The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-20
But the Eastern Filibusters Hold Aloof,
Refusing to Be Governed by the
Dictates of Their Party.
TWO RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
All Democrats Urged to Vote and
Break the Deadlock.
Reeds Method of Counting Quorum
Urged but Not ccepted-Proceed-
ings of the Senate and House.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 19-The success Of
the filibuster against the Bland silver
seigniorage bill, which has blocked proceed
ings in the House for five days. to-day
forced the Democratic advocates OF the
measure TO invoke the decree of king cau-
Gus, and Immediately after the adjournment
Democratic caucus was held in the hall
of the House to consider the situation.
There were present 100 Democrats, but not
a Democratic member of the New York DEL
egation. all of whom have Joined I'm the OBJ
structive movement, was present nor, In
fact, any of the others who Joined hands
with them. The presence. however. Of Mr..
Pence, the Colorado Populist was signifi-
cant. The sentiment in the caucus, there
fore, was all favorable TO the bill, and two
resolutions were adopted-one to keep the
seigniorage bill before the House to the ex-
clusion of verything until disposed of. and
the other expressing it as the sense of the
caucus that it was the duty of every Demo-
cratic member to be present and vote either
for against the bill. The only difference
Of opinion existing was as to the advisable.
ty of going even further than this and COM
pelling members to vote or be counted II
they refused to do so.
Mr.. Boatner presided and advocated a
resolution TO instruct the committee on rules
TO bring in a rule to compel members to
vote or be fined, and Mr.. Patterson a reso-
luton instructing the Speaker to count
quorum Mr.. Patterson declared that he be-
lieved. after viewing the spectacle OF the
last few days, that Mr.. Reed was right, and
that nonvoting members should be counted
to make a quorum. The Patterson resolu-
ton was voted down by about twenty ma
jority, the Speaker voting against the propo-
sition. The caucus adjourned pending q
vote on the Boatner resolution.
Messrs Bryan. Bland, Bynum. Springer.
Williams OF Mississippi, and Hatch advo-
Gated the passage OF the two resolutions
(both offered by Mr.. Bland and both unani-
mously adopted) and in the course of the
speeches some very caustic reflections upon
the action of the Eastern flibustering Demo-
Gratis were indulged in. The first resolution
was as follows:
Resolved. That the sense OF this caucus
is that the pending bill (the seigniorage
silver bilD shall be the special business OF
the House 70 the exclusion Of all other busi-
ness until disposed Of"
The second resolution reads:
Whereas, Thirty-two Democratic mem-
bers are now absent from the city. and
Whereas, Twenty-eight Democratic men,
bers OF the House were present and inten-
tionally failed to vote on the pending sill
yer bill, thus breaking a quorum;
RESOLVED That II Is the duty OF every
Democratic member of this House who is
now absent, unless his absence be for sick
ness of himself or family, to Immediately
return TO the discharge Of the duties OF his
office.
Resolved That it is the duty of every
Democratic member of the House TO at
tend the daily sessions thereof.
Resolved, That it is the duty of every
Democratic member OF the House TO record
his vote for or against the pending silver
bill, to the end that quorum be obtained
in order that said bill may be speedily dis
posed Of, and the House may proceed with
the consideration of other pressing busi-
ness
The Democrats who were in the city. but
refused to attend the caucus. will. IL the
declaration of Mr.. Tracey is an indication.
refuse to be bound by its action. Mr..
Tracey however asserts now that, even IL
the bill is brought to a vote il will be beat
en-. His opinion is not shared by the DEM
ocratic House leaders, who still positively
affirm that the passage of the bill Is only
a question of time. They expect twenty
two Republicans, nine Populist votes, and,
with a full Democratic attendance, 80 DEM
ocrats which would leave them margin or
twelve over a quorum.