The Portland daily press., 1891-02-21
THE DEMOCRATS ALL FLOCKEO OUT.
They FlIlbustered for Several Hours
on the TWO Court Bills.
Both Houses Doing a Tremendous
Pension Business.
Free silver Gets Knock Down Blow
In Committee.
Especial to the Press.l


WASHINGTON, February 20.-Today the
Republicans forced the Democrats from their
ambuscade and laid bare the Democratic
scheme to prevent all legislation except the
appropriation bills. Leaving the appropria-
tion bills for time the committee on rules
brought In a rule giving the day to the judic-
iary committee for the consideration Of two
bills. the court bill for relieving the over.
crowded condition of the Supreme Court Of
the United States by creating subordinate
courts of appeal, and the bill raising the sala
rles Of United States district judges to $1,000
year. A district judge In a district like
that of Maine now gets $500 a year. The
bill for the relief of the Supreme Court has
been demanded for 10 years or more. So
wait about five years for a chance to try his
case. The Dill passed the House last session,
It having been drawn by Mr. Rogers Of Ar
proval Of both parties in the House. When
1t got to the Sente that body had a different
plan, and accordingly amended
the bill dscgssa tadicaly .adny The question
House would agree with the Senate amend
ments or disagree and demand a committee
Of conference. The resolution from the
rules committee provided that at 80 p. m.
the vote should be taken on this question and
on the Dill to increase the salaries OF district
Judges. The resolution had no sooner ap-
peared than the Democratic plan to defeat
all general legislation this session was dis
closed.
They commenced most bitter filibustering,
and finally when they found the order was
sure to get a majority OF votes they left the
hall In body. The object OF this. of course,
was to stop business for lack Of a quorum.
A hundred and sixty seven are required for
quorum and the Democrats thought the
Republicans could not muster one. But sew
eral Democrats, four or five In all, would not
leave the hall. Cuibertson OF Texas and Rog-
ers OF Arkansas, the author. and the
mained In their seats. Young John Il. An
drew of Massachusetts, also managed to
break the chains Of association and declined
to hide himself with the rest of
asse hls pa1tg pa1ygber An Of pRRsapsitsay Rsopsesnyy
appeared and 1t was found that there were
1855 yeas, four nays and eight present and
not voting. ia all just the 167 needed for a
quorum. The result was announced amid
manifestations OF great delight on the Re-
publican side. The next vote was on send
Ing the bill to conference. Republicans had
meanwhile appeared In unexpected num-
bers and on the vote there were found to be
165. or within two OF quorum OF Republi-
cans In the hail. The Democratic seats ex-
cept for those of three or four like Andrew
CulbertsoD, were still deserted and contin-
ued so all the afternoon. The court bill hav-
Ing been ordered to conference the salary
olll was defeated and a vote taken on an
amendment II was now nearly D. m. and
so many members had struggled off to din
ner that lack OF quorum was disclosed and
the matter went oyer until tomorrow. Tor
days contest has disclosed two things; that
the Democrats propose to obstruct all busi-
ness but appropriation bills, and that the
Republicans will probably have a quorum
here to knock distractions In the head. |
There was an added inducement to oppose |
the court bill. 1t will create nine or ten new |
judges for life, who will be appointed by |
Mr.. Harrison If 1t passes. The Democrats |
would prefer to defer the bill In the hope |
that the next President may be a Democrat |
who win appoint judges of the Lamar
stripe.
The shipping bill will probably be tried
ably fight 1t harder than they have the court
bill, although some Democrats may be for 1t
on its merits 1t Is impossible to foretell
what will be the fate of the bill but the
Speaker and Republican members eff the
committee on rules are determined to have 1t
brought to vote II 1t is possible. A Repub-
ent and 1t seems probable that the needed
167 Republicans will be ON hand.
Today the coinage committee voted eight
to four to report the free coinage bill ad-
verseiy. The four members on the minority
were the old free coinage contingent Of the
committee. Messrs. Carter OF Montana and
Bartine of Nevada, Republicans, and Bland
of Missouri. and Williams Of Illinois. Dem
ocrats. The eight members Of the commit |
tee who composed the majority were Mr.. |
Widkhsm Of Ohio, the chairman of the COM |
mittee and Messrs. Walker Of Massachusetts, |
C0mstock Of Minnesota, Knapp Of New York, |
Wilcox OF Connecticut and Vaux of Penn |
sylvania, Democrats. The bill now goes |
with its adverse report to the foot of the cal |
endar where 1t will probably be slumbering
when the 51st Congress passes out Of exist |