The Indianapolis journal., 1894-02-26
SITUATION IN CONGRESS.
Bland Determined to Continue His
Ffght-PrOposed Change I'm Rules.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The battle over
the Bland seigniorage bill will go merrily
on In the House this week. Despite the
many reverses Mr.. Bland has met in his
attempts to secure quorum. he is as de-
termined ever to fight 1t out on this line
II Ii takes all winter. If he does not succeed,
however, In the course of a few days, it is
not probable that the Speaker and his asso-
ciates on the rules committee will permit his
bill to longer block the path of business. AS
the opponents of the measure have now
adopted an open filibustering policy a rule
will be formulated by the committee on
rules tomorrow to prevent this and bring
the vote down directly to Mr.. Bland's mo-
tion. A caucus will be held tomorrow night
or Tuesday 70 consider the question Of an
amendment to the rules which will either
give the Speaker the power to count quo
rum or place 1t In his power to compel a
member to vote. with the alternative of
timing him. While 1t would seem from the
number who signed the caucus call Q16) that
q majority of the Democrats favor some
method of preventing filibustering, some of
the leading members do not desire TO push
such modification of the rules at the end
OF this long fight. With eighty majority,
they think they should first vindicate their
ability TO extricate themselves from the
present humiliating position. and after
WdTuS, tney the events OF the past
two weeks would furnish ample justification
for such a modification of the rules. The
outlook for the week is, therefore, full of
contingencies. The struggle over the Bland
bill may drift into a big parliamentary con-
test over change in the rules, in which
event there will be some bitter opposition
manifested from the Democratic side, espe-
cially If the proposed rule contemplates
lodging in the Speakers hand the power TO
count a quorum. Pending the result of the
silver fight, the Democratic opponents of
the measure, no matter what they may fa-
as an abstract proposition, will contest any
thing which Is designed to lessen their DOW
erS of obstructing the seigniorage bill. If
the silver bill is gotten out of the way be-
fore the end of the week the contested cleo
ton cases and appropriation bills will fol-
low.
The Senate has made but little progress
during the past two weeks in its efforts to
clean up the calendar in advance of the
forthcoming discussion of the tariff bin.
ator Turpie and the Stewart bond resolution
are undisposed of, the pending motion on
the latter being TO refer to the committee
on finance. which will probably be done
with little, III any, more speech making. The
speech on Hawaiian affairs. of which Sen
ator Turpie has given notice. is as yet un-
delivered, but 1t Is understood that he will
make an effort to get the floor during the
present week. IL Is probable that the report
pf the committee on foreign relations, to
be made on Monday, concerning the diplO-
matte relations between the United States
and Hawaii, under Senator Morgan's reso-
luton. will cause more or less debate; and,
even though the tariff bill should not get
into the Senate during the week, there need
be no surprise If there should be more or
less reference in the Senate to that sub
ject It bids fair to be busy week anG one
Of varied interest.