Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-20
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE FROM NEW
YORK coNSPIcuouSLY ABSENT.
Resolutions In Condemnation Of the Anti
seigniornge Bill Fiiibustering-some
Radical Propositions Rejected.

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. February ls-
The Democratic caucus. this afternoon,
which was held Immediately after the ad-
jorrnment OF the House at o'clock, was
noticeable for two reasons. In the nrst
place the utmost harmony existed among
the 1s0 gentlemen present on every mate
rial proposition having reference to the
Bland seigniorage oil. and secondly Tor
the severe criticism indulged in by the
members upon the action Of the New YORK
Democrats. who have refrained from vot-
ing to make quorum for the past week.
and who were absent this afternoon.
When the caucus met Mr.. Holman read
the call which showed that ninety MEM
bers had affixed their signatures To that
document. The roll was then called, ana |
disclosed the presence OF l3o members.
When the clenk had finished. II was |
obvious that none Of the Democratic mem |
bers OF the New York delegation were
present, although number had been In
attendance at the sessions OF the House
this afternoon. and heard the call read
+ The first speaker was Mr.. Bland. the
author OF the pending bill He offered the
following preamble and resolutions:
whereas, thirty-two Democratic men,
bers OF the House are how absent from
the city. and whereas twenty-eight
Democratic members of the House are
present, and Intentionally fail TO vote on
the pending silver bill, thus breaking
quorum:
Resolved, First That 1t is the duty
of every Democratic member OF THIS
House now absent, unless on account or
sickness OF himself or family 20 inn
mediately return to discharge the duties
OF his office.
Resolved. Second. That IL Is the duty
of every Democratic member OF this
House to attend the daily session thereof.
"Resolved. Third, That IT Is the duty OF
every Democratic member 10 record his
vote for or against the pending silver bill,
10 the end that n quorum may be OBJ
tained. and said bill speedily disposed OF.
and the House proceed TO other pressing
business"
BLAND AND SPRINGER.
Mr.. Bland then made an earnest speech
In support OF his resolutions, and strongly
censured the oponents of the bill for OBJ
structing legislation. He specially aTi-
madverted upon those Democrats who
have co-operated with the Republicans
in not voting and In pursuing other ques-
tiorable legislative methods.
Mr.. Bland was followed by Mr.. Springer
who also favored the resolutions. and ap-
| pealed to the absent members to appear
and vote at the sessions of the House.
He pointed TO the fact that during the
contest over the repeal Of the silver-pur-
chasing clause OF the Sherman act all
the Democrats opposed to that measure
had promptly responded upon every roll
| call; had furnished the necessary quorum,
and had contented themselves with speak
| ing and recording themselves.
Mr.. Springer appealed TO the constitu-
| ents of absent members TO urge their
members by kilograms and letters to APP
| pear IN the House and vote on all ques-
| tions. He had never known an occasion
| before when any number of Democrats re-
/ FUSED to come TO Democratic caucus
/ and take counsel with their Democratic
! brothers. He regretted this. not only on
| account Of pending legislation. but on ac-
| count OF divisions and dissensions which
would be engendered in every congress
| sional district In the land, and make fu-
| ture success impossible. The breaking OF
a quorum by a majority ought not to be
| resorted to. 1t was parliamentary revo-
| luton. and would destroy the power OF
| the party in the majority TO legislate.
|
Bynum, OF Indiana, in a brief speech,
offered resolution fixing the failure to
make n. quorum on the Republicans. He
offered this resolution as an amendment
70 the Blanf resolutions. which were sim
before the caucus. Instantly the hall
| was filled with murmurs OF dissent, and
the Bynum amendment was at once voted
| down by a large majority, the explana-
! tlon being that the Democrats were re-
sponsible for the breaking OF the quorum,
| and they were the party in power, and
| It was their business 10 see that quorum
was present. After Mr. Williams. of
Mississippi. had spoken briefly in favor
| OF the Bland resolutions vote was
| taken and the resolutions were adopted
| unanimously.
| ANOTHER BLAND RESOLUTION.
| Thereupon Mr.. Bland offered another
| resolution, which was as follows:
| Resolved, That 1t Is the sense of this
! caucus that the pending bill shall De
special order of business OF the House,
10 the exclusion OF all other business, TIL
| finally disposed Of"
There was no objection, and the reso-
| luton was adopted.
| Mr. Boatner of Louisiana. then took
| the floor with resolution which was
| go radical that IL was at once voted down.
| and furnished an excuse for motion 10
| adjourn, which was Immediately carried.
| The Boatner resolution INSTRUCTED the
| Committee on Rules 10 bring In an order
| imposing special penalties for failure 10
! vote to make quorum and for abseh-
| teeism. II was quickly disposed OF by a
| vote OF Gi to ~. after which. on motion
of Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee, the
| caucus adjourned.
The Democrats who attended the caucus
were as follows: Messrs. Abbott. Anderson,
Alexander. Allen, Arnold, Bayley. Bank
head. Bell Berry. Black. Of Georgia;
Black. OF Illinois; Blanchard. Bland Boat
| ner. Bower breckenridge, OF Arkansas;
| Bretz. Brookshire, Bryan, Bum. Bynum,
| Cabanlss, Camnetti, Caruth, Catchings,
Clark, OF Missouri; Cobb. of Alabama;
| Cobb. of Missouri: Cockrell, Cooper. or
| Indiana; Cooper. of Texas; Cox Crawfori.
| Crisp. Culberson, Davey. De Almond,
| benson, Dockery, Donovan, Edmonds, I'm
loc Epes. Fithian, Forman, Fyan. Cor
| man, Grady. Hall. OF Minnesota; Hall, OF
Missouri: Hammond, Hare. Hatch, Hayes.
Heard Henderson, OF North Carolina;
| Holman Hunter Jones, Kilgore, Kyle.
Lane, Latimer, Lawson. Layton. Lester
IIsle, Livingstone, Maddox, MaGuire
Marshall Martin, McCreary, McCulloch,
McDannold, McDearmon. McEttrick, Nc
Gam, McKaig, McLaurin. McMillin. Nc
Nagny. McRae, Meredith. Meyer, Money,
Montgomery. Morgan. Moses, NELL,
oates. Outhwaite. Paschal. Patterson,
Pearson Pendleton. OF Texas; Pendleton.
of West Virginia; Pigott, Richardson. OF
Michigan; Richardson OF Tennessee. Rob-
bins, Robertson. Russell, OF Georgia;
Savers. Shell. sibley. Snodgrass. Springer
Stallngs Stockdale. Stone. OF Kentucky;
Strait, Swason, Talbert, Tate, Taylor.
Terry. Tucker. Turner. Of Georgia; Tur-
rsr, Of Virginia; Turpin. Tyler Weadlock,
Wheeler, OF Alabama; Whiting, Williams
OF Illinois; Williams. of Mississippi: Wise,
and Woodard. Total, 100.
PICKETT CAMP. LAST NIGHT.