The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-08
TALK ON THE TARIFF BILL
The Republicans Cannot Be
Compelled to Vote.
EFFORTS TO SECURE A QUORUM
Democrats Are Anxious and Declare
They Will Meet Revolution
With Revolution.

ASH1NGTON, Jan. Tine tarln Dill
will occupy the attention of the House
during the coming week. After four days
of fruitless effort to secure the presence of
a voting Democratic quorum the House
adopted just before adjournment the ex-
treme expedient of ordering the arrest of
all members absent without leave. Depu-
ties were sent out in all directions last
night to serve warrants on the members.
Forty were absent without leave, q Demo-
Gratis and 10 Republicans.
Democratic leaders express a confident
hope that 179 voting Democrats will be in
their seats when the gavel drops at noon.
From the Republican absentees no aid is
expected. They can be brought here un-
der duress. but cannot be made TO vote.
This applies to some Democrats as we'll,
and if the opposition within the ranks of
the majority can be organized enough
Democratic members might refrain from
voting to prevent consideration of the
bill in its present shape. Democrats admit
the gravity OF the situation is very great
The possibility of defeating the cOnsdera-
tion of the bill strikes terror into their
hearts, aud some of them, like Oates of
Alabama. openly advocate resort to the
parliamentary eXpedient utilized by the
Fiity-frst Congress of counting quorum.
Speaker Crisp asserts positively he will
not be forced to this resort.
He thinks voting quorum will be here
certainly Tuesday st the farthest. If 1t
cannot be obtained then another Demo-
cratic caucus will be called. This is what
those dissatisfied with the bill are aiming
at. They declare as soon as they can
a etrat ta hat hoy
of Democrats will vote 20 consider the bill
the leaders will be obliged to submit to
special mOdi hcations which the disgruntled
members will propose.
Some Eastern Democrats are fighting the
income tax proposition and are willing to
go almost to any length to eliminate this
feature of the bill. Altogether the pros
poets are good for very interesting con-
test in the House during the coming week.
OF course il a quorum is secured tomorrow
or Tuesday the SPECIAL order will be
passed. Once the debate is under way it
will proceed to the exclusion of everything
else.
Tarsney, a member of the Ways and
Means Committee, said tonight il a vot-
ing quorum was not secured by Tuesday
he would favor the adoption of a rule en-
poweri2g the Speaker to count enough
members to make a quorum. 1--WE must
meet revolution with revolution" said he
IF Dem ocratic members are driven to this
resort it is believed the Republicans, for
standardization. will be compelled to sup
port it."
The committee work of the House is not
fairly under way, as the opening snarl
over tariff has required all the atten.io of
the Democratic leaders. who constitute the
chalrmeD of the leading committees. Only
two reports have been presented since the
session opened, one from the Judiciary
Committee on Bailey's bankruptcy bill,
and the other from the Committee on
Banking and Currency. On the bill by
Brawley to remit the 10 per cent tax. col
lectable on clearing g-house certificates, and
other forms of currency issued during the
money famine last fall; but with the pros
pect that the House will be engaged with
routine and long speeches, the committee
men are expecting to get their associates
together and accomplish considerable
work. 1t is probable the important
bill repeating the 10 per cent tax on State
bank issues will be reported by the Com
mttee on Banking and Currency at an
cdiiy uny, pei mays uuiiuR lho CUuinR
week. There is wide difference OF opinion
between the Democrats as to such q
measure, and as these differences canno OF
we'll be reconcied. the general desire in
the committee is to report the bill simply
repeating the tax. and then let the House
decide all the differences.
The principal item on the Senate pro-
gramme for the week has been agreed
upon. 1t is that the consideration of the
Federal election bill is to be taken up
after the conclusion of the morning busi-
ness on Tuesday.