The record-union., 1894-02-20
BLAND SEIGNI0RAGE BILL.
ADVOCATES OF THE MEASURE
HOLD A CAUCUS.
Resolutions Passed Tending to Force
Democrats to Vote Either For
or Against the Bill.
snecial to the REcoRp-Ux1oN.

Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The success of
the filibuster against the Bland seignior-
age bill, which has blocked proceedings
in the House five days, to-day forced the
Democratic advocates of the measure to
invoke the decree of the caucus, and i'm
mediately after adjournment a Demo-
cratic caucus was held in the hall of the
House to consider the situation. There
were present 130 Democrats, but not a
Democratic member of the New York
delegation, all OF whom have joined in
the obstructive movement, was present,
nor in fact any others who Joined hands
with them.
The presence, however. of Pence of
Colorado (Populist) was significant. The
sentiment in the caucus, therefore, was
all favorable to the bill, and resolutions
were adopted-one to keep the seignior-
age bill before the House to the exclusion
of everything until disposed of and an
other expressing the sense of the caucus
that it is the duty of every Democratic
member to vote for or against the bill.
The only difference of opinion was as to
the advisability of going even further
than this, and compelling members to
vote, or be counted if they refuse.
Boatner presided and advocated a reso-
luton to instruct the Committee on Rules
to bring in a rule to compel members
to vote or be fined, and the Patterson
resolution instructing the Speaker to
count quorum.
Patterson declared that he believed,
after reviewing the spectacle of the day,
that Reed was right, and that nonvoting
members should be counted to make a
quorum. The Patterson resolution was
voted down by about twenty majority,
the Speaker voting against the propo-
sition. The caucus adjourned pending a
vote on the Boatner resolution.
Bryant, Bland, Springer, Williams
Miss and Hatch advocated the passage
of two resolutions (both offered by
Bland) and in the course of the speeches
some very caustic reflections upon the
action of Eastern tilibustering Democrats
were INDUCED in. The resolutions,
which were as follows, were unanimously
adopted:
''ResoJued, That it is the sense of this
caucus that the pending bill (seigniorage
silver bill shall be the special business of
the House, to the exclusion of all, until
disposed Of"
The second resolution is as follows:
''WHEREAs, Thirty-two Democratic
members are absent from the city; and
whereas, twenty-eight Democratic mem
bers of the House were present and in
tentionally failed to vote on the pending
silver Dill, tnuS breaking Lne quorum.
'tResotUed, First, that it is the duty of
every Democratic member of this House
now absent, unless his absence be for
sickness of himself or family. to immedi-
ately return to discharge the duties OF his
office.
''ResoEUed. Second, that it is the duty
of every Democratic member of the
House to attend the daily sessions
thereof.
''ResoIved. Third, that it is the duty of
every Democratic member of the House
to record for or against the pending silver
bill, to the end that quorum be obtained,
in order that the bill may be speedily dis
posed of and the House proceed to the
consideration of other pressing business"
The Democrats who were in the city
but refused to attend the caucus will, if
the declaration of Tracey is an indication.
refuse to be bound by this action. Tracey,
however, asserts now that if the bill is
brought to vote it will be beaten. His
opinion is not shared by the Democratic
House leaders, who still positively affirm
that the passage of the bill is only a ques-
ton of time. They expect % Republican
and Populist votes, and with full DEM
ocratic attendance, $50 Democrats, which
would leave them q margin of II over q
quorum.