Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-23


and vigorous resistance TO all measures
OF a strictly party nature. "Even with
the congressman from the new states,"
remarked Mr.. Oates, "they will have
only three over quorum, and they will
never, I feel confident, be able TO mus
ter quorum of their own party ut any
one time" There Is suggestion in
this which should impress upon repub-
lican members Of the house the neces-
sity Of giving closer attention to their
duties than it is the habit OF congress-
men to do.
Tho small republican majority in the
next house will render ecessary the con-
slant attendance OF the members OF that
side In order to accomplish anything.
Those who expect the republicans OF
the house to carry through any legisla-
tion they may desire lose sight of the
relative strength OF the two parties in
that body. AT the elections last No
vember one hundred and sixty-four re-
publicans and one hundred and
sixty-one democrats we're elected. The
changes by death will make no differ
ence in these figures. In any contest
between the parties the republicans,
having majority OF three, would Of
course carry their measure provided
all their members were present. 1t
rarely happens, however, that every
member is present, and the absence of
two republicans, even ii paired, woul d
prevent that party from doing anything
affirmative, because by such action they
would not have n quorum, which is one
hundred and slxty-three. The addition
to the republicans OF four members from
the new states will not materially
strengthen them. The addition of five
members makes the aggregate member
ship three hundred and thirty, and in
creases quorum from one hundred
and slxty-three to one hundred and
sixty-six. Four added to the present
strength of the republicans will give
them one hundred and sixty-eight,
which is two in excess of quorum.
The expected addition, therefore, will
simply add one vote to their strength.
Assuming that the democrats will not fill
buster against vote being reached, the
republicans must have at least one hun
dred and sixty-six votes to carry their
measure, because the democrats would
refrain from voting and insist that their
opponents, being directly responsible
for legislation, must have their MEM
bers present to perform their duties.
Rules may be adopted to prevent fill
clustering, but no rule can force a men,
Der to vote. Thus the democrats, by re-
naming SILENT could defeat the major
ity unless the latter should have a quo
rum present.
In view of the fact that it has always
been very difficult for the dominant
party to maintai a quorum, even when
having ma jority very much larger
than the republicans will have in the
next house, it will be seen that there is
very small chance of the republicans
passing any strictly party measure, and
it may turn out that Mr.. Bynum is COR
rect in saying that the republicans will
not be able to do anything with the
| tariff, and there is even less probability
that they will be able to pass general
election law. designed to remedy cleo
tion abuses in the south, should such
measure be proposed. There can be
no doubt that the present general dis
position among the democrats is to pur-
sue an obstructive policy as to all legis-
lation OF party nature, and it is obvi-
GUS that they can make such policy
generally effective.