The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-02-24
MIR. Bland Comes Pretty Near
Getting a Quorum,
But Miss is as Good as a
Mile.
HE OUGHT TO DROP IT.
Democrats Think Bill Should be-
Given Up.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2A-The mem
bers of the house under arrest were
finally discharged from custody yes
terday BY dispensing with further
proceed ngs under the call 1t re-
quired four hours yesterday to accom-
plish this, and although the scenes of
disorder1v turbulence which charac-
terized Thursdays proceedings were
not repeated, the proceedings were
fully as interesting. The Democrats
were evidently very anxious when the
house met to extricate themselves
from the complications arising from
the Wholesale arrest Of members. but
bv flank movements the Repu blicans
succeeded i'm preventing this until the
whole situation had been thoroughly
ventilated.
Perhaps the most interesting feature
of the cay barring Mr. BANDS bitter
philippe against the 6libusteriug
Democrats, was the verbal duel be-
the question of counting quorum
-a question just now of prominent
importance in house circles on ac-
count OF the proposed Democratic
caucus 10 consider the advisa bility of
adopting this expedient-
After the arrested mem bers had
been discharged Mr. Bland returned
t0 the silver bill. but his motion
failed again for lack of quorum.
He only lacked two votes, however,
and this is hIgh-water mark. All
though Mr. Bland still insisted on
many Democrats now believe it should
be abandoned. and unless a quorum
IS procured to-day, it would seem that
it would have to be. that is If d Demo
cratic caucus does not decide to adopt
some method of forcing mem bers to
vote or TO count them 81 they do not.
AT the night session, which was to
consider pension business. Mr.. Russell,
Democrat. of Georgia started to play
the role Of 0biector klgore- There
haH when O'Clock arrived and ON
Mr.. Martini motion to go into com
mittee Of the whole. Mr.. Russell made
the point of no quorum. Subsequen
he yielded to the urgent sol1citabl ton
of his colleagues and withdrew the
point The first bin reported was to
grant q pension to Mrs Fannie NJ
Norman the widow Of q first Heuten-
ant in the Florida Indian war in 1896.
and IS per month. Mr.. Richardson of
Tennessee stated the widow was so
wears old. Mr. kilgOre developed the
fact her husband had been in the
service but tyventv -nine days, but he
did not interpose any objection. and
1t was laid aside with a favOra bic
recommendation.
The next bill was MIR. Dockery IS. to
place on the pension roll. at a rate to
be fixed by the commissioner OF
pensions Ambrose Geisburt private
Company X, Thirty third Missouri
militia This bill fell under objec-
ton
The next was Mr.. Hainer's bin to
grant a pension to Guy ~. Gibson
Totally blind). a son Of Daniel Gibson.
late Company j. One Hundred and
Twenty Illinois infantry 1t
also was withdrawn when the point
Of no quorum was made
The next was to increase the pen
sion of John Scott. sergeant Company
III. one Hundred and Twenty Sixth
Ohio volunteer infantry 1t shared
like fate. Mr.. Stalings of Alabama
making the point Of ne quorum. and
the roll was called 1t developed the
presenc Of hfty-six mem bers. Then
at $50 the house adjourned