Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-07
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
NO QUORUM TO CONSIDER THE MAT
TER OF QUORUM COMPELLING.
Propositions Made by Springer and Others
kilgore for tho Largest Latitude
Of FiiiLustering.

WASHINGTON, March glowing TO the
lack OF quorum and wide divergence
or sentiments expressed. the Democrauc
caucus, which was called tonight met
and adjourned without definite action be-
ing taken upon the proposition to devise
some method by which quorum may be
maintained In the House.
The caucus, or. more properly speaking
the conference (for at no time were there
more than fifty members present., was
slow I'm gathering At O'Clock. the tune
set for the meeting scarcely score vi
members were in their seats. From thaC
time until $50 they came in singly ana IN
pairs. Speaker Crisp was present. as was
also Mr.. Catchings, of Mississippi one OF
the Democratic members Of the committee
on Rules. The only New Yorker IN at
tendance was General Sickles, VINO came
IN about 9 o'clock. but who took no part
In the proceeding
Mr.. Springer. Of Illinois. was the nrst
TO take the floor. After stating that ne
had proposition which he would submit
at the proper time he yielded the floor TO
Mr.. Boatner OF Louisiana, who submitted
a resolution that the Committee on Rules
be required TO present a rule 10 the House
by means of which quorum OF those
voting and those present and not Young
could be ascertained and recorded. Nheh
no had concluded Mr.. Springer again rose
and stated that he would like To submit
20 the Committee on Rules the following
addition to clause |. Of rule 3:
sPRINGERS PROPOSITION.
whenever a rol-call on any question
shows that quorum has not voted the
Clerk shall again call the names Of those
who have not voted. alphabetically OF
otherwise as the Speaker may drec|
and the Speaker shall call on each mem
Der present when his name IS mus calIe1
To state how he votes on the pehuins
question.
ANY member. when thus called upon
who ebaII fan or refuse 10 vote. who Is
not DISQUALIFIED from voting by reason OF
his personal interest in the question or
who has not been excused from voting
thereon. shall be deemed in contempt OF
the House, and the Speaker shall not
thereafter recognize such n member 70
speak or 20 make any motion untl ne
has recorded his vote on the pending
question, or. failing to do so, until the
House has excused him.
"a motion for this purpose can only be
made after the subject matter which has
been pending has been disposed OF When
quorum IS present, and by a member
who is not I'm contempt. The member
making this motion shall be entitled 20
speak five minutes in favor thereof, and
then the Speaker may recognize some
other member. who Is not it contempt
to sT.ak in opposition thereto, when the
question shall be put upon cXcusing
such member. The Journal and the Re
cord shall contain each a list Of members
who are in contempt Of the House at the
close Of each days proceedings, ana VINO
have not been excused"
IF a quorum should not be present
and vote. as provided in this rule. a call
Of the House may be- ordered. and wh~n
Il member is brought into the House
under the call. he shall BE- called upon by
the Speaker to vote upon the question
whirh was pending whe1 tae call was
ordered. and if ne !all or -'f'Sc TO d.
50 re shall be subject 20 ri. CT 'oe pro-.
visions Of this rule. the same as If he
had been present when the vote was
first taken on the question"
Mr.. Springer vert on 10 say that he
had considered the subject for many
years, and that while there We're OBJ
jections 10 all Of the methods proposed.
he regarded the foregoing as the best
plan of securing a quorum.
\ RAN. TUCKER RULE.
Mr.. Paynter Of Kentucky who was the
moving spirit in circulating the call for
the caucus. made IA strong speech, saying
that he had formulated Il proposition,
which was practically the rule drawn by
Randolph Tucker, Of Virginia, in the
FOrty-eiXth Congress, with some additions.
The substance Of Mr.. Paynters rule, which
he read 10 the caucus. was that when
a quorum did not vote there should b. a
call Of the House. and as each member
was brought forward he should be re-
corded as present and not voting If he
did not vote under the call. and those
who were present and who had not voted
might be noted as present by any one
calling attention to the fact. and If those
voting in the Affirmative were "a majority
of all those present, the proposition
should be declared as carried
Mr. Kilgore and Mr.. Williams Of Hi
nOis opposed both propositions. and
favored the largest latitude Of hlibuster-
ing. Mr. kngOre said That the PROPOSE
tons introduced by the preceding speakers
were un-Dcmocrauc and unwise. Their
adoption would place the Democratic
party in the position Of following The
methods OF cX-Speaker Reed, and thi'
action he strongly deprecated. Mr.. Kill
gore emphasized the point that the bane
Of the House was absenteeism. and ruS-
g,stcd as a remedy that members who
were absent without good and sufficient
L..