The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-04
Boutelle Pushed the Hawaiian Matter
Forward, and the House Could Not
Take Up the Wilson Bill.
MAJORITY LACKED A QUORUM
And an Adjournment Was Taken
After a Lively Discussion.
Resolutions introduced by Senator Frye
to Block the Presidents Hawaiian
Policy for Time.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3-The tariff debate
OF 1894 did not begin in the House to-day.
as was anticipated The Republicans
showed fight at the very outset, and scored
the first victory. Before the time arrived
for Mr.. Wilson TO take the floor, Mr.. Nc
Creary tried to arrange amicable agree
ment by which two days-Friday and Sat-
urday-should be given to consideration OF
the Hawaiian resolution. Mr. Hitt the Re-
publican leader of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, expressed Willingness to acquiesce
in the arrangement, but Mr.. Boutele want
ed to precipitate the question Immediately
by calling up his resolution. Both sides
were ugly, but, after a lively row. the
Speaker held that Mr. Boutelles resolution
was privileged. The Democratic members
of the ways and means committee were
not willing to go ahead with the Hawaiian
discussion until the tariff debate had been
gotten we'll under way, however, and the
question of consideration was raised against
the Routelle resolution. The Republicans
then executed a flank movement by refus-
ing to vote. The Democrats found Them
selves in the humiliating position Of not be-
ing able to muster a quorum. They were in
check, and, after revokng all leaves of alb
sence Mr.. Wilson reluctantly moved an
adjournment. The Democrats confidently
expect a quorum here tomorrow, and the
effect of to-days Republican tactics will
probably be that the Hawaiian matter will
be entirely postponed until the tariff bill is
disposed of.
When Speaker Crisp mounted the ros-
trum at noon to-day and dropped the gavel
there were many vacant seats in the pub
lie galleries. The press gallery, overhang-
fner ha Snaa lxar,S chair hoWeyor WAS lined
with newspaper correspondents. on the
floor there was considerable animation Ex-
Speaker Reed Mr.. Burrows. Mr.. Dali
zell and other Republican leaders were con-
ferring earnestly, and on the Democrats
side each member of the ways and means
committee was surrounded by group of
his colleagues. The designations Of Colonel
Fellows and Mr. Fitch, Of New York, who
have been elected, respectively, district at
torney and Controller of the Currency OF
New York, were read, and the Speaker pre-
sented the credentials Of Mr.. Adams, OF
Pennsylvania. who has been elected to
succeed the late Mr. O'Neill.
The fight of the day then began, Mr..
Boutelle, on behalf of the Republicans,
putting forward the Hawaiian matter to
antagonize the tariff bill. Mr. McCreary,
the chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, sought to avoid this subject by try
ing TO make an arrangement by which FRI
day and Saturday of this week should be
set aside for the consideration Of the reso-
luton by the foreign affairs committee in
lieu of the Hit and Boutelle resolutions.
Mr.. Hit, the head of the minority of the
foreign affairs committee, was on his feet
and as soon Mr. McCreary had made
his proposition he stated that, isasmuch
as this proposition gave the Republicans
substantially what they desired, namely,
a time fixed for debate of the Hawaiian
matter, he would gladly accept ii.
BOUTELLE TO THE FORE.
Mr. Boutelle, during this colloquy, was
also on his feet, clamoring for recognition,
and before Mr.. Hit had hardly concluded
his statement he said: "Mr. Speaker / de-
sire to call up a question OF privilege, the
resolution introduced by myself reciting
that the rights and liberties of the House
have been invaded by the executive"
Immediately a dozen members began pro-
testing Mr. Bland wanted to have the
question of consideration decided, and Gen.
Wheeler demanded the regular order,
which be loudly insisted on, the admission
of New Mexico.
Speaker Crisp silenced the turbulence by
a few sharp raps of the gavel, after which
he said he desired to look into the status
of the resolution.
While this question was being examined
whether 1t would be in order to raise the
question of consideration with view OF
Certainly" replied the Speaker
During the lull that followed, Mr.. Bou-
teile again made a statsment which called
forth a sharp rebuke from the Speaker,
who informed the gentleman from Maine.
with some manifestation of temper that
there was no occasion for prscipitancy
Mr.. Boutelle would not remain silent. how
ever. and again. the Speaker raped him to
order. IF the gentleman will onfy possess
himself said he, "the Chair will try TO
state the status of the resolution" He
went TO explain that the resolution had
gone to the committee on foreign affairs
had been reDored back, with the recon-
mendation that il lie on the table, sub
stitute being offered in its stead.
Mr.. Turner made the point that the SUBJ
Stitute having gone to the calendar its
privilege had been lost, but the Speaker,
after citing several DECISIONS held that. in
asmuch as the Boutelle resolution was on
the Speakers table, il had not lost its privi-
lege.
Mr.. McMillin thereupon raised the ques-
tion of consideration against IL, and. after
some further wrangling, the vote was
taken. The Republicans refused 10 vote
when their names were called While the
roll call was proceeding Chairman Wilson
came in from the House lobby and quietly
took his seat. A few sprays OF lilies of the
valley lay on his desk. Several members
came up and shook hands with him, and
Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee, who is to be
chairman Of the committee OF the whole
during the tariff debate, had a brief con-
sultation with him before the call was fin
ished. The vote resulted 135 to 3, the Demo-
Gratis lacking exactly 40 of a quorum.
WIN evidences OF intense Satisfaction tne
Republicans heard the announcement, and
Mr.. BOutelle promptly made the point
of no quorum. The Democrats were dis
appointed in the effort to muster a quorum
to go ahead with the all-important tariff
debate but they were left no alternative.
and Mr.. McMillin moved a call of the
House, in which the Republicans responded
to their names, and the call developed the
presence of two hundred members. Mr.
McMillin then offered a resolution TO revoke
all leaves of absence. and instructing the
Sergeant-at-arTns TO notify all absentees by
telegraph that public business was sus-
pended, and requesting their immediate
presence. Mr.. Heard expressed a desire TO
amend the resolution so as 10 exclude from
It's operation all those detained by sick
ness Mr. McMillin replied that he had no
idea that the resolution would be vigorously
enforced as regards sickness. The vote was
then taken. first by teIlers and subsequently
by yeas and nays. The House adjourned
at .. IN. for lack of a quorum.