New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-21
DEMOCRATIC FILIBUsTERNG.


WASHINGTON March 2O-A more senseess per
formquce than that III which the Democrats in the
House INDUCED to-day under the leadership OF
hf-ssrs Sparks Springer and Blackburn, ii would be
difficult TO imagine About o'clock this afternoon
Chairman Reed, of the Judiciary Committee, offered
resolution providing that time be >et for conSld-
Grafton of the Geneva Award bill and Immediately
the Democrats began to flibuster. After two hours
had been wasted the lack of quorum was disclosed
anG "A call of the House was ordered An hour
passed before absent members began to come Id
under arrest Then followed the farcical proceed
ing, usual on such occasions.
At ; o'clock dozen members had been brought
in and each had been required to give an excus for
his absspce. The House rs obliged 10y a formal vote
TO act OIL the excuse in each case and members
think it a very funny thing for them to yell out a
chorus of noes" and them on advisor, to reverse
tins vote Each time they accomplish this humor-
ous feat they slap their thighs and laugh as though
they had done the funniest thing III the world,
The House is easily amused, for certainly the
greater part of to-night's performance was as des
ttute of any element of humOr as anything that
coud be imagined. 90
The proceeding was not entirely without gnli-
cance however. for the Democrats have now shown
their hand and emphasized their determination nor
10 allow majority of the House TO control the order
of busiuess The motion Of Mr. Reed related simply
TO tie order Of business aud did not touch the con
alteration of any measure whatever. 1t was evil
dent that an overwhelming majority of the HOust-
probably more than tWO-thlTds-taVored the adOp-
tion OF the resolution, and yet the Democrats Wer
able 10 waste hours of the time Ot the House u pre-
vent its consideration. The Democrats offered
as the only excuse for their hlbustenng mat
while they are willing to join hands with the
Kepublicans TO facilitate the public business they
are opposed to giving any private measures prefer
ence in the order OF considerations and they insist
that the Geneva Award bill is private legislation.
THIS, of course. is very thin pretext and Is no
valid excuse. =,
About 10 o'clock, a quorum being present Mr.
Reed moved that further proceedings under tho or
der for a call OF the House be vacated ana TINS mo-
tion was unanimously carried. The question then
REQUIRED on the motion to suspend the rules, and
again the Democrats refused to vote.
After some time spent without any progress, MT.
Kenna, of West Virginia moved tnat yea and nay
vot, be taken Oh its adoption. his was done, re-
motion to adjourn having been defeated early III
the evening, the Speaker ruled that no Other
motion to adjourn could be entertained
until after the pending mOtOn TO sus-
pend the rules had been disposed Of
At IL o'clock AUTam ;. Hewitt offered compromise
proposition TO the effect that the Geneva Award bill
aha for April J, but General Bragg, OF WIS
consin insisted that the Speaker shou d decide the
point of order and at near midnight the Speaker
delivered decision ovcrrullng the point raised BY
MT. Black burn that he had a Ilght 10 renew the
motion to adjourn House, of Tennessee, appealed
from the decision and demanded the yeas and nays,
which were ordered. he motion TO taDle
the appeal carried 10y a majority
Of about two TO one, Dut not
a quorum voted and after considerable discussion
the satisfaction of tine Speaker that he had made a
point, On this another call of the House was then
ordered and was proceeding at lZ:l5 a. n with
strong Indications oi an all-mght session.