The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-07
,PLAI TOCOUNT AOUORUM
Springer Lays One Before The Demo,
cratic Caucus.

The Caucus Fizzle in Point Of At
+sndance-Not Over Fifteen Members
PRESENT at Any One Time-Repre-
sentative Paynter Of Kentucky, Also
submits a Scheme to Kill Flibuster-
ing.
Washington, March 6.-Owing to the
,s..- of a Quorum and to the wide diverg-
one of sentiments expressed, the demo
c~atic causus, which was called tonight,
met and adjourned without definite
action being taken upon the PROPOSE
rioa TO devise some method by which
q quorum may be maintained in the
House. The caucus, or more prop
srry Speaking, the conference for at
M time were there more than fifteen
members present, was slow in gathering.
A. o'clock, the time for meeting,
scarcely a score of members were in their
sasfs. From that time until 500 o'clock
rbav came in singly and in pairs.
sneaker Crisp was present, as was also
representative Catchings, of Mississippi,
one of the democratic members of the
committee on rules. The only New
z-orzer in attendance was Representative
Il CiryIes who came in about 9 O'Clock, but
took no part in the proceedings.
u Mr.. KilgOre emphasized the point that
the bsne Of the House was absenteeism,
and suggested as a remedy that members
Who were absent without good and Sut1i-
Gent reason should be fined.
a Peuresentative Springer of Illinois, was
f5s first TO take the tOor. After stating
that he had a proposition which he
would submit at the proper time he
Rpnpecer7 n va
Roarner of Louisiana, who submitted
resolution that the committee on rules
n he required to report a rule to the House
nv means of which a quorum of those
voting and those present and not voting
could be ascertained and recorded.
SPRINGER SUBMITS A PLAN.
When he had concluded MIR. Springer
AGAIN arose and stated that he would like
tosubmit to the committee on rules the
following addition to clause !, OF rule 8:
Whenever q roll call on any question shows
THAT "a quorum has not voted the clerk shall
cal the names Of those who have not voted,
Enthusiastically or otherwise, as the speaker
rrav5irec, and the speaker shall call on each
mem her present when his name is thus called
to state how he votes on the pending
question. Any member when thus
called upon who shall fail or
"A refuse to vote who is not disqualified from
vo.uE by reason OF personal interest in the
question. or who has not been excused from
ing thereon. snail NC uCGAAlCu III contempt
of the House, and the speaker shall not there
after recognize such member to speak or to
make auy motion until he has recorded his
vote on he pending question. or. failing to do
So until the House has eXcusedhim. A mo-
ton for this purpose can only be made
after the subject matter which has
lesn pending. has been disposed Of, and when
quorum Is present and Dy a member who is
NOT IN contempt The member making this
notion shall be entitled to speak five min
utas In favor thereof and then the speaker
fnaaa alava nh ts
NOT in contempt, to speak IN opposition
thereto, when the question shall be put upon
eEcusiug such member. The journal and the
Record snall contain each day list of mem
bers who are in contempt of the House at the
close of each day proceedings, and who
have no. been excused.
II a quorum should not be present and vote
as provided in this rule, call Of the House
Va may he ordered and when a member is
brought into the House under the call he shall
be called upon by the speaker to vote upon
the question which was pending when the call
was ordered, and II he should fail or refuse to
do so he shall be subject to all of the proYis
~ ions of this rule. the same as If he had been
present when the vote was first taken on the
II question.
Mr. Springer went on 10 say that he
had considered the subject for many
years, and that while there were objec-
tons to all Of the methods proposed, he
REGARDED the foregoing as the better plan
OF securing quorum.
PROPOSITION.
Representative Paynter of Kentucky,
who was The moving spirit in circulating
the ,au for the caucus, made a strong
speech saying that he had formulated a
proposition which was practically the rule
drawn by Randolph Tucker, of Virginia
III the torty-sixth congress, with some
additions. The substance of Mr. Payn-
ters rule, which he read to the caucus,
was that when a quorum did not vote
there should be a call of the House, and as
each member was brought forward he
should be recorded as present and not
voting, If he did not vote under the call
anu those who were present and had not
~ voted might be noted as present by any
member calling attention to the fact If
those voting in the Affirmative were
81 ma orlty OF all those present. the propo-
sILo2 should be declared as carried.
BOTH PLANS OPPOSED.
representatives Kilgore and Williams.
OF illinois, opposed both propositions and
favored the largest latitude of tilibuster-
81 ing
Mr.. Kilgore said that the PROPOSE
IONS introduced by the preceding
Speakers were undemOcratic and unwise
mere adoption would place the Demo-
carCe party in the position of following
MeJhods OF eX-Speaker Reed and this
"a dClOl ne StrOpprplV 6anraoatad