Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-01-21


For some years after the close OF the
war, tn ere was no necessity for cloture.
| The Republicans had a two-thirds ma
Jority In each branch OF Congress, and
could pass whatever measure they
! pleased on suspension days. On such
| days, under the rules, there can be no
/ dilibustering, but II requires a two
! third vote 20 pass q measure The
admission OF the reconstructed States,
however, deprived tho Republicans Of
their two thirds majority, and led to
| bllibustering at critical moments.
The first and most successful fllibust-
erer since the war was Samuel J. Ran
dali. lie developed while James G.
Blaine was Speaker. He led a parlia-
mentary fight against Force bill, very
! odlous TO Democrats. The Speaker,
| by arbitrary action, might have depriv-
ed him of his parliamentary rights.
| Mr.. Blaine however, prided himself
| upon his rigid impartiality while In the
| Speakers chair. Randall knew his
man, He felt confident that while he
| confined himself TO a strict parliament
tary line OF action, he would receive
recognition, and fair play, He led the
| tight with signal ability and won a
lasting reputation. Nor did he stand
than the Speaker who, Notwithstanding
! party exigencies, accorded him every
| privilege.
Randall's success emboldened fill
busterers in after years. When the
| direct-tax refunding bill came before
| the tlttieth Congress, Gen. William c.
Oates, OF Alabama, followed Raudalps
example. 1t was during the Grst Sos
sion OF that Congress. The most Of
the taxes to be refunded would 90 TO
the Northern and Western States. The
| bill carried about $1,000, 600 and the
South would receive only an infinitesi-
NAL portion of this amount.
Gen. Oates first effort was to attach An
amendment refunding the cotton tax,
levied during the war. When this
amendment failed, he resorted to every
parliamentary means TO defeat the bill.
Mr. Carlisle was Speaker. Blaine him
self could not have acted with more
impartiality, The House was in session
repeatedly forty hours on a stretch,
yet the bill made no progress. Oates
had little army barely strong enough
20 secure the yeas and nays, but il was
vigilant aud sleeDless. 1t stood by him
10 the last. 1t included a very few
Northern Democrats, who believed that.
"a the taxes could not be refunded To
the parties who paid them, they ought
not TO be returned 10 the States that
collected them.
After week OF fllibusterlug. Gen.
Oates secured compromise. The
House agreed TO let the matter 90 over
until the Second session, when. AT \
given time, IL was TO DO finally settled
IL was shrewd compromise. That fail
President Cleveland was defeated bv
Gen. Harrison. The direct-tax refund
Ing bill came up after tho election. 1t
passed the House by a large majority
and went through the Senate without
a hitch. But President Cleveland
vetoed 10. 1t was impossible 70 pass
the bill over the veto, and Oates came
out OF tho fight At last as Triumphant
as Randall I'm his force bill fight
Oates's example, however. was CON
tagiOus. Gen. James b. Weaver. Clifton
K. breckenridge, the Rev John Ander-
son, OF Kansas, and others became mar
meated with the iiiibustorinR microbe
and 10 became almost impossible 10 do
any business in the House. Mr.. Car
isle was so absolutely impartial as a
presiding officer under tho rules, that
Two or three Individual hlIibusterers
could shut on business Al anv lima
Inc House was paralvled at times for
days, aud even weeks. The attontion
or tho whole country was concentrated
upon D., and tho disgust became ma
tionaL The feeling OF the country
found expression in the fall elections.
when The Republicans carried the
House by five majority. This major
Ity Increased 90 eight, before the House
mot by tho election OF CoDpressnoen
from The new States.
Thomas 3. Reed was elected Speaker
re took the Chair with the evident de-
termination OF supprossing individual
hi1ousterers. His reign marked a new
era 100 the legislation of tho House lie
went 10 extreme lengths Not only did
he suppress The Individual hIlibusterer
under bis Interpretation Of parliamon-
tary law, bus he took tho silent fui-
ousterers by tho throat. He counted
those present but not voting, 80 as 10
make quorum.
Days OF furious fighting followed
When an appeal from his rulings was
secured, tho Republican majority of
tho House sustained him. His action
was further confirmed by the adoption
of now rules giving him the authority
which DO had claimed under general
parliamentary law.
Thus tho silent fiihusterer wac
squolched The more noisy and active
fellow received different treatment
The Committee on Rules we're empoy.
cred 20 bring In q clOture resolution A.
any time add under the rules prompt