The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-14
Democrats of the House Hold a Caucus
and Decide TO Take the Bull
by the Horns.
NEW RULE TO BE REPORTED
1t Will Admit of Counting a QuOr-
um Whether Voting or Not.
Spirited Speeches for and Against the
PrOpOsitiOn-VOOrhees Loses Ills
Grip on the Pie Counter.

WASHINGTON. April lS-1he Democrats
failed to muster a quorum to-day and were
forced to adjourn the House. Then they
held caucus and agreed on heroic meas
ure
The struggle over the adoption Of the
new rule TO secure a voting quorum was re-
suI1ed when the House met. The Repub-
ncans made a preliminary stand against
the approval of the iournll. As sooE as il
had been read Mr. 3outelle jumped to his
feet and objected, and when Mr.. Doclkery
moved its approval The Republicans sat
silent in their seats Upon the announce
ment OF the vote-l05 to 0-AIr. Boute.le
made the point of no quorum and the roll
was called. The Republicans refrained from
voting and the result-l55 10 l--showed tISat
the Democrats we're twenty three short OF
a quorum. Mr.. Dockery then moved cali
of the House, ins-rucsing his side To vote
down the motion in the hope of developing
a Democratic quorum. Blu: again The Dem
ocrats failed 20 get the quorum rhe mo-
ton for call was cefeated-l4e 10 a. The
Democrats were still twenty five short. The
prospect of a quorum to day was hope
less, and as Il had been decided TO call
Democratic caucus to consider the IGies.
Mr. Dockery moved an adjournment, and
i
nouncement from the Clerks desk was
greeted with loud Republican cheers and
jeers.
After a heated session Of two hours and
a half the Democ-a'ic caucus this afi+r-
noon decided. by vote oe 50 10 "A, 10 in-
struct the committee on rules &c report
a new rule 20 ascertain and record the
presence OF quorum whether voting or
not. Practically all the Democrats mem
bers Of the House attended the "aucOs.
Mr.. Bland presented a resolution directing
the Sergeaat-at-arms carry out the pro-
vision of Section 10, Chapter z, OF The Re-
vised Statutes. by which deductions fro
the salaries of memhers should lie made
for every days absence except on account
of sickness This was ir accordapce with
the action of The Judiciary committee
earlier in the day Inanin"Csly
| adopted.
MIR. 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
| decline to vote when their names were
called should be brought to the bar of the
| House. and, after being given an oppor-
| tunity to vote upon the pending PROPOSE
| ton, in case OF refusal should be recorded
| as present but not voting"
| Mr.. Pendleton. of West Virginia, offered
| resolution directing the committee on rules
| to formulate and present a rule TO ascertain
| and record the presence Of a quorum
| whether voting or not Mr.. Cultivate sug-
| Cested a. different method Of accomplishing
! the same purpose.
| Speaker Crisp took the floor and made
| vigorous speech, pointing out the deplorabe
| condition the House found itself in on ac-
count of the continued and persistent alb
| senteeism Quite a number Of speeches
| were made in opposition to any and all
| rules looking to the counting OF members
| who refused to vote. Messrs. Kilgore Of
| Texas, Bryan Of Nebraska, Mr.. McMillin
| of Tennessee, Wheeler OF Virginia, and
| Williams of Illinois led the opposition
During the course of rather hot-tem-
pered speech by Mr.. Kilgore on the sub
| iect Mr. Bland shouted, with an expression
| Of dIsugust, TO the effect that If the DEM
| ocratic House was forced TO resort to
| Reedisn it had better adjourn sine die and
go home.
| Mr.. Cummings made speech against the
proposition to count 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
so as TO make it read "a rule to nominate
| Thomas Brakett Reed for President Of the
| United States"
Mr. Dearmond, of Missouri, offered res
olution expressing it as the sense OF the
| caucus that the committee on rules should
| prepare a new rule for ascertaining the
presence of a quorum, and also a method
for compelling the attendance Of absent
| members.
Mr. McCreary, OF Kentucky, moved 10
| refer all the resolutions to the committee
| ON rules. The motion was lost-59 10 60.
| Mr. Dearmond'S resolution was carried by
| a two-thirds majority-S0 10 A. This COM