Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-13
DEADLOCKED AGAIN
Republicans Tie Up the House
fora Session.
RULE UP TO MAKE MEMBERS VOTE.

Ten Dollars Fine for Each Refusal the
salient Provision Thercin-Gottcn Be-
fore the House After Sharp Fight and
That Achievement Followed by Another
That lasts All Day-An the Big Guns
Engaged in the Battle.
managers of the house decided that the
time had come when some method should
be adopted to force the Republicans to
participate in the legislation. Through
out the last congress and during the re-
cent congress the Republicans have on
frequent occasions deadlocked the house
for days by refusing the answer to their
names, thus breaking a quorum. As
there was no rule to compel them to vote,
and as the speaker declined to adopt
Reeds expedient of counting quorum
without the authorization of a rule
which rule he would if necessity oppose
in the committee of rules, of which he is
a member, and in the house for one
sufficient reason of no other. that
he had been one of the fiercest de
noIncers OF Reed when he applied 1.-THE
house was constantly at the mercy of the
minority with Reed continually remark
ing in effect: Didn't l tell you so;"
Had TO Adopt Some Method.
Many plans have been offered by differ.
ent Democrats, and there was no inconsid-
cradle number of them who favored a rul e
which would empower the speaker or
clerk to record as present but not vot-
ing the Republicans who declined to re-
spond to their names. Reed himself has
been constantly fighting to force the
speaker to adopt the quorum-counting de-
vice of which he was the author, and has
frequently twitted Crisp with the ques-
ton: why don't you count us:' For
the last few days, however, the Republic
ans have blocked business and there was
II widespread belief on the Democratic side
that this was i'll pursuance of prec0n-
certed arrangement with the Republicans
al the senate end of the Capitol to delay
all business with view of postponing
action on the tariff bill. 1t was intimated
that "a quorum would hereafter be de-
manded not only on partisan measures,
but on the routine business OF the house.
Concluded 30 Fine Son-yotcrs
Under such stress of circumstances
. T..
comprising the Democratic end Of the com
mittee on rules, decided that che time had
come to act. y resolution embodyinr a
new rule designed to fine members SO for
refusing to vote was prepared and pre-
scented when the house met. The Demo-
Gratis were byno means unanimous in their
approval of ii. While the general senti-
lucnt of the house favored some modifica-
ton Of the rule TO accomplish the purpose
desired wide difference of opinion ex-
listed rs what that modification should be.
Some OF them, like Cochran, preferred an
out-and-out Notwithstanding rule on the
line of the amendment TO the rules offered
by Springer; Others preferred other
schemes.
And So the Fight Began
And so the fight WAS begun and the first
day 5 battle ended in victory for the Re
publlcans in spite of the tactics of the
speaker, who swept aside all preliminaries
regardless of rules until he got the matter
before the house When the readiur. of
the rule began Reed vainly ATTEMPTED tc
interrupt by appeals for recognition on a
point OF order, but the speaker. with
averted head, refused to listen to him. and
Reed finding his efforts futile sank down
in his chair. Reed was again on his feet
"heii Inc rSallilS WAS com ple.ed but the
speaker recognized Catchings to demand
the previous question. Then he turned to
Reed, who SAID he desired to raise a point
of no quorum. When Crisp heard this be
refused to heed it.
Quite "a Tied Up House.
The motions, counter-motions. points
OF order and such that followed for an
hour or two put the house in a 'prettv
mess.' fundamentally speaking it was
tied III n double-bow knot. During pro-
ceedings to determine who the absences
were under the call of the house. a motion
was entertained, and roll call was had
on motion to excuse Hull. The roll
call resulted against excusing Hull Catch
ings was recognized to offer resolution.
pnt before II was read Lacey claimed the
floor to move reconsideration of the vote
just taken.