Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-03-01
A 4 FROM.
An Extract From His Speech Against
FilIbustereTs-Piainly Notified
The Members OF Congress
of Their Duties.

of Their Duties.
We were sent here to do our duty.
We are here, and we are supposed
to be doing our duty when a great
large mass of people are begging
for bread. The people Of this coun-
try do not 60 to their beds in comfort,
in peace and in safety, and We are
teaching to the Anarchist mobs in
this country that mobbism is the
prevailing rule Of this House.
Mr.. Bynum: | call the gentle
man from Missouri to order.
Mr.. Bland: Instead of doing bust
ness we have scenes Of great disor-
der, and should a mob arise over
this country by reason of our ac-
ton, the rest of the country will
have to say that we set the exam
pie.
Mr.. Bynum: l call the gentle.
man to order.
The Speaker: The gentleman
will suspend.
MIR. Bynum: | desire to know
what the parliamentary question is
before the House.
The Speaker: The gentleman
from Indiana will suspend till the
gentleman from Missouri takes his
seat.
Mr.. Bland: The question before
the House is procuring a quorum.
The Speaker: The gentleman
from Missouri must resume his
seat, because the gentleman from
Indiana has called him to order.
Mr.. Bland: | ask pardon.
Mr.. Bynum; Mr., Speaker, |.
rise to a question of order that the
gentleman is not speaking on the
question before the House.
The Speaker: The gentleman
from Missouri will proceed in order
and confine himself to the question
before the House.
y SERIOUS MATTER.
Mr.. Bland: As | understand the
question before the House it is the
charge that the gentleman here, who
was absent, was brought here under
a writ of the House. That brings
up the whole question as to the
power Of the House, the rights of
the House and the duty of theHouse
to secure men in their seats in the
House. That is the point of order,
and if the gentleman from Indiana
will give me his attention, | say to
him that that is the point of Or
der, and that is the point Of this
discussion.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, this is a
serious matter. Some gentlemen
say We can look over this body,
and with a gavel count a quorum.
Why, Mr.. Speaker, that is but an
invitation to absenteeism. If 179
members of this House could re-
main here, and it is understood that
they could be counted as a quorum,
the other 10 could 60 to Europe
and watering places and wander up
and down the earth neglecting their
duties. L say it is the duty of this
House to keep members in their
seats and then you will always have
a quorum. That is the business of
the House. The Democratic party
is in power. It has over 200 mem
bers and a majority of over so. The
country is looking to that party to
give the people relief.
MIR. Dunn: | rise to a point of
order. l do not think the gentle
man from Missouri has been ap-
pointed a lecturer of the Democratic
party. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Bland: Mr.. Speaker, l am
speaking about the duty of mem
bers of the House to remain in their
seats and make a quorum, and if
that is featuring it is a lecture that
the people of the country will read
hereafter to the gentleman and to
every other gentleman upon this
floor. democratic a~pplause.)
A SORRY SPECTACLE.
Now, while | can understand that
the other side of the House, for po-
litical purposes, may desire to break
a quorum, what a spectacle it is to
see the grand Democratic party with
its majority of so in this House un-
atle to muster a quorum OF its own
people, and when they do come in
here they rise up in their Congress
sional dignity, SO to speak, and de-
fly the authority of the House. Mr..
Speaker, we must proceed with the
business Of the House or else ac-
knowledge our incompetency. If
W. cannot, as a party, proceed
to our duty here and
transact the public business, then
the people of this country must
read the riot act to us in November
next. Applause on the Republican
side, and cries of "They will.")
Mr.. Bland: Obi know you gen.
tlemen over there say that, but
YOU have got to answer for your