The Indianapolis journal., 1894-01-06
Resolutions That May Assist in Whip
ping Recalcitrant Members Into
Line Finally Adopted.
CHAIRMAN WILSON PLEASED
Nothing Done Yesterday in the
House for Lack of a Quorum.
Successful Filibuster Against Commit
tee Order to Vote on the Wilson
Bill Oh January 20.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The Democratic
caucus met In the hall of the House OF
Representatives at o'clock tonight to
consider the Wilson tariff bill There was
a good attendance. Judge Holman
chairman and Mr.. Anderson secretary OF
the caucus. Although the roll call showed
only 124 members present, many came in
during the call, and it was estimated that
there were 147 Democrats in attendance
when the proceedings began. There are PIG
Democrats in the House, and caucus
quorum is los. The attendance indicated that
in the neighborhood of forty who are in
the city remained away. There We're no
conspicuous absences among the "kick-
ers" AS soon as the roll had been called.
ON motion it was decided to limit the,
speeches to five minutes each.
General Wheeler, who of the
prime movers in the caucus project, then
took the floor and made vigorous speech
against the proposition to place iron ore
on the free list
Speaker Crisp followed. He offered
resolution declaring that ii was the duty
of every Democrat to vote for considera-
ton of the tariff bill, and also that it was
the duty Of all Democrats to attend the
sessions of the House and maintain a quo
rum until the tariff bill is disposed Of In
a ringing speech the Speaker took occasion
to rather sharply reprimand Democrats
VINO had been responsible for the inaction
of the House during the past three days
He said that the proper way to act for
those who were dissatisfied would be to
take the bill up and have it considered.
They would be given opportunity to
offer their amendments and these amend
nlents, under the terms of the resolution of
the committee rules, could be voted on.
| The majority could decide. No member
would lose any of his rights, and it would
be to the honor and credit Of the party
to go forward and legislate. The party
had been given a commission from the
people, and it was it's duty to carry it out.
The spectacle of the past three days had
been a disgrace TO the large Democratic
| majority in the House, and he sincerely
| hoped that it was not to be repeated. The
| words Of the Speaker were loudly cheered.
General Sickles, of New York, in replying
| to Speaker Crisp, declared that it no
| part of the duty Of any Democrat to vote
| for consideration of revenue bill, some
| of the features Of which had not yet been
! reported by the committee. He directed
| his assault chiefly against the proposition
| for an income tax, which he declared un-
democratic, unpopular, impolitic.
Mr.. Sperry, of Connecticut, followed In
| the same line. justifying his course in re-
| fusing to vote on practically the same
| grounds He carefully avoided mention of
| the tobacco schedule, which is understood
| to be the chief ground Of his objection 10
Mr. Outhwaite followed in support of the
| Speakers resolution, declaring that the
time allowed for debatS b was S enough edntp1 an1
| wanted was action. Mr.. Sibley contended
| there was not time enough
| Trained from voting for the last three days,
| except on the last vote taken to-day, and
who is opposing free sugar created some some
| in support of the resolution. He wanted
| Democratic tariff bill passed, and he
| thought the Wilson bill Disseminated
| against his State. He had started out to
oppose it's consideration, but when he be-
| held the Republicans in solid Dhalanx
charging the broken lines of the Demo-
| cratic party, his Democratic blood rose
and he resolved TO support the Democratic
| measure, with the hope that his party
| would overrule the committee on the sugar
proposition.
Mir. Dewitt Warner Of Kentucky. also
warmly supported the Speakers resolution
| He had received two thousand letters In the
| past few weeks from his constituents, many
| of whom opposed certain features Of the
| bill. But on one proposition they were
unit. They wanted the uncertainty re-
| moved They wanted the House to act
and act at once. Loud applause greeted
| this statement
was then adopted without a division. 1t is
| as follows:
| caucus that it is the duty of every Demo-
| cratic member of the House 70 vote for the
| pending resolution providing for the consid-
| House may have opportunity 10 re-
deem the pledges Of the party respecting
| Resolved. Further. that it is the duty
| of every Democratic member of the House
| to attend its daily sessions, and we hereby
| express the opinion that those members
who are absent owe it TO the party and to
those of us who are here to Immediately
| return in order that pressing public busi-
| ness may be attended to-
| Another resolution was adopted that IL
| is the sense of the caucus that If a PROPOSE
! ton for an income tax was reported from
| the committee that two days additional
| should be given for debate After these
| resolutions had been adopted Mr.. Harter, or
| Ohio, and Mr. Robertson, of Louisiana, in
troduced amendments providing for duty
| on sugar but before vote was had on
| either of the amendments. Chairman Hol-
| man recognized Mr.. Black, OF Georgia, TO
| move an adjournment. The motion was
| carried with rush and at 10 o. clock the
| Democratic caucus adjourned.
| After the adjournment Chairman Wilson.
! of the ways and means committee said the
| caucus was entirely satisfactory TO him. 1T
has: shown that the great Democratic heart
resolutions passed express the sense OF the
This evening Mr. Burrows outlined the
| parliamentary attitude of the Republican
| side in the opposition to progress the
tariff bill 1T is positive step IN oppo-
| sition To the Wilson BILL" said he. NO
! exact plan of opposition has been deter
| mined so far the Republicans are con-
! cerned, as the lines OF opposition will have
! TO be shaped TO each forward movement OF
| the friends OF the bill as IL develops. For the
| present the failure 10 vote is a protest
! against the unjust rule which the major
~ seeks TO pass, by wnicn general ueDate
| is limited 10 five days. beginning to-day.
| This day Is already consumed, and Satur-
| day il not likely To bring much action. So