The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-05
A DAY OF FILIBUSTERING
THE BILL TO REFUND DIRECT
TAXES PROVES A SNAG.


Which Threatened to Result in Estab-
fishing a Dangerous Precedent-The
Speaker Holds it to be in Order but
it is Finally Withdrawn.
WASHINGTON, April Ain the House to-
day after the reading of the journal an
n effort was made by the friends of the special
N order-the direct tax bill-to make an ar
u raugement by which the final vote upon the
Il measure would be insured to-day at
o'clock, but Mr.. Breckenridge, of Arkansas,
objected to the proposition.
E. B. Taylor, of Ohio, thereupon moved
to limit the general debate to one hour.
The opponents of the bill then reSorted to
flbustering tactics
KILLING TIME.
The entire day was consumed in voting
upon dilatory motions submitted by the
opponents of the bill, Messrs. Oates, of Ala
bama and Breckenridge of Arkansas, being
the most active in this respect Motions to
adjourn, to adjourn to a certain day, and
for recesses, alternated with each other,
and the voice of the Clerk calling the roll
with alphabetical monotony was uninter-
rupted by any scene Of interest or amuse-
ment until nearly 6 O'Clock, when the vote
B. Taylor for a recess until tomorrow at
10 o'clock.
A NOVEL MOTION.
The filibustering element was at this time
at the end of its list of usual dilatory mo-
tons, but Mr.. Breckenridge, of Arkansas,
was equal to the emergency, and made a
notion that the gentleman from Tennessee
3Ir McMillan) be excused from voting
upon Mr.. TaylOr's motion.
ET D. Tos, ,oc
Michigan, made the point of order that the
notion to excuse was not in order upon a
III notion to take a recess, the former gentle
man suggesting that if it were in order
motions could be submitted to excuse every
member.
HELD TO BE IN ORDER.
The Speaker said that while that might
be very inconvenient, he thought the mo-
ton to excuse was i'll order.
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, remarked, sug-
gestiveIy, that it might be very convenient
notion for the minority to avail itself of.
E. B. Taylor said that the direct tax bill
was not the only bill before the House, and
the gentlemen who were pressing this
matter might take notice that it was not
the only bill.
Mr.. Grosvenor remarked that there we're
l45 members of the minority. A six hours
9 day they could use up fifty days upon
every vote. and he gave notice now, if God
spared his life, and this motion were ad-
mtted, if he could get the minority to
stand with him he would do it on ques-
tion which would affect somebody very
materially.
MR.. REEDS POINT.
Mr. Reed raised the further point that it
vas not competent for one member to
hove that another member be excused
That motion must come from the gentle
man himself.
The speaker said that in case of motions
to adjourn, it had been decided that they
could not be reconsidered for the reason
that if this could be done motion to ad-
journ might be repeated indefinitely. A
motion to take a recess could
be repeated indefinitely, but a
different time must be fixed
in each case, SO that a motion to take re-
cess was not like motion to adjourn. 1t
had been decided that upon a motion to ad-
lourn it was not in order to move that q
member be excused from voting, because,
in that case, the House might be kept in
continuous session. But that decision did
pot apply to a motion for recess, and the
chair therefore overruled the point of order.
AN APPEAL FROM THE RULING
Mr.. Sowden, of Pennsylvania, appealed
from the decision and the yeas and nays
were ordered on the appeal.
Other motions to excuse members from
Fotlng were made and withdrawn. In
Bpeaking to the appeal, Mr.. Grosvenor asked
it were possible that the House had ex-
sted 100 years and had Just discovered
AVE $50 roll calls upon every
question except a question to ad-
gourn. He could make motions excusing 325
nembers from voting, and could move tc
econsider each vote, so that if One-fifth of
The members stood by him, lie could have
b50 roll calls. The House was asked TO put
technical construction on a rule that
would paralyze the legislation of the coun-
ry, and put into the hands of the minority
Bower to usurp all the legislative functions.
he house was making history now. 1t was
futtlng weapon into the hands Of the mi
ority which would be absolutely destruc-
i've of the rights of the people to be repre-
ented IN Congress, and he appealed to the
peaker not to force the House to overrule
Ils decision or to make a rule which would
mperil every interest in the country.
COULD ONLY CoNsTRUE THE RULES
The Speaker said that he had expressed
fo opinion as to what the rule ought to be
Pc had simply stated what it was.
hlr, Crisp insisted that it was the duty OF
{he presiding officer to construe rules that
ad been made; if they were wrong the
House could repeal them.
Mr.. Mcmillan thought il was just TO state
Pat Mr. Breckinridges motion to excuse
pm from voting was made with his con
&ent
Mr.. Snowden withdrew his appeal
Mr.. Mcmillan requested Mr.. Breckinridge
" withdraw his motion, as both the gentle
pan and himself would regret to establish
rule that might work an improperly il
&le future
Mr.. Breckinridge did not believe that any
lch result would follow, but he did not
slre to insist upon any particular motion
lat might work evil. OF course he wanted
ILL., 10 be understood that he was frankly anC
M ,luvely opposed to the BILL but he would
Lhdraw the motion to excuse Mr.. Nc
lllan.
ANOTHER HITCH.
Mr. Steele, of Indiana, called for the
guiar order, and the clerk was about K
the roll upon Mr. Taylors motion tC
Ae recess until 10 o'clock to-morrov "
oIning, when Mr.. Mcmillan moved to ad
: 2lrn.
Notwithstanding Sundry protests from
, friends of the bill, the Speaker decided
NJ as legislative business had interveneC
zee the last motion TO take a recess th'
guon to adjourn was in order.
{ Immediately Mr.. Breckenridge, of Arkan