it. If Davey and
Meyer are absent and not paired. it would
make the majority for the bill six.
These calculations are based on the theory
that every member of the House will either
vote or be paired. Every effort is being
made by each side to have all its votes on
hand. All general and permanent pairs
have been declared off, and no new ones
have been made, except where both parties
to 1t have been present and the agreement
has been signed in writing. 1t is entirely
within the possibilities of the case that the
result may be decided by any advantage
either side may have over the other i'm the
matter of absentees and pairs. For this
reason, if for other, the result will re-
announced by the speaker.
The free trade Republicans are not claim
ing any recruits. but they hope to gain one
or more votes. Representative Henry c.
Smith, of Michigan, has never liked the
tarin with Porto RICO, and voted for IL be-
fore with the utmost reluctance as, indeed
did several other Republicans. Now he Is
receiving numerous kilograms and letters
urging him to vote against the whole prop
osition. He has not said what he will do.
but he may nerve himself TO take that
course So the pale cast of doubt is over
ii, although the Republican managers,
Speaker Henderson, Messrs. Payne. Dalzell.
Grosvenor and the others, profess the ut
most confidence. Just the same, they wish
the ordeal was we'll over.
Representative Long, the Republican
whip, said to-day: There is too much
doubt to venture a prediction. The situa-
tion is summed up thus: The Republican
majority in the House is eighteen; there are
eight Republicans against the bill"
Representative Underwood, the Demo-
cratic whip, said: I'VE will have every man
present. except two sick in bed. There will
be no Democratic votes for the bill. This
will make the vote very close. and we hope
10 prevent concurrence"