Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-04-13
THE HOUSE DEADLOCK
Democrats Realize That
Action Must Be Taken.
CRISP HAS A GOOD PLAN.
-.---
Populist PETER Proposes to Offer Q
Substitute Tariff Bill.

WASHINGTON, April IL - The Demo
cratic managers Of the house yesterday
decided that the time had come when
some effective method should bs adopted
TO force the Repu blicans to participate In
legislation.
Throughout the last congress, and dur
ing the recent congress, the Republicans
have on frequent occasions deadiocked
the house for days by refusing TO answer
10 their names, thus breaking . quorum.
Az there was no rule to compel them to
vote, and a. the speaker declined "a
adopt Mr.. Reeds expedient OF counting .
quorum without the authorization OF Q
rule. the house was constantly at the
mercy Of the minority. f-
The action Of Speaker Crisp In securing
the adoption of rule by his committee
nning mem bers si0 who refuse to vote,
and all member who absent themselves
without leave the same sum, has created
intense feeling among the Republican
representatives Both Reed and Burrows
opposed IL In committee and notified the
speaker that ho would have to secure .
quorum of his own party to pass it. There
is much doubt expressed az TO whether
quorum Of the Democratic party In the
house will vote tor it.
1t directs the sergsantat-arms to with
hold all moneys from members where
fines have been imposed. IL 10 evident
from the expression Of members on the
floor that there will be bitter contest
over the adoption Of the proposed rule.
Speaker Crisp remarked that the rule
which had been agreed on was the only
practicable solution Of the existing prob
lem. The first vote on It's adoption was:
Yeas, 142; nays. IL (Repu blicans not vot-
ing). No quorum. A call of the house
was ordered.
From Republican Standpoint.
The course which Speaker Crisp has
been pursuing towards ex-Spsaksr Reed
has had the effect Of smbittsring many of
Reeds friends They have made mp their
minds that % long a. the speaker pursues
his course toward the minority they will
resort to any method that may be nsces-
sary, not only 70 obstruss. but to defeat,
legislation that In distastsful to them.
Whether such action IL altogether patri-
otic In a question which docs NOT enter
into the matter.
The minority claim that its course is
fully justified. They hold that the Demo
Gratis have 2l6 Representatives and that
they ought to be able to have q quorum
Of their own party present whenever any
important legislation Is pending. II the
speaker and his associates cannot control
the party and keep quorum In their
seats, they should, the minority asserts,
adopt some rule that will enable them
to conduct the business In proper man
ner.
The Quorsm Question.
Many of Speaker Crisp's friends are
urging him to count q quorum. There II
no doubt In their minds as to the legality
of such proceedings. The speaker. how
ever. IL unwilling to count Q quorum,
because such action would be not only In
consistent. but q stultifioation of his and
his party's course, and would vindicats
sx-Speaksr Reed.
The Democratic managers In the house
and also In the senate are convinced that
some rule or method should bs adopted
TO enable the majority to proceed In an
orderly way with the important business
Of congress. The Democratic managers
In both houses have been In conference
concerning the matter, and probably
think the rule adopted BY the committee
on rules will solve the problem.
Populists and the Tarin.
Senator PETER occupied the entire time
of the senate yesterday afternoon, and
from o'clock ubtil 8 continued, without
sign Of fatigue, che criticism OF the VIII
son bill and the Mckinley bill indis-
criminately and to sound the praises of q
substitute bill which he proposes to
offer.