The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-11
Vain Efforts to Call Democratic Caucus for
t he Purpose of Taking Positive Action
Looking to Removing the Deadlock.
Investigation Refutes the Charges of
Corruption as to the Direct-Tax Bill.
Passage of the Alien Land Bill by the Senate
Condition of Winter Grain and Farm AMI
meIs-0ther Items of Washington News.
ANorHEE Day WASTED.

The Opponents of the Direct-Tax Bill Con-
rinue Their Filibnsserins Tactics.
Special Go the Indianapolis Journas.
WASHINGTON, April 1O.-There Was no change
in the proceedings of the House today. The
same roll-calIs and diligence the part Of the
Sergeant-at-arms and his deputies in bringing
in absentses were kept up. Early this evening
twenty-five Democratic friends of the direct
tax bill signed a call for a caucus and placed it
in the hands of Chairman Cox. Mr.. Oates. of
Alabama, who is leading the iibusters, heard of
the movement to call caucus yesterday aft
ernoon. and steadily fought every proposition to
take recess last night or to-night, as he wishes
to avoid giving time for a caucus, knowing full
well that if a caucus is held it means the end of
the deadlock. There is q large majority on the
Democratic side IN favor of putting stop to the
flibustering and bringing the bill to a vote. No
one knows this better than the flibusters
and they fight with tenacity against the in
evitable fate which viii end their work if
it is left to the dictates of a caucus
They declare they will not go into or DO bound
by a caucus. There are diversions at time in
the proceedings, which make the surroundings
tolerable in the House just before recess was
taken, last night. Mr.. Dibble of South Carolina,
made very brief speech on point of order,
relative to compelling members vote, and
closed by saying: ''The reason of the law ceas-
ing. the law itself ceases. Ratione cessante,
cessste OF ipsa lex" There laughter and
applause at the familiar Latin quotation. and
when order was finally restored, Mr.. O'Neill,
serious old gentleman from Pennsylvania.
arose, according to tine official report of the
proceedings in to-days Record, and said "Mr
Speaker, the Rentleman's words ought to be
taken down" The Speaker called for order,
an ther Mr.. Glover, of Missouri arose. and,
addressing the Chair, said: ST move that the
gentleman's words be taken down" At this
point in the procee dings Mr.. DibbIe was permit
ted to say, addressing the Chair: Il apologize
to the House for the quotation" chorus of
voices now cried out, .'That is all right" and
order soon supreme.
Efforts have been made at intervals all day to
have Democratic House caucus called for to-
night to break the deadlock. but the result is
still in doubt The state of the case is about as
follows: Mr.. Glover yesterday procured twenty
signatures to a call, more than enough to secure
a caucus last night, but was defeated by the re-
fusal of the House take a recess at an early
hour. The same call has been re vived, and the
date and time fixed for tonight. Mr.. Oates and
his friends are perfectly willing to caucus.
condition that the call shall contain the names
of all, or nearly all, of the Democrats favorable
to the direct-tax bill. The reason for imposing
this condition is a desire to bind fast to the
caucus decision all of the Democrat
friends of the bill, and this desire
appears to be based on q belief that the
opponents of the bill would be in decided ma
jority IN caucus. Mr.. Oates says that he
would rot insist that the friends of the bill
should be forced by the caucus to vote against
it. They might simply vote to recommit or lay
aside the bill, or join in the vote to adjourn and
so terminate the apparently interminable 'legis-
lative day of Wednesday, April 4. But at least
four Democrats have refused to sign a call
under such condition, holding that if they
should follow the programme outlined by Mr.
Oates it would amount to very transparent
evasion of responsibility and that the bill would
be killed just surely as by . direct vote
against it The opponents of the bill state that
they will prevent a caucus from being held I'M
der Mr.. Glover's existing call by refusing to
allow o recess of the House at time suitable
for caueussng. and this is the situation the
eighth day of the battle draws to end.