The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-22
Despite the Order to Arrest Members,
the Seigniorage Bill Advocate Could
Only Secure 40 Votes.
PLEAS OF THE SUFFRAGISTS
Twenty-Five Women Appear Be-
fore Congressional Committees.
Mrs. Waugh Tells Legislators that the
Morals of the Country Would Be
Purer if the Fair Sex Voted.

WASHINGTON, Feb. H.-Mr. Bland again
failed to secure a quorum to-day his
motion, and after four hours of fruitless
roll calls the House adjourned. The highest
number of votes polled to-day was 40, nine
short Of a quorum. The members who have
been arrested. about two in number, were
paroled until tomorrow and will be ar
raigned as soon as the House meets. An
effort was made to adjourn over tomorrow
CWashington's birthday, but Mr.. Bland in
sisted that if the Democrats of the House
could not do business it was not proper TO
fritter away time on holidays, and his sup
porters sustained him.
Only seven of the S54 members Of the
House were unaccounted for when that
body met at noon to-day. After the read
ing of the journal Sergeant-at-arms Snow
came forward with supplementary report
on the order instructng him TO arrest alb
sentees. He reported all but seven men,
berS here, or on their way, except such as
had been excused on account of illness. and
that deputies had been sent out for the
other seven.
'I would like to KNOW" suggested Mr..
Reed, whether a deputy has been sent
after Mr.. Johnson, Of Cleveland. He ap-
pears to be recalcitrant.''
The Sergeant-at-arnls stated that Mr..
Johnson had been sent for.
Mr.. Reed further wanted to know whether
the members who were here under ar
rest. On being informed that they were
not he desired to know why, inasmuch as
there had appeared to be no trouble yester-
day about arresting Republicans. The
Sergeant-at-arms expressed doubt as to his
nth RI mo fho floor
but the Speaker directed him to execute his
writ and make the arrest wherever men,
bers were found.
Mr.. Bland asked unanimous consent that
those members who were present be ex-
cused, but Mr.. Reed objected. "Our people
were paraded before the bar of the House
yesterday, and now we want to see yours.
Uaughter)
Mr.. Bland then moved that the House go
into committee of the whole on the seignior-
age bill, and, pending that, that all debate
be limited TO ten minutes, and on the latter
motion he demanded the previous question.
He failed to secure a quorum by narrow
margin, although eleven Democratic op-
the filibustering, and voted against the de-
mand for the previous question. The vote
stood 157 to IL, nine short of a quorum.
A POPULIST TRICK.
Mr. Bland moved a call of the House.
The call developed the presence of 271 men,
bers, and the vote then required on his
motion to close debate. Pages and mes
sengers scurried through the corridors and
committee rooms to see that every availa-
|. BILE vote was cast on this roll call. The
Popuists did not vote on the first roll call,
which nonaction alarmed the Democrats.
Jerry Simpson when approached, said tllat
they wanted to show the country that the
Democratic party was incapable or trans
acting business.
In the second roll call the supporters of
the Bland bill We're greatly relieved TO lind
that the PopuiStS responded in the afilrm-
ative as their names were called. The ten
Republicans who had been voting with the
Democrats up to this time, however, eX-
cept Waugh, Marsh and Murray, with the
prospect Of quorum in sight on this vote,
yielded to the solicitations of their Eastern
colleagues, so that, despite the great effort
to secure a quorum, 1t again fell short, this
time ten voteS-l59 10 10.
When the announcement was made, Mr..
Reed suggested that the time spent in try
ing to secure quorum could be more
profitably. spent in debate.
"Will the gentlemen on the other side
agree upon a time for voting IL the debate
Millin
Certainly" responded Mr.. Reed. 1--WE
will vote when we get through.
When will you get through?
''It Is absurd" continued Mr. Reed, that
gentlemen should insist IN having the tail
OF the situation in their hands before they
begin"
Amid cries for regular order, Mr.. Bland
moved call of the House, and the Speaker
declared the McMlllin-Reed cOllOquy out of
order. and instructed the official steIi3g-
raphers to exclude it from the Record. The
yeas and nays were demanded on the mo-
ton for the call call of the House was
orlered-I61 to So. When the quorum again
reappeared Mr. Bland moved TO dispense
with further proceedings under the call.
and Mr.. Reed, in order to complicate mat
ters, forced a roll call upon this motion.
tba
dispensed wfth-17e to 21-and the vote then
again required on Mr.. BANDS demand for
the previous question on the seigniorage
bill. Again the quorum failSd-151 to 4-the
smallest vote of the day, and, upon the an
n0uncement, Mr.. Bland moved that the
House adjourn
Mr. McKaig moved that as tomorrow was
Washington birthday, when the House ad-
iourn, II be to meet Friday.
IF the Democratic party cannot do busi-
ness" said Mr. Bland, hotly, sit had better
not fritter it's time away on holidays. II
would be a sorry spectacle for US to ad-
| journ over"
Mr.. Bland then made the point Of order
that no quorum having been developed, the
House could not entertain the motion to
| adjourn over The Speaker sustained the
point of order, and the vote was taken by
/ yeas and nays on Mr.. BANDS motion tO
| adjourn till tomorrow. The motion was
| caTried-1f0 to 81.
Before the announcement OF the vote was
| made Mr. Burrows moved that when the
| House adjourn it adjourn to meet on Fri
| ton was not in order, and then, at i:05 the
| House adjourned till tomorrow.
Arrest of Members.