The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-04-19
AN ALL DAY FIGHT.
BITTER STRUGGLE OVER A RULE TO
PREVENT FILlBUSTERlNG.

Republicans Succeed in Preventing Its
Adoption Fine Of go For Refusing
to Vote Was the Expedient Proposed
by the Committee ON Rules.
WASHINGTON, April 12.-The Demo
cratic managers of the house have de-
cided that the time has come when some
effective method should be adopted to
force the Repu tlicans to participate in
legislation. Throughout the last con-
gress and during the present congress,
the Republicans have, on frequent occa-
sions. deadlocked the house for days by
refusing to answer to their names, thus
breaking quorum. As there was no
rule to compel them to vote. and as the
the speaker declined to adopt Mr.. Reeds
expedient of counting quorum with
out the authorization of the rule, the
house was constantly at the mercy of
the minority. The question of the
adoption of some method to compel the
Repu blicans to vote was agitated dur
ing the last congress and at various
times during the present session.
Many Different Plans Were offered
by different Democrats, and there were
no inconsiderable numter of them who
favored rule which would empower
the speaker or clerk to record as ''pres-
ent, but not voting" the Republicans
who declined to respond to their names.
Mr.. Reed has teen constantly fighting
to force the speaker to adopt the quo
rum counting device of which he was
| the author, but there was on the Demo.
cratic side large and bitter opposition
to this expedient. Some time ago a
Democratic caucus was held to consider
the matter. but the exigency having
passed when the caucus was held, moth
ing came of it. For the last few days,
however, the Republicans have blocked
business and there was widespread be-
lief on the Democratic side that this
was in pursuance of preconcerted ar
rangement with the Republicans at the
senate end OF the Capitol
To Delay All Business
with view to postponing action on the
tariff bill. It was intimated that q
quorum would hereafter be demanded,
the routine business of the house. Un.
der such a stress of circumstances,
Speaker Crisp. Mr.. Catcbings and Mr..
Cultivate, comprising the Democratic
end of the committee on rules, decided
that the time had come to act. A reso.
luton embodying new rule. designed
to fine memters SO for refusing to vote
was prepared and presented when the
house met. The Democrats were by nc
means unanimous in their approval OIL
it. While the general sentiment of the
house favored some modification of the
rule to accomplish the purpose desired
wide difference of opinion existed a.
to what the modification should be-
Some of them, like Mr.. Cochran IN
W, preferred an out and out quorum
counting rule on the line of the
Amendment to the Rules
offered some time ago ly Mr.. Springer
others preferred rule to enforce Sec
ton 10 of the Revised Statutes, which
| provides for reduction from the salar
les OF ahsentees for such days as they
are absent except on account of sickness
The Democrats were unable to muster
quorum to act on the new rules ant
finding themselves unable to proceed, ;
resolution was offered to revoke leave!
of absence and compel the attendance
of absentees. By resort to ever,
means known to parliamentary law, tn
Republicans succeeded in preventing
the adoption of this order for six hours
and half. It may he that the Demo
cratic opposition to the new rule a
drawn will result in its modification o.
possibly complete substitution of SOM
other method to prevent flibustering
but there is no doubt that when tn,
present struggle is over the wings o
the filibusterers will be clipped and 1
new order of things will be in vogue il
the house of representatives.