Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-14
COMES f0AOOONT.
The Fight to Obtain a Quorum
In the House.
90 SAYS TIE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS,

Bye Two-Thirds vote, with lssse % the
Hsass Majority Prsssss, Il II .Deciaed
- 1aseeuse - RsIes Csnnittes - Pre-
yese 0sls 6st '.Ascsrssinlag the Pres
sscs Of . Qsorum"-sone very Lively
Opposition Manifested.
WAsuIxoroN, April N.-After . heated
session Of two hours aud half the Demo-
cratic caucus decided by vote Of 80 to a
to instruct the committee on rules to re-
port new rule to ascertain and record the
presence Of a quorum, whether voting or
not Practically all tine Democratic menu
bers Of the house attended the caucus.
Bland presented = resolution directing the
sergeant-at-arms to carry out the provision
II section 20, chapter 2, Of the revised stat
utes, by which deduction from the salaries
Of members should be made Tor every days
absence, except on account Of sickness.
Tnis was In accordance with the action of
the judiciary committee earlier in the day.
It was unanimously adopted.
Where Springer Got His Idea.
Springer brought forward the rule
which he introduced some time ago.
framed On the lines of the old rule drawn
some twelve years ago by J. Randolph
Tucker. of Virginia, which provided that
members who declined to vote when their
names were called should he brought to
the bar Of the house, and after being Civ
en- an opportunity to vote upon the pend
ing proposition in case of refusal should
be recorded as present but not voting. I"
Pendleton of West Virginia offered a res
clution directing the committee on rules
70 formulate and present z rule to ascer-
tain and record the presence OF quorum
whether voting or not. Cultivate sug-
gested . different method of accomplish
ing the same purpose.
Kilg0re . wild Kicker.
Crisp took the floor and made n vigorous
SPEECH pointing out the deporable position
in which the house found itself on account
Of continued and persistent absenteeism.
Quite number of speeches were made in
opposition to any and all rules looking
to the counting of members who refused
TO vote. Kilgore, Bryan, McMiiliu,
Wheeler Of Alabama, and Williams of
Illinois, led this opposition. During the
course OF a rather hot-tempered speech
from kilgore on the subject Bland
shouted with an expression of disgust to
the effect that il the Democratic house was
forced to resort to Reedism it had better
adjourn sine die and go home.
Cumnings Feels Very Badly.
Cummings made q speech against the
proposition to count n quorum, at the con-
clusion Of which he sent up to the desk an
amendment to the title Of any new rule
which should be reported for this purpose
50 - to make it read: "a rule to nomi-
nate Thomas Bracket Reed for president
Of the United States"
OeArmond offered q resolution express
ing il as the sense of the caucus that the
committee ON rules should prepare . new
rule for ascertaining the presence O. quo
rum and also some method for compelling
the attendancc OF absent members. Nc
Cfeary Of Kentucky moved to refer all the
resolutions to the committee on rules.
Result Of the Voting.
The motion was lost-59 to U.s. On De-
Almonds resolution it was carried by a
twO-thirsis mrjority-SO to ~ This com
pleted the work of the caucus.
A Hastily Called Conference.
The caucus was the result of the at
tempt to obtain quorum in the house.
As soon ~ the house met tho struggle for
a quorum to adopt the rule to fine mem.
bers was resumed and the Republicans
kept up their tactics Of insisting that the
Democrats should have quorum of their
own members before they could do bust
ness. After half dozen votes had t-en
taken without developing the necessary
number the house adjourned, and the an
nouncement Of. a Democratic caucus at 3
p. IN. was cheered by the Republicans.