The herald., 1894-01-06
Democrats Again Unable to
Get a Quorum.
Debate on the Tariff Bill as Far
Off as Ever.
The Republicans Successful in Their
Filibustering.
Assisted by the PopuIists and . Few DEM
ocrats--A Decree of King Caucus
Invoked to Bring Things
to a Focus.
By the Associated Press.

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The power of
the committee on rules was invoked to-
day to break down the obstruction in
the path of the tariff debate. An IRON
clad rule was brought in setting ont the
programme for debate and fixing Janu-
ary 25th for taking the final vote. This
resulted only in eidetracking the Bou-
telle Hawaiian resolution, as when q
vote WAS taken on the adoption Of the
order the Democrats lacked nine votes of
q quorum. At least 20 Democrats at
the capitol either absented themselves
from the hail or refused to answer their
names when called. For four hours the
Democratic leaders tried, with roll call
after roll-call. to bring the men into
line. but instead of gaining they lost
votes on each successive roll-call.
The PePHnliisstss r., With the sxeeeerrtie. xeeee es
Bell OF Colorado, also declined to aid the
Democrats to get the tariff bill before
house, giving as the reason the short
| limit it was proposed to set on the de-
bate. Their votes would have made mp
the quorum: Today's proceedings are,
therefore, of additional Importance al
marking the first time in the histery of
either branch OF congress since the or
ganization of the third party that it's
members have held the balance OF
power.
Immediately after the reading of the
| journal the row began. Boutelle was on
his feet clamoring for recognition to call
up the Hawaiian resolution, but the
speaker recognized Catchings from the
committee on rules to present special
order, adopted just before the house
convened. Boutelle loudly insisted
upon knowing what had become OF
the privileged resolution which had
been called up yesterday. The speaker
replied rather sharply, that yeeterday's
proceedings had fallen with adjourn
ment. and a report called up from the
committee on rules was matte Of the
4 highest privilege.
Burrows, amid great confusion. re-
served all points OF order, and when
Catchings demanded the previous oues-
tion on the report Of the rules commit
tee, Boutelie raised the question OF con-
sideration. The speaker decided that
Boutelle was out OF order. The latter
appealed from the decision, and the
speaker, amid some evidence of satisiac-
tion on the Democratic side, promptly
refused to entertain the appeal.
| The speaker was about to state the
question on Catchinge' demand for the
previous question, when Burrows called
attention to the fact that he had re-
served all points of order and desired to
be heard. The speaker graciouely
yielded, and Burrows made the point of
order that the special order presented
by Cathings had originated in the COM
mittee instead OF the houee and as it
| ,r;k on nf tho saff
rules-giving leave to print to all MEM
bers who so desired-it should, accord
ing to the ex sCing rules. have had its
! inception in the house instead of the
committee. After some debate and dis
cussion of precedents, the speaker over
ruled the point OF order.
The vote was then taken on the de-
mand OF the previous question on the
adoption of the report OF the committee
on rules. The Republicans DECLINED to
vote, and several Democrats, who were
in the hall and known to be opposed to
the tariff bill, also remained mute.
Among them were Sperry OF Connecti-
cut, Haines of New York, Robertson of
Louisiana and Ryan of New York. The
vote resulted-l69 to /, nine less than q
quorum.
As soon as no quorum had been an
/ uCunC0u Wy bhO cpOuAOA9 Viz tAA0bAoA W
Catchings for call OF the house was
ordered. The call developed the pres
ence OF 273 members.
The motion then recurred on the de-
mand for the previous question on the
adoption OF the epecial order. The Re-
publicans sat silent in their seats and
small coterie OF Democrats, led by
Sperry, declined to aid their Democratic
brethren in the effort to secure quo
rum. Sperry, in fact, actively busted
himself in raising the standard of revolt,
going so far as to ask Democratic mem
bers to refrain from voting.
Cadmus of New Jersey was an add
tional Democrat who declined t. Sote
on roll call. The vote resulted 169 % 0.
Instead of gaining, the Democrats
lost on this roll call, lacking ii of a
quorum.
Cultivate moved call OF the house.
Reed demanded division, and the call
was ordered, 104 to 81 The call devel-
oped the presence OF 259 members.
| Further proceedings under the call
we're dispensed with and vote again
taken on the demand for the previous
question. On this roll call, Coombs and
Sickles of New York declined to answer
to their names, and although Bfeckin-
ridge and Berry OF Kentucky, who had
| just arrived. voted, only 1853 votes wefe
| polled, a loss OF one since the last vote.
! The Democratic leaders decided to
continue, however, il ior no other pur-
pose than to impress upon abaentees
the necessity OF attendance as a rleas-
ure of party discipline. Accordinvv.
on motion OF Catchings, another call OF
the house was had. 1t developed the
presence OF 27i members. and again the
roll was called on the motion to order
the previous qressi,n English OF New
Jersey and Sibley OF Pennsylvania, re-
+ fused 10 answer to their names on this
vote, which resulted in l66 to D, a lose OF
two compared with the last vote.
Ii having become mani.sat that ~.