The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-16
Unconditional Surrender of the
House Democrats.
PREPARING THE QUORUM RULE,
The Jolly Republican Gear Expected
to Make Fine Speech.
In the senate Numerous Tarin Speeches
Are Scheduled - senator Morgan's
New Tariff Btfi-Eckels' Consemps
for Oregon Democrats.

WssHISeTos CITr. April 15.-The strug-
gle over the adoption of the new quorum
counting rule decided upon by the Demo-
cratic caucus last Friday will be the
feature of the coming week in :he house
The details of the rule have not yet been
formulated by the Democratic members of
the committee on rules, composed of
Speaker Crisp and Messrs. Ouihw ate and
CaIchings but it will probably be ready to
submit to the full committee when it
meets tomorrow morning. Inasmuch as
about one-.hird of the Democrats are
violently opposed 70 any quorum-counting
rule. il will be impossible for the
Democrats alone. should the Repub-
Iicans decline to vote and the Democratic
opposition sustain their opinions to the
extent of declining to vote to make a
quorum. to make such vote. In other
words, unless the Democrats should frame
a rule satisfactory to the Republicans the
latter could, if they chose, prevent its
adoption. The Republicans will, how
ever, surely acquiesce in the adoption OF
any rule that contains the essential prin-
cipIe of counting as present but not vot-
ing those members VINO decline to re-
spond to their names. This is the parlia-
mentary principle which Mr.. Reed has
been contending Tor ever since the end of
the Fifty-nrst congress, and it is ex-
pected that when the rule Is presented
he will make one of the greatest
speeches of his life. Owing to the
death Of Senator Vance, the house
will probably adjourn Immediately tomor-
row, and the fight over the new rules will
be postponed until Tuesday. It is prob
able that little time will be allowed for
debate, and the chances are that when the
house adjourns Tuesday evening the
quorum-counting rule will have been
adopted and ilibustering Of the kind
which has characterised the proceedings
Of the house for the past three years will
be a thing of the past. As soon a. the
new order of things has been established
in the house consideration of the appro-
priation bills will be resumed and will con-
sume the remainder of the week.
The senate will adjourn soon after the
hour OF meeting tomorrow, out of respect
for the memory Of Senator Vance. With
the exception of the Chinese treaty. which
is to be considered on Tuesday. and the
routine morning business of each day, the
remainder of the week promises nothing
but continuation Of the tariff
debate. There Is little doubt
the senate Will accept the
agreement reached between Senators Har-
ris and Aldrich. providing that general
debate on the tariff shall not be inter
rupted by roll calls or other business. and
shall continue each day from to o'clock
This will probably preclude all parlia-
mentary contests and pave the way
tor dozen sor so tariff speeches. Sen.
ator McLaurin will speak on Wednes.
day. and later i'm the week
Senators Turpie and Palmer and
possibly other Democratic senators will
speak. On tho Republican side Senators
DoIph. Morrill,. Perkins. Higgins, Calm
ger. Hoar. Cullom, Cameron and Wash.
burn will probably address the senate il
time permits. If there should at any time
be any lack of speakers Senator Quay will
continue his speech, the delivery OF which
it is understood, viii consume several
days time.