Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-08
A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The Members of the Two Houses of Con-
gress Scheming to Facilitate
Business.
WORKING ON THE DEADLOCK

WASHINGTON, Jan. THE Demo-
cratic members of the house met in eau
| Gus tonight for the purpose Of construct
lug key with which to open the dead
lock 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 Chair
man Cox called the assembly to
order, and their ranks being but little in
creased by late arrivals. Nothing was
considered, but the present stagnatiou of
business in the house, and the effect of
the action of the committee on rules in
reporting a resolution to expedite legisla-
ton on suspension Monday by preventing
filibustering tactics being resorted to
against the passage of measures and
especially the Oklahoma bill (under sus-
pension of the rules Bland of Missouri
having been recognized presented his
views as to how the difficulty should be
met, and embodied them in resolution
which he offered, declaring it ought to
be the sense of the caucus that resolu-
ton pending in the house should be de-
feated, but that on the first and third
Mondays of each month no diIatory tao
ties should be resorted to in order to pre-
vent the passage ofsmeasures under sus-
pension of the rules.
This called forth many expressions of
opinion as to whether it was the proper
method to pursue TO meet the emergency.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia contended it
was not, and urged the unconditional re-
commitment or defeat Of the resolution
from the committee on rules. He urged
Il
voting for the resolution to return to the
fold and join the majority of their col
leagues in resisting any attempt to bride
the minority.
Mr.. Oates of Alabama favored resolu-
ton to prevent filibustering, declaring the
expressed will of large majority of the
house should not be, as it could be under
the present srules, thwarted by the ca
prices of one man. 1t was not a
proposition TO change, or strictly speak
ing, to amend a rule of the house, but
merely TO modify rule so as to give it
force. OF what use, he asked, was a
rule providing for suspension days il that
rule could be nulliaed by the action of one
man? In answer to the objection
that the representatives in the
house would point to the action
of the present house as q precedent for
enacting legislation detrimental to the
interests of the South. He declared that
the Democrats in the Fifty-first congress
would be able TO cope with their antag-
onists- He was not in favor of firing at
the enemy at a two mile range, but pre-
ferred to wait until he could see the white
of his eyes.
Speaker Carlisle took the floor in de-
tense of mis- action in casting the deciding
"a int Isa
resolution to be reported TO the house
He thought the adoption of the resolution
would facilitate legislation of the house
and would be of benefit to the country. |
He commended no advantage |
would accrue to the Repub- |
hcan party in the Fffty-first |
by reason of the adoption of the /
The Republican majority
was too small to cause the Democratic /
minority to fear it would be enabled to /
enact ill-adyised and vicious legislation /
when two-third vote was required TO /
pass it through the house. The rules /
would protect the minority in the preser-
alton of their rights
Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky sec
onded the speaker IN his views, and adj
vocated the adoption OF the committee |
resolution
Messrs. Holman, Barnes, Elliott and /
others took part Ia the debate, and then |
the question came up ON Mr.. Bland g /
resolution
Springer raised a point OF order that no /
quorum was voting and that less than
quorum could not bind the Democrats
who were absent or who were present and
opposed the resolution. He would not
feel himself bound by the action Of such |