The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-12
WEAVER HEADED OFF.

Speaker Carlisle mt Last Finds n Method OF
Checking the Iowa Filibuster.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1l.-For the first time
during the past two months, Chairman
Mills and VIM. l.. Scott appeared on the
floor of the House this afternoon. 1t was
during the hour that the Weaver deadlock
was broken and the bills making appropria-
tions for public buildings at Milwaukee
and Omaha were under consideration. Mr.
Mills stood in the lobby, just behind the
inclosure where the members seats are
placed, and rested his chin on the fire
screen. He viewed with solemn expression
the wreck and ruin" of the House, and
during one of the roll calls answered to his
name. Mr.. Scott nervously bobbed around
on the floor, actually answered TO the roll
call, and twice passed through tellers when
there was division demanded. Itwas the
first time these advocates of the lost
cause" have shown themselves since they
were defeated at the polls. Neither of the
gentlemen looked cheerful.
1t was only through the most arbitrary
and remarkable ruling by the Speaker that
the deadlock was even temporarily broken
to-day. After the first moment following
the disposition of one of Weaver's dilatory
motions to adjourn, Dibble, of South Caro-
lima, got recognition by Encouragement
with the Speaker, and announced that no
wanted to present a privileged report.
Weaver, with his accustomed confidence,
moved that the House adjourn, never sus-
pecting for an instant that a motion to ad-
jOurn would not take precedence over any
and all other motions. The Speaker ruled
that, having recognized a gentleman who
had stated his object In asking recognition,
motion to adjourn could not be euter-
tanned till the question for which recogni-
tion was granted was disposed of. For two
hours the House had been in confusion, but
when the members came to understand the
ruling a sensation was created which re-
suited in the greatest quiet within a few
minutes. Weaver fought bitterly against
the ruling but the House sustained the
Speaker. 1t is understood that such tactics
will be followed as frequently as the ma
jority of the Democratic side deem wise. in
order to continue the business of the House.
General Weaver is somewhat depressed to-
night but full of fight, and says he will
is recognized.
Colonel Kilgore, of Texas, late of the con-
federate army, raised the question of
quorum in the House tonight on motion
to take up bill to remove the disabilities
of one of his comrades in arms. stating that
if the public business of the country could
be suspended by one filibusterer no private
business should be transacted. He then de-
feated the regular Friday night session for
private pension business compelling the
House to adjourn for want of quorum.
The brunt of Kilgores work falls on the SOL
diers, their widows and orphans seeking
pensions by special acts. Tomorrow the
filibuster tactics will be resumed, and it is
likely that there will not be any legislation
for several days.
There is a growing disposition in the
House to urge Speaker Carlisle to take the
course a pursued s6ohy by Mt Kendall IN is,o 80
electoral-count bill by declining to recog-
nize any member for dilatory motion.
Speaker Keifer took a like position on
the tariff bill in. 1888 That course
and restore the course of regular business:
AS it is, the House is stripping itself OF
power, and legislation can be accom-
plished only in random way through the
amend appropriation bills have already
given up all hope of accomplishing any
thing in the House, and are making efforts
with their Senators to secure legislation.
10 Ignore w eaVeT is an nlpedcudDle dcIlO1,
but it is in the power of decent majority
in the House, with the Speakers co-opera-
ton, to put prompt end to such farce as
has been going on the past week. The
House has been getting into humor TO
take radical action.
The filibustering in the House during the
past ten days has forcibly illustrated the
arbitrary features of the rules, and the fact
that as they now exist they are formulated
to prevent Legislation. General Weaver,
unaided by anyone, has for four days, in
conformity to the rules, prevented the
transaction of all public business except
the receipt of two conference reports ap-
proprtating S1,S00,0OO for the construction
of public buildings in Milwaukee, Wis.
and Omaha, Neb. 1t is safe TO say that
these rules will die with the Fiftieth Con-
gress Republicans are agreed that they
will never be adopted for the government
of the Fifty-frst Congress. To-day your
correspondent was told by Republican
member that he had aided to emphasize the
arbitrary provisions of the rules with that
object in view. The course of Weaver is an
anomaly in legislative history as unique as
it is original, and it is, with the exception
of the tariff debate, the leading feature of
the Fiftieth Congress.