The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-14
TO COUNT A QUORUM.
House Democrats Indorse the Tao
HI tics of Bx-Speaker Reed. -
ABsENTBgs WILL NOT BE PAID.

Gongressmen VIII Not Hereafter Draw
tTheir Full Salaries While on stumpinE
raours Ia the Interest of Political Par
tiss--sickness the Only Excuse.
WAsHINGToN, April 14.-After heated
session of two hours and a half the Dem
iocratic caucus yesterday afternoon de-
eided. by q vote of 80 to ~, to instruct the
Sommittee on rules to report a new rule to
Ascertain and record the presence OF
auoYum whether voting or not. This Is
fhe elimination of the long and bitter
struggle that has been on in the Demo-
cratic house ever since the end of the
Fifty-first congress.
When the committee on rules on Thurs
day brought forward the proposition to
punish members who declined to answer
10 their names on roll calls by the imposi-
ton of $40 fine for each offense as the
solution of the situation with which the
house has been frequently confronted
when 1t was dcadlocked by the refusal OF
the Republicans to respond to their names
great deal OF opposition was manifested
20 it on the part of various Democrats.
Some of them did not believe that such
method would prove effective, and in
sisted that the house should go farther
than tho committee on rules seemed to do
and adopt the quorum counting device
Invented by Mr.. Reed in the fifty-first
congress
Others were NOT disposed to go even as
far as the rule framed on Thursday con-
templated The result was that when the
Democrats We're without aquorum yester-
day it was decided to hold caucus to dis
cuss and agree upon some plan. Practi-
oslly all the Democratic members of the
att 4, naunIls q Soon Y IL
was called 10 order MIR. Bland presented a
resolution directing the sergeant-at-arms
to carry out the provision of Section 40
Chapter2, of the revised statutes, by which
deductions from the salaries of the mem
berB should be made for every days alb
sence, except on account of sickness. This
was In accordance with the action Of the
Judiciary committee earlier in the day.
After the members of the judiciary COM
mittee had made their explanation the
resolution was unanimously adopted,
Then followed the fight over the ques-
tion of determining some method by
which some members who refuse to
answer to their names should be made to
participate in legislation. Several propo-
Etions were submitted. The resolution
which contained the rule reported from
the committee on rules yesterday, how
ever, was not one of them.
The debate upon various propositions
continued for two hours and developed a
wide difference OF opinion. Speaker Crisp
took the floor and made vigorous speech,
pointing out the deplorable position in
which the house found itself on account
of continued and persistent absenteeism.
1T left the house at the mercy of the mi
perity whenever at wink or nod from
MIR, Reed the Republicans declined to
answer TO their names.
Quite n number of speeches were made
I'm opposition to any and oil rules looking
TO the counting Of members who refused
TO vote, During the course of n rather hot
tempered speech from Mr.. Kilgore on the
subject, Mr.. Bland shouted, with an ex.
Pression of disgust, something to the eff
feet that II a Democratic house was forced
90 resort to Reedlsm they had better ad-
49, @s-'tAa4 S'.AS ute s~s" :. 7-
Tnings also made brief speech against the
proposition to count q quorum, at tho
conclusion Of which he sent up to the desk
an amendment to the title of any new rule
which should be reported for this purpose,
20 as to make it read "A rule to nominate
Thomas Bracket Reed for president of the
United States"
After all who desired had sufficiently
ventilated their views MIR. De Almond. of
Missouri. offered resolution III lieu OF
those which had previously been offered
expressing Il as the fense Of the caucus
that the committee on rules should pre-
pare new rule for ascertaining he pres
once of quorum, and also some method
for compelling the attendance OF absent
members. Mr. McCrcaIy, of Kentucky,
then moved to refer all the resolutions
which had been presented to the commit.
tee on rules with instructions to report
their judgment at a caucus to be held next
Monday evening. This motion was lost
80 70 80. The vote was then taken upon
eir. De Almonds resolution and 1t car.
ried by q two thirds majority--30 to 40
II hag been usual to give out any reso.
luton adopted by q party caucus, al
though the proceedings themselves are
aept secret, or at least are presumed to he
80. but after the adoption OF the Dear
pnund resolution another resolution was
prepared, submitted and carried to sup
press entirely the proceedings OF the eau.
Gus. 1t remains now for the committee on
rules to formulate rule in accordance
with the DeArmund resolution. The rule
nov before the house members will prob
ably be withdrawn aud superseded by the
quorum counting rule to be prepared.
Urging a Dissolution.