The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-26
BLAND AND THE FILLIBUsTER.

BLAND AND THE FILLIBUSTER.
What the outcome will be in the
House is an interesting question Mt the
present time. and whether the Demo
Gratis will be compelled to adopt Reeds
rules in order TO secure quorum, or
whether they will be able to discover
some other way TO overcome the parlia-
mentary obstacle known as filhbuster-
ing only time can determine. IL is
curious situation, and would be serious
if the country was in need Of the legisla-
tion the obstructionists are determined
mendous majority in the House and no
opposition could withstand the deter
mination of this majority to put through
any measure no matter how radical.
The Republicans, following out the
policy that they adopted in the House
when the tariff question was ON, are
simply doing nothing. They do not vote.
Realizing that the nation turned
from the Republican party towards
the Democracy, and placed the latter
party in full and complete control
of government, thus evidencing desire
for Democratic policy, the Republican
minority in the House decided that they
would recognize this decision of the
people and permit the Democracy to
have full sway without attempting to
interfere or prevent it. Thus response
bility would fall upon the shoulders of
the party in power and test would be
given before the people. This policy
was accordingly carried out on the tariff
and is being carried ont on the Bland
bill. There are, however, many Demo-
Gratis who do not believe in the Bland
delusion, and these members, by break
ing away from their party and refusing
TO vote, have prevented the obtaining
of a quorum.
Under the present rules Of the House.
although a member may be sitting in
his seat when the roll is called, he is not
there unless he answers to his name. He
is there and he isn't there. He solves
the disputed question whether man
can be in two different places at the
same time. He is present-for obstruc-
ton purposes-but absent for business
purposes. Thus with over quorum in
the House each legislative day last
week there was not n quorum present |
during the week.
How long this warfare will keep up no
one knows. The Reed rules would |
settle il in 10 minutes very effectively. |
Mr.. Bland is trying TO get a vote on his |
bill without resorting TO cloture. The |
entire last week was wasted and the |
struggle seems no nearer its end than
it was at the beginning.
Mr.. Reed took the view that Congress
was elected to do something. That after
full and reasonable time had been de- |
voted to debate, after all have been given |
an opportunity TO be heard It |
was the duty of the House |
TO proceed to business and TO have a
ItlltuN dBdltlnl ililDuhAtIluEs llt Ittpk- /
nized the right Of the majority to rule
and he decided that il man was pres
ent in the House, having been chosen 20
transact the business coming before the
House, he was not only present in per
son, but he was coustructively present /
for business purposes aud he was &C.
cordngly counted as being present that
the business of tho House might be CON
Quoted.
A number OF schemes have been de-
signed TO secure the same result without
actually following the example of Mr.
Reed, but none have been adopted.
Look at the Inconsistency Of the present
method. Members can be ARRESTED
and carried TO the House b. the order of
the Speaker, bat the power that can
BRING them from across tho CONT
nent and into the legislative chamber
ceases the moment they cross the
threshold and can take no cognizance Of
them as they SIC In their seats.
They are not there.
While a member may reserve for him