New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-21
AN IMPOTENT MAJORITY.
STILL 40 QUORUM FOR THE SILVER
INITIATION BILL
TRYING TO DEVISE WAYS AND MEANS TO
SECURE ACTION ONE WAY OR
HE OTHER.
iBY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE TnIBrszl

Washington. Feb 20.-Despite an attendance
numbering from 200 to 2G0 members at every
sitting during the last five legislative days the
Democratic majority in the House of RepTesen-
tatives has been helpless AID no progress what
ever has been made toward a final vote on the
Silver Initiation bill-that is to say, none except
in the sense that If a vote is ever to be reached
the date is five days nearer than it when Mr..
Bland caused the deadlock by his i-judged at
tempt to smother debate. Business has been at
standstill because it has been found impos-
sible 10 muster a quorum. This consists Of l'9
members and there has been no time when
more than that number of Democrats were not
in attendance.
The action OF the Democratic caucus last night
produced no visible result to-day. the Democratic
opponents Of the bill refusing to vote and de-
claring that the caucus had no right to bind
their action in regard 10 matter which Is not
party question. The highest vote recorded to-
day was only 1911 or twelve less than quorum.
and the last vote before the sitting adjourned was
only 166
What shall be done?" IS question which the
Democratic leaders are eagerly and anxiously ask
ing themselves and one another. The resolutions or
the caucus have produced no effect. and personal
appeals as well as threats Of arrest have been
made in vain OF course there is remedy which
and good sense to do 1t. and which would be
instantly eficacious and that is TO clothe the
Sneaker with authority TO count the members
present and not voting If necessary in order to
make a quorum More than fifty votes were cast
In last NIGHTS caucus in favor of this plan, out
Il was rejected by majority of about twenty
votes, and among those who voted IN the mega
tive was Speaker Crisp. That would be so COM
plete a surrender of the Democratic position IN
the List Congress. 50 plain confession that the
Republicans were RICH: and the Democrats
wrong then that the latter cannot yet consent
to 1t.
Propositions TO impose fines upon all members
who, being present. refuse to vote have been
VIGOROUSLY discussed among Democrats during
the last two days. but Il does not now seem PROB
able that any of them will be adopted or
II so that it will produce the desired result II
would undoubtedly be found impractcaDe 10
enforce such rule II fines were imposed my
would soon be RENTED, and fiibusterinS would
continue. , 49,
orders directing the Serge2nt-at-Arns 10 arrest
and bring absentees before the bar Of the House
have amounted to nothing. and never WILL uhtil
some way is provided to count the votes or the
members after they do appear one OF these orders
was passed yesterday, and number OF members
were arrested and brought before the par o! me
House to-day. and their excuses accepted ana
NOT more than one of them afterWard voted al
though most OF them were present during the
entire sitting and contributions toward quorum
would have been heartily welcomed ana CRATE
fully appreciated. .. o.
peculiar as well as interesting ana suggestive
In the first place all Of the seven members al
rested were Republicans, although the NUMBER oI
Democrats in town who were named IN Warrants
of arrest was greater than the number OF *,
publcans therein named; and in Inc Secolu
place only one Of the seven Repuoiicahs was
Justly liable 10 arrest under the order Ihree
of them were present all day yesterday ana re-
sponded to their names ON every roI-caI, oIis
had requested to be excused late in the afternoon
ON account Of illness, one was engaged IN COM
mittce work by leave of the House. ana one vas
absent by leave Of the House on aecoun' VI ~ n,
ness The three Representatives. VINO hdu pco4.
recorded as absent when they were present
answering to their names. were MesSrs. APSle!;
of Massachusetts, Gardner, OK Ne"-1vIs H,S ",
post of Illinois. and they were natuIany SUI.
nrised as we'll as rather Indignant Wheh ti.!
were arrested this morning by DeNhoci@'iO
deputy Sergeant-at-Arlns. ., han
nened to be Republicans was suggestive anu
excited considerable comment. Mt Dun io"'
was impeled to ask whether there was am
,bino in the warrant to the Sergeant-al-ArnlS
restricting the arrest of members 10 l.epuon-
cans and General GrOsvenor was curious 20
know whether order had been ISSUED 4Oi Wy
orrest of democrats who did not attend last
Nights caucus The first question was
answered in the negative by the speaker puI
the other ne did not seem 10 regard as d pa.
Namentary inquiry. The proceecingS cicaiIy
showed that the calling Of the roll is NOT an IN
fallible means OF asce"taining whether Il quos u!h
Is present any more than 1t is of determining
the true status Of collective vote Of the House
by yeas and nays
Before the incident closed Mr.. Reed sue
seeded in obtaining 4 reversal by the Speaker
of a ruling that he made few days ago. IN
which he was sustained by the Democratic
majority On the former occasion Mr.. Reed
contended that the Sergeant-at-Arms should be
required make report of his action under
an order like that adopted yesterday but the
Speaker held to the contrary. To-day MI
Reed made the same contention, and the speaker
required the Sergeant-at-Arn.s to submit re-
port. which he did.
While Chairman Bland and his followers pro-
fess to feel confident that the bill viii pass by
a majority Of about twelve votes some of the
Democrats who opposed to il assert that
with a full vote and all absentees properly
paired it would be defeated There is no doubt
whatever that If the Administration could and
would exert half much influence and bring
half as much pressure to bear against the
pending measure as it did in favor Of the Silver
Repeal bill last summer the former would be
defeated by decisive majority. SO general
and strong IS the belief that this Is the fact
that a good many members are asking one
another whether President Cleveland really de-
sires the defeat of the Bland bnl.