The Indianapolis journal., 1892-02-17
such an exposition of the tariff question as
has never before been made" The state
ment is in ell probability true.


Their First Encounter I'm the House.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 16.-The Democratic
majority of the House was to-day . disor-
ganized mob. divided against itself. and
utterly without leadership. Its proceed
ings showed that at any time under the
new rules of the House all public business
can be stopped by the opponents Of any
measure which may reach consideration.
The House was in session from noon until
nearly 4 o'clock. but 90 per cent of this
time was wasted in fihbustering. q pro.
ceeding which would have been i'm
possible under the rules as they
were administered by Speaker Reed.
The secret of the waste of
time to-day Is found in the opposition of
the Democratic managers to placing their
party on record on the question of free
coinage of silver before they have finished
their attack on the Mckinley tariff. When
the House finished its preliminary business
to-day it found before it q calendar which,
If once admitted to consideration. placed
before the tree-silver bill only o resolution
to reconsider the vote by which the appro-
priation for the transportation of food to
the starving peasants of Russia WAS de-
and the private bill for the relief of
Postmaster Aquilla Jones. of Indianapolis.
The first stop OF the fillbusterers, who
wished TO AVOID reaching the silver Ques-
tion, WAS a motion to adjourn. This in
volved the usual long roll-call. requiring
forty minutes. Then the Russian relief
proposition was finally defeated, great en-
thusiasm being shown by the x-bri gadiers
of the Confederacy, who cherish such
cordial hatred of Russia for her naval in
reference TO prevent the recognition of
the Confederacy as q beiligerent by Eng
land. A tedious succession OF other dila-
tory motions killed the time until the
wearied House went homo to dinner.
sarcastically from his chair, between his
intervals of letter writing, at the dilemma
of the divided majority. which he had
predicted when the rules were under dis
cussion.
WHY BLAND TRIED TO FORCE HIS BILL
A bit of inside history will explain the
dilemma of the House to-day. The COM
mitteo on rules. composed of Speaker
Crisp, "Shoestring" Catchings and Mr..
McMilliD. who have full control of business
of the House. were terrified by SILVER
dollar" BANDS effort to force an early con-
sideration of the free-coinage bill.
1t was for that reason that Speaker
Crisp was i'll on Monday and that
to Boston on private business. Hence IL
has been impossible to secure the fixing of
day for the consideration of the free
coinage bill which the silver men had been
demanding from the rules committee. Dis
gusted with the procrastination of the rules
committee the free-coinage men to-day
tried to force their measure before the
House in advance OF the tariff bills. which
are yet to be reported from committee.
The silver men failed IN theIy effort to-day.
but they showed strength enough to prove
that the House cannot trihe with them,
and to make 1t extremely likely that
there will be sensational collision be-
tween the opposing forces of so-called
In the Democratic majority ere long. The
appropriations committee OF the House Is
expected TO help out the ways and means
committee in its struggle against the silver
men by interfering one OF the great aprro-
priation bills after each tariff bill.
The Associated Press reporter says that
the trouble began Immediately at the close
of the morning hour. There we're q few
moments of hesitation, no member asking
for recognition on any motion. The quiet
was disturbed by Mr.. Caruthers of Ken
lucky. who. seeing that there was little
prospect of the House transacting any
yeas and nays were ordered and resulted
in q defeat of the motion-yeas, 72; nays,
124 But the House had not by that time
determined what business 1t wished to
|
made motion to proceed to the considera-
tion of unfinished business.
DISPUTE OVER ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The Speaker pro tenn. Mr.. Dockery of
Missouri stated that the calendar showed
that the first unfinished business was the
motion made by Mr.. Kilgore of Texas to
table the motion to reconsider the vote By
which the House indefinitely postponed
the Senate joint resolution authorizing
the Secretary OF the Navy TO transports
contri but tions for the relief of the suffering
poor of Russia.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia suggested that the
resolution upon which the motions were
pending was improperly placed upon the
calendar of unfinished business.
Mr.. Burrows inquired as to what calen-
dar it should be on, and Mr.. Reed answered
the inquiry with the remark that the Char
had declded that it was on the calendar Of
unfinished business.
Mr.. Burrows again expressed his desire
to know the location OF the resolution, il it
were not on the calendar of unfinished bus
1T seems to the Chair" said Mr.. Dock.
ery. THAT, Is a matter of fact. it is on the
calendar OF unfinished business. Laugh
| ter.
Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois suggested re-
cess Of three hours until the question could
| be settled.
| The Speaker pro TEN. remarked that as .
| motion TO table the motion to reconsider
| was Q privileged one. IL conld be called up
| by any member and any difficulty could be
| thus avoided.
In response to this suggestion. Mr. Blount
| of Georgia called up the motion and was
recognized bJ the Chair.
"What becomes of my motionr queried
| Mr. Burrows. Laughter.
| THE Chair holds the opinion that it Is
| not in order-but he holds that opinion
somewhat subject to notifications"
does the Chair hold.u asked Mr.. Bu.
chanan of New Jersey, that 1T is not in or
| der to move 20 proceed to the consideration
of unfinished businessin
| "The Chair does not hold that"
"There is no higher question of privilege
from Georgia" said Mr.. McMillin.
| Does the Chair say" persisted Mr.. Blu.
| chanan, "that the motion of the gentleman
| from Michigan is not In order!"
The Char prefers" replied Mr.. Dockery,
mot to pass on that question. He does no,
| desire to establish precedent being Y
temporary occupant OF the chair
| TLaughter.l
encyp inquired Mr.. Buchanan. Laugh.
TRACEY BEGINS TO FILIBUsTER.
| It was at this junctnre that Mr.. Tracey
| of New York came forward in the role of q
| filibuster with q motion that the House
take q recess for one hour. Pending this
Mr.. Owens of Ohio moved an adjournment
Lost-yeas. 65; nays. "a.
| On Mr.. Tracey's motion no quorum votet
on q standing voto and Dir. Tracey having