The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-20
VOTED DOWN IN CAUCUS
Still He Thought Crisp Should
Count a Quorum.
DIVISION IN THE DEMOCRACY.
The East Has Combined Against the
West on the Silver Seig-
niorage Bill.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-The success of
the filibuster against the Bland silver
seigniorage bill, which has blocked pro-
ceedlngs in the House for FIVE days, to-day
forced the Democratic advocates of the
measure to invoke the decree of the eau
Gus, and Immediately after adjournment a
Democratic caucus was held in the hall of
the House to consider the situation. There
were present 40 Democrats, but not one
Democratic member Of the New York del
egation, all of whom have joined in the
obstructive movement. was present, nor
in fact any OF the others who have Joined
hands with them. The presence. however,
of Pence of Colorado. Populist, was sig
nificant. The sentiment in the caucus,
therefore, was all favorable TO the bill,
and two resolutions we're adopted-one to
keep the seigniorage bill before the House
to the exclusion of anything else until it was
disposed of and the other expressing the
sense of the caucus-that it was the duty
of every Democratic member to vote either
for or against the bill. The only difference
OF opinion was to the bility of going
further than this and compelling members
to vote or be counted ii they refused.
BOatner presided and advocated a resolu-
ton to instruct the Committee on Rules TO
bring up a rule to compel members to vote
or be fined, and Patterson offered resolu-
ton instructing the speaker TO count
quorum. Patterson declared that he be-
lieved, after reviewing the spectacle of
the last few days, that Reed was right and
thatnon-voting members should be counted
to make quorum. The Patterson reso-
luton was voted down by about twenty
majority, the Speaker voting against the
proposition. The caucus adjourned pend
ing vote on the Boatner resolution.
Bryant, Bland, Springer. Williams of
Mississippi and Hatch advocated the
passage Of two resolutions, both offered
by Bland, and in the course of the
speeches some very caustic reflections
upon the action of the Eastern filbuster-
ing Democrats were INDUCED in. The
resolutions, which were as follows, were
unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That it is the sense of this caucus
that the pending bill Che seigniOrage silver BID
shall be the suec. i business of the House
TO the exclusion of all others, until it is dis
posed OF.
The second resolution was as follows:
WHEREAS, Thriy-two Democratic men,
bers are now absent from the city; and
whereas. twenty-eight Democratic members of
the House were present and intentionally
failed 10 vote on the pending silver BILL thus
breaking the quOrom; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That 1t is the duty of every Democra-
tic member of this House now absent unless the
absence be for sickness OF himself or family. to
Immediately return 10 the discharge Of the
duties of his Office.
RESOLVED, That il is the duty of every Demo-
cratic memb OF the House to attend the daily
sessions thereof.
Resolved, That il is the duty OF every Demo-
cratic member OF the House to go on record for
or against the pending silver bill, TO the end
That quorum be obtained in der that said
bill may be speedily disposed Of and the
House proceed with the consideration OF other
pressing business.
The Democrats who were in the city but
refused to attend the caucus will, if the
declaration of Tracey is an indication, re-
fuse to be bound by Its action. Tracey,
however. asserts now that even if the bill
is brought to vote it will be beaten. Bis
opinion is not sh AIRED by the Democratic
House leaders. who still positively affirm
that the passage of the bill is only ques-
ton of time. They expect twenty-five Re-
publican and nine Populist votes, and with
full Democratic attendance of 100 Demo-
Gratis. which would leave them a margin of
twelve, or over quorum, they would pass
the bill.