Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-17
GOLD BUG BLUDGEON
Novel Weapon Used to Com
bat Free Coinage.
Opponents of the Bland Bill Re-
sort to Filjbustering.
Donations to Starving Russians Used
for Dilatory Purposes.
Democrats Divided as to whether Tariff
or Silver Legislation Should Re-
ceive First Considera-
tion-Notes.
Assecsased Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. The donations
of the western farmers and millers to
the starving millions of Russia, have
at least served practical purpose in
the house. They served as bludgeon
for the gold men today to ooppose for five
hours the steady march of the lower
house toward free coinage legislation.
In today's struggle politics had no place,
the flibusterers and their opponents
being alike members of the Democratic
party. Tracy of New York led the
fight against consideration of the reso-
luton authorizing the transportation of
food donations to the starving Russians,
but did it simply because he desired to
get as many measures as possible in the
way Of the free coinage bill of Bland.
There are now the Russian relief feso-
luton and several other measures on
the calendar Of unfinished business, and
it is the plan OF Tracy and his followers
to filibuster against all these measures,
In order to prevent the free coinage bill
from ever being reached on the calendar
and passed by the house. The free
coinage men may, however, force a vote
on the Bland bill before it can pass to
the calendar as unfinished business,
which would be within two days after
being reached in the order of consider
tion.
NO NEED FOR FILIBUsTERIN5.
Bland, the leader of the silver men,
says there was no occasion for Glibuster-
ing. The silver question, he said,
seemed to give some OF its opponents
hydrophobia. The silver men do not
intend to present their petition to the
rules committee, asking special order
for the silver bill, until Catchings re-
turns. Whether or not a special rule
will be given before the tariff is taken
be could not say. Personally he
thought it would be much better to get
the silver question out of the way first,
but he should not antagonize other
Democrats if they wanted to take up the
\ tariff first.
On this question, whether the tariff or
silver should come up first, it is evident
the Democrats are greatly divided. No
conclusion will be reached for several
days, and meanwhile the anti-'ilver
men believe the greater the delay they
can secure the better.
Bartine of Nevada said today he
thought about ten Republicans in the
house would vote for free coinage, but
he did not like tosay positively.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Speaker Crisp presided this morning,
but later called Dockery to the chair.
The report on the contested election
case of Craig against Stewart, from the
twenty-fourth congressional district of
Pennsylvania, which finds in favor of
the contestant, was placed upon the
calendar TO be called up for action on
Tuesday next.
The committee on the election of pres
ident, vice-president and members of
congress reported joint resolution pro-
posing constitutional amendment for
the election of senators by the people of
the several states. Placed on the house
calendar.
The bill authorizing railway COM
panies to grant reduced rates to COM
meTcial travellers was called up but went
over until tomorrow without action.
Burrows, of Michigan, moved that the
house proceed to consideration OF un-
finished business.
THE RUSSIAN RESOLUTION.
The speaker pro tenn (Dockery) stated
that the first unfinished business was
Kilgore's motion 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 transport contributions for
the relief of the suffering poor in Russia.
Blount, of Georgia, suggested that the
resolution upon which the motions were
pending, was improperly placed upcn
the calendar of unfinished business.
On this question there was much de-
Bnltory debate, and finally Tracy, of
New York, came forward in the role of
q filibuster with motion that the
house take a recess for an hour. Pend
ing this, Owens of Ohio moved an ad-
lournment, but it was lost.
On Tracy's motion no quorum voted,
and when he raised the point, tellers
were ordered. On the vote by tellers a
quorum appeared after weary wait.
and then Tracy demanded the yeas and
nays.
--6 to 1856. Many opponents of the sill
yer bill withheld their votes in the hope
of breaking the Quorum.
Immediately Tracy was on his feet
with a motion to adjourn, which was
defeated by vote of 35 to 140.
The question recurred on the motion
to table the motion to reconsider the
vote by which the Russian relief resolu-
tion was indefinitely postponed. 1t was
tabled without division, thus finally de-
feating the measure. The house then
adjourned.
TARIFF BILLS TO BE REPORTED.
at meeting OF the ways and means
committee this morning, on strict
party vote, the Springer wool bill, the
Bryan bill placing binding twine on the
Tree list. and the Turner bill placing
cotton ties, cotton bagging and machin-
cry on the free list. were all ordered
5avorably reported. These measures
have already been published. The com
snittee adjourned until tomorrow morn
ing, when it is understood Representa-
tive Cochran will call up for favorable
report the bill reducing the duty on
barley to the original rate in effect
before the passage of the Mckinley bill.
TARIFF OR SILVER FIRST?
There have been frequent reports with
in the past few days that rivalry exists
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