The morning call., 1894-02-24

fOtts nus bD6 taDglo suddenly LertBl-
mated and the arrested members were
again free.
1t was hard, Bland declared, to give leaves
OF absence and Immediately revoke them
and order the arrest of the members, but
public exigency sometimes required such
a course. The House had been dead
locked for days. The whole press of the
country was full of Ii, and every member
must have been aware his presence was
needed. He main tanned that when a mem
Der OF Congress was elected be entered
Into solemn contract with his constitu-
ency to leave private business and attend
10 the public business for which be was
elected. He then went on in an impas-
stoned way. 81 saw gentlemen here"
said he, shaking his head savagely and
lifting his voice until it fairly rang
through the hall. ''disobey the rules and
commands of this House. saw gentlemen
rise and boast they had defied the power
OF the House. If that is not anarchy and
revolution, what is it? Democratic ap-
plause. We in the House are the foun-
tain source OF order and lawmaklng
body Shall we resolve ourselves into
body of anarchists? If some one were to
throw bomb from yonder gallery be
would be no more of an anarchist than he
who on this floor defies the power of the
House Tcries of "Shamei shamep and
hissesl while the people of this country
are in the throes of starvation and hunger.
When they expect US to do something 10
become filibusters and obstructiOnists is to
become anarchists, for its purpose is de-
fiance of the laws of the country. We
were sent here 10 do our duty at time
when cities are thronged with mobs of
people who cannot go to bed in peace and
comfort. 1t is not time when mob law
should obtain hold here"
At this point Bynum called Bland to or
der. and after being admonished by the
chair to confine himself to the question at
issue, he proceeded to say that since the
deadlock the suggestion that the Speaker
should count quorum had been advanced
on the Democratic side of the house.
Quorum-countiDg, he maintained, was an
invitation TO absenteeism. 1t was an in
vitalion to members TO go fishing and wan
dering up and down the earth. He in
sisted it was the duty of the House to keep
members in their seats. The Democratic
party had a majority of eighty in the
House and ought to do business.
II don't think it is the duty of the gen.
tleman from Missouri" interjected Dunn
of New jersey, ito lecture the Democratic
party"
IF that is lecture" retorted Bland,
''ths people will read it to the gentleman.
and every other man now obstructIng busi-
ness, to his hearts content. Democratic
applause. We should proceed to do busi-
ness or acknowledge our incompetency.
If we don't people will read and not act
for us"
They will, they will" came in chorus
from the Republican side.
Bland then drifted into a discussion of
the merits of the silver seigniorage bill.
which was being opposed by a portion of
the Democratic majority, in the course of
which he was three times called to order
by Coombs of New YORK. The difficulty
is" finally blurted out Bland, II am too
much in order. l am telling too many
plain truths that the country ought to
know" Democratic applause.
That's fact" shouted Dens6h of Ala
bama. "GiVe it to the Democrats for rev.
enue ONLY"
81 thought the gentlemen on this side,"
said Bland, would realize they could not
say we should either do business or sur
render. Republican applause and shouts
of "Give it to them 1t will be no out
rage for the people to rise up in a mob and
cast us down, for we are exercising mob
ocracy here. If this is a bad bill vote it
down. If you want more debate we will
give it to you, but to stay here and not
vote is simply political suicide"
Johnson, a Republican of Indiana, Of
fered resolution calling on the sergeant
alarms to investigate whether JohDson's
arrest was with proper authority, and to
correct the writ if an error was discov-
cred. The resolution was agreed to.
Then the call of committees, usually COM
ing at the opening days of the session, was
begun.
Bland moved that the House go into
committee of the whole to consider the
silver bill. and that all debate close al 5
p. NJ. tomorrow. On this the previous
question was demanded. Filibustering at
once begun, as Tracey D.) of New York
dem anded a division on the vote for the
previous question. The division showed
no quorum. Bland moved the call of the
House. Tracey moved to adjourn, Mere
dth said he wished to call attention to
systematic flibuster. Reed moved TO take
a recess until s p. NJ. which was agreed to.
There were only ffty-two mem bers in the
hall when o'clock arrived, aud on Mar
tins motion to go into committee Of the
whole Russell made point of no quorum,
but subsequently yielded to the urgent So
licitation Of colleagues and withdrew the
point After action on several individual
pension bills the House adjourned at 9:30
o'clock