Wichita eagle., 1889-01-08
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
An Effort to Break the Deadlock Oontem-
plated. but Nothing Done.

WASHINGTON, Jan. THE Democratic
members of the house met in caucus to-
night for the purpose of constructing a
key with which TO open the deadlock
which for the past four days has closed the
legislative business of that body. But
comparatively few officers were in attend
ance, not more than fifty members Icing
present when Chairman Cox called the
assembly to order and their ranks being
but little increased by late ar
rivals Nothing was considered but the
present stagnation of business in the
house, the conference considering the action
of committee on rules in preventing fill-
clustering tactic being resorted to against
passing measures, and especially the Okla
homa bill under the suspension OF rules
Mr.. Bland, of Missouri, having been
recognized, presented his views as to how
the difficulty could be met and embodi ed
them in a resolution which he offered, de-
claring it to be the sense OF the caucus
that the resolution pending in the house
should be defeated, but that on the first
and third Mondays of each month
no dilatory tactics should be resorred
to in order to prevent the passage OF meas
ures under suspension of the rules. This
called for many expressions of opinion as
to whether 1t was the proper method TO
issue to meet the emergency.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia, commended that
it was not and urged the unconditional
recommitment or defeat of the resolution
from the committee on rules. He urged
the thirty-odd Democrats who have
been voting for the resolution to return
to the fold and to join the majority of their
colleagues in resisting any attempt 10
bride the minority.
Mr.. Oates, of Alabama, favored the res
olution to prevent filibustering, declaring
that the expressed will Of large majority
Of the house should not be, as it could be
under present rules, thwarted by the
caprices OF one man. 1t was not propo-
amend a rule of the house. but merely
to modify. rule SO as to give
it force OF what use, he asked, was rule
providing for suspension days II that rule
could be nullifed by the action of one man?
In answer to the objection that the Re-
publicans in the house would point to the
action of the present house as precedent
for enacting legislation detrimental to the
interests OF the south, he declared that
Democrats in the F'ifty-first congress would
be abundantly able to cope with their
antagonists. He was not in favor Of firing
at the enemy at two miles
range, but preferred to wait until he could
see the white of his eyes.
Speaker Carlisle took the floor in defense
in committee ON ordering the resolution
to be reported to the house. He thought
that the adoption of that resolution would
facilitate legislation of the house and
would be Of benefit to the country. He
contended that no advantage would ac-
crue to the Republican party in the Fifty
first congress by reason of the adoption of
the resolution. The Republican majority
was too small to cause the Democratic mi
norsty to fear that it would enable it TO
enact Ill advised and vicious legislation
which two-third vote was required to
pass it through The house. The rules
would protect the minority in the preser-
walton of their rights.
Mr.. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, seconded
the speaker in his views ahd advocated the
adoption of this resolution.
Messrs Holman, Barnes, Elliott
and Ellis took part in the debate
and then the question came up on Mr..
BANDS question Mr.. Barnes raised the
ent and that less than quorum could not
find the Democrats who were absent or
who were present and opposed to the reso-
luton He would not feel himself bound
by the action Of such a small number as
were in attendance.
Chairman Cox stated that he had never
heard of the point of no quorum being
raised in caucus and the resolution WAS
adopted. 1t is as follows:
Resolved That it is the sense of this
caucus on Mondays for suspension of rules
offered by the Democratic party for the
purpose of preventing legislation, and that
the resolution for amending the rules now
pending before the house be recommltted
to the committee on rules.
The caucus then adjourned.