The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-10
STILL UNBRoKEN.


Status of Business Is Unchanged.
Special to the Indianapoiis Journaa-
WASHINGTON. April 9--There is no change In
the status of business in the House of Repre-
sentatives. The deadlock continues, and the
direct-tax bill Is in the same condition it was
six days ago. This afternoon Mr.. Oates of
Alabama, who is the leading flibuster, told his
followers TO prepare sit the thing out; that he
did not even want recess till the question was
settled. So at o'clock, tho hour when the
House, during the deadlock, has been in the
habit of taking recess over to next morning.
arrived, the session continued. Both sides de-
clared willingness to stay in their seats q
month, aye a year. If necessary TO carry their
point. At this writing it looks as though the
situation had resolved itself into of testing
physical endurance. A call of the House is
ordered so frequently and the Sergeant alarms
sent out to bring in absent members, that it is
uncomfortable TO leave the hall of the House
longer than the lunch hour Mr.. Owen, of Indi-
ana. met Mr. Oates at the entrance of the House
this afternoon and inquired what the programme
was. II guess we will just stay here,' said Mr..
Oates, ''till the bill is disposed Of"
IF it's q matter of endurance replied Mr.
Owen. 1--WE all die together.a
Tonight, Mr.. Owen said, discussing the out
look: 81 believe the filbnsters intend to keep US
in seats until they drive the reealcitrant
Democrats to vote to adjourn the House. That
is the tactics of the minority, who claim TO have
seventy votes at this time. OF course, IL the
House is once adjourned the bill is defeated for
it cannot be taken up again, the time for it's con-
sideration having days ago expired Our hope
lies in keeping the House in session till the bill
is passed, and the hope of the libusters is to ad
journ the House and then refuse to consider
the measure. perfectly willing, ard am
quite / occupy the position all other he
publican members do, to stay here and continue
tho fight for tie bill TO the end OF my term if
necessary, to pass it. Republicans striving
for good principle. are not opstructionists, and
they can afford to stand By their guns. | think
we will win, but our opponents dresdfully
in earnest 1t 10 an issue between unrecon-
structed confederates and Union men,"
There was nothing in the proceedings to-day
to break the monotcry of continuous roll calls,
and the lulls between the hours when The doors
were locked and the Sergeant-at-arms and Lis
deputies were out searching for absentees Both
sides are too earnest to be funny, and there was
entire absence of levty. Every member in
carrying out what be considers the wishes Of his
constituents bears an atmosphere of serious
and realizes ths. there sacrifices in
this work; that measures of great Importance 60
their Individual districts will fall or considera-
tion by consumption of time in the present
work and that hills OK national interest are also
being sacrificed
Representative Oates, of Alabama who has
taken the leading part III the fight against the
direct-tax bill, has made statement of the
reasons which influence the opponents OF the
bill in their conduct in opposing Its considera-
tion. Their position has been stated in debate
and published from time to time in the public
press. In closing Mr.. Oates says: This bill
has provoked agitation in favor of rsfunding
the cotton tax, but bill has been brought
forward and pressed for the purpose. / gave
notice (which do not recall) that IL this bill is
to be passed, will, ar the proper time, offer
amendment We could at any time since the
consid deration of this bill began have allowed lie
to proceed to a point in committee OF
the whole. when we might have offered
any amendment we saw proper, but
opposition to the bill Is such that amendment
which can be adopted, except 1t be TO strike out
the enacting clause, can make IL acceptable TO
us. This bill is not before the House according
Its rules and in the usual course of procedure.
1t has not been reached in it's order the cal
endar, bat has, by unusual report from the
committee on rules, been placed before all other
business and held there to the exclusion of all
other business. In matter involving sOch
vital principals of constitutional government
this involves in which She people ten-fold
more deeply interested that in distribution
among the States of any amount of money from
the federal treasury, feel that it is our duty,
though in the minority, to resort to every
legislative means which the House allows.