Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-14
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Members of tha House Consider Their
Parliamentary Situation.
FOR COUNTING A QUORUM.
Resolution Instructing the Proper Commit
tee to Report Such Huie-Pockrt'
Nerve Also Touched.

WASHINGTON, April l3.-It required
a session OF nearly four hours 'o-day for
the caucus OF Democrats to reich a con-
clusion looking to u change Ia the rules
which will secure the presence OF quo
rum.
Two resolutions were adopted. The
first was offered by Mr.. Bland. 1t pro-
vides for enforcing the law passed III
1856. which forfeits a members pay for
every day he may be absent without
leave, except In cases of sickness.
The second resolution was offered by
Mr.. De Almond, of Missouri. 1t reads
as follows:
"Resolved. as the sense of this caucus.
That the Committee on Rules should re-
port to the House rule or an amend
ment to the rules, by means Of which
members present and not voting may be
taken into account in determining the
existence or non-existence of quorum,
and to compel the attendance of absent
members"
The resolution. in other words. Is an
instruction to the Democratic members
on the Committee on Rules to report
rule providing for counting a quorum. 1t
was adopted by vote of IS to A.
SPRINGERS PROPOSITION.
In addition to the foregoing resolutions.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois. offered a resolu-
ton which provided that on the second
roll-call members who do not vote shall
have the pending business stated to them,
and If they still decline to vote shall be
counted to make quorum. The princi-
pal debate OF the afternoon centered
about this resolution.
Later in the day Mr. McCreary, of
Kentucky, offered Il resolution relegating
the entire matter to the Committee on
Rules. The vote on this resolution was
taken by tellers and resulted i'm a tie
Ct to 6i-whereupon Mr. Holman, chair
man of the caucus cast the deciding vote
i'm favor OF the resolution. A yea anu
nay vote was then taken. and the resolu-
ton was defeated. .
Prior to the vote on the De Almond res
olution Mr. Springer withdrew his reso-
luton. and announced that he would
support that of the gentleman from Mis-
souri,.
THE FENCE-MENDING EXIGENCY.
During the discussion. Mr.. Williams of
Illinois. contended that the Democrats OF
the House ought to adopt some rule by
which they would require the presence
OF the members of their party. The ma
jority Of the Democrats was large. and
they did not have the same necessity for
adopting rules as was the case in the
Fifty-hrst Congress. F'orfciting the pay
of members would have the tendency of
accelerating not only business. but adj
jOurnment, so that members might return
home on the business matters which now
caused them to leave Washington.
Mr.. Warner. of New York, speaking to
the motion that had been made 10 refer
the whole matter to the Democratic mem
bers Of the Committee on Rules. inquired
whether this would not carry with it the
Inference that the caucus would support
whatever rule the Democratic members
OF the committee might determine on
He added that. no matter what the eau
Gus might do, he would refuse in any case
to vote for "a ruIe for counting a quo
rum.
Mr.. McMiIin, of Tennessee. was op-
posed to counting a quorum, and Messrs
Dunn, of New Jersey, ana McCreary. OF
kentucky, were averse TO pursuing such
Il method for obtaining quorum.
Mr.. Allen. of Mississippi, made char
acteristically humorous speech but
showed conclusively by his remarks that
he would vote for any proposition looking
TO the securing of a quorum.
Mr.. Bryan, Of Nebraska, opposed any
drastic measures. The Democrats had
denounced the rules OF the Reed Congress.
and he did not want to defend similar
rules inaugurated by a Democratic Con-
gress.
Il AM A DEMOCRAT CRISP.
In the course Of the proceedings,
Speaker crisp, who was present at the
caucus. took the floor against the Sprin-
ger resolution. He objected to 1t on the
ground that il might be found 10 be
Intellectual and cumbersome, and that II
needed careful and critical execution,
such as could not be given by the caucus.
When Mr. De Almond presented his
resolution he turned to the Speaker. 9nd,
addressing that gentleman, asked that
if this whole matter were referred TO the
Committee on Rules. would ne dhe
Sneaker cooperate with the committce
AMI carry out the spirit Of any Teso.u-
tlsn that might be adopted By the eau
Gus. Amid q burst Of applause Speaker
Crisp replied that he WAS a Democrat;
that he would yield any conviction he
had to the voice of a Democratic caucus.
The members Of the caucus, II Is UNDER
stood. were enjonod TO secrecy. and at
AS p. NJ. the meeting adjourned.