The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-08
TANGLE OF THE HOUSE.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS VOTES
NOT 10 FILLIBUSTER.

A Quorum Not Present at the Meeting
and an Intention Not to Abide By It's
Action Announced By Some of Those
Present-The Effect on the Next Con-
gress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE democratic
members Of the House met in caucus to-
night for the purpose of constructing key
with which to open the deadlock which for
the past four days has closed the legislative
business Of that body. But comparatively
few artifcers were in attendance, not more
than fifty members being present when
Chairman Cox called the assembly to order,
and their ranks being but little increased
by late arrivals. Nothing was considered
but the present stagnation of business
in the House. as the effect Of the
action of the committee on rules IN
reporting resolution to expedite legisla-
ton on suspension Mondays by preventing
tilibustering tactics being resorted to against
the passage of measures (and especially the
Oklahoma bilD under the rules.
BLAND's PLAN.
Mr.. Bland of Missouri, having been
recognized, presented his views as to how
the difficulty should be met and embodied
them in a resolution, wh ch he offered, de-
claring it to be the sense of the caucus that
the resolution pending in the House should
be defeated, out that on the first and
third Mondays of each month no
diatory tactics should be resorted to in or
der to prevent the passage of measures un-
der a suspension of the rules
This called forth many expressions Of
opinion as whether it was the proper
method to pursue to meet the emergency.
MIR. Blount of Georgia contended that 1t
was not and urged the unconditional re-
commitment 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 col
leagues in resisting any attempt to bride
the minority.
MR.. OATES STANDS BY MR.. BLAND.
Mr. Oates of Alabama favored the res0-
that the expressed will of a large majority
of the House should MT be, as it could be
under the present rules, thwarted by the
caprices of one man. 1t was not PROPOSE
tion to change,.-o strictly speaking, TO
amend a rule of the House, but merely to
modify rule so as to give it
force Of what use, he asked, was
rule could be nullified by the action Of one
man. In answer to the objection that the
republicans in the next House would point
to the action of the present House as pre-
cedent for acting legislation detrimental to
the interests of the south, he declared that
the democrats in the Fifty-first congress
would be abundantly able to cope with their
antagonists. He was not in favor of firing
at the enemy at two-mile range, but pre-
far,aJ fO wait until ha could caa tho yy hitos
Of his eyes
SPEAKER CARLISLE EXPLAINS.
Speaker Carlisle took the floor in defense
of his action in casting the deciding vote in
the committee on ordering the resolution to
be reported to the House. He thought that
the adoption Of that resolution would faclli-
tate the legislation of the House, and would
be of benefit to the country. He contended
that no advantage would accrue to the Re
publican party in the Fifty-first congress
by reason of the adoption of the resOlu
tion. The republican majority was too
small to cause the democratic minority to
fear that it would be enabled to enact ill
advised and vIsclous legislation when two
thirds vote was required to pass it through
the House. The rules would protect the
minority in the preservation of their rights.
Mr. Breckenridge of kentucky seconked
the speaker in his views and advocated the
adoption of the committee resolution.
READY FOR A VOTE.
Messrs. Holman, Barnes, Elliott and
others took part in the debate, and then the
question came up on Mr. BANDS resolution.
Mr. Springer raised the point of order
that no quorum was voting, and that less
than a quorum could not bind the demo-
Gratis who were absent or who were present
and opposed to the resolution. He would
not feel him;elf bound by the action of
such small numbers as were in attendance.
Chairman Cox said that he had never
heard Of the point of quorum beng raised
in caucus, and the resolution was adopted.
1t is as follows:
Resolved, That as the sense Of this caucus on
Mondays for the suspension OF rules, no diatory
motions or propositions will be made by the
Democratic party for the purpose Of preventing
a suspension OF the rules and that the resou-
tion for amending the rules, now pending be.
fore the House, be recommitted to the commit
tee on rules.
The caucus then adjourned.