Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-16
The Democrats in the Adoption Of a
Quorum Counting Rule.
MANY SPEECHES ON THE TARIFF
Are Ready and Will Be Made
Upon Both Sides of the Senate.
The Democrats Will Do More
Talking This Week Than They
Did Last Week-Neither House
Will Bs in Session Long To-
day.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. April 15.-The
struggle over the adoption Of the new
quorum-counting rule, decided upon by
the Democratic caucus last Friday will
be the feature OF the coming week in
the House. The details of the rule
have not yet been formulated by the
Democratic members Of the Committee
on Rules, composed Of Speaker
Crisp and Messrs. Catchings
and Cultivate; but 1t will
probably be ready to submit to the full
committee when it meets tomorrow
morning. Inasmuch as about one-third
of the Democrats are violently opposed
TO any quorum counting rule, as indi-
Gated by the vote in the caucus, it will
be impossible fer the Democrats alone,
should the Republicans decline to vote,
and the Democratic opposition sustain
their opinions to the extent OF
declining TO vote, to make quo
rum to adopt such q rule. In other
words, unless the rule framed by the
IL 0bo Va hhO OOAl
tee on Rules should be satisfactory TO
the Republicans, the latter could, II
they chose, prevent its adoption. The
Republicans will, however, shortly ac-
ouiesce in the adoption OF any rule
that contains the essential principle OF
recording as "present but not voting"
those members who decline 10 respond
TO their names. This is the parlia-
msntary principle which Mr.. Reed has
been contestRg ever since the end OF
the Fifty-frst Congress. 1t must be
embodied in any new rule submitted to
the House or it cannot be adopted. 1t
is expected that when the rule is pre-
sented Mr. Reed will make one OF the
greatest speeches of his life.
Owing to the death Of Senator Vance
the House will probably adjourn i'm
mediately tomorrow and the fight over
the new rule will be postponed until
Tuesday. 1t is probable that but little
time will be allowed for debate and the
chance is that when the House adjourns
Tuesday evening the quorum-counting
rule will have been adopted and tilibus-
tering OF the kind which has character
lied the proceedings of the House for
the past three years will be thing Of
the past. The resolution adopted by
the caucus instructing the SerReant-at-
Arms to enforce section 40 OF the revised
statutes, fning absent members save on
account of sickness, 1t is believed will
have the effect Of securing a very full
attendance in the House hereafter.
A. tho 0rdar nj things
has been inaugurated in the House, the
consideration of the appropriation bills
will be resumed and will consume the
remainder Of the week. After the
Postoffice appropriation bill, which is
under discussion, is completed it swill
be followed by the consular and diplo-
matte aud army bills.
The Senate will adjourn soon after
the hour of meeting tomorrow out OF
respect for the memory OF Senator Zeb
Vance, OF North Carolina, whose death
occurred suddenly on Saturday night.
With the exception Of the Chinese trea-
" which Is to be considered on Tues
day and the routine morning business
of each day, the remainder OF the week
promises nothing but continuation OF
the tariff debate.
There 10 little doubt that the Senate
will accept the agreement reached be-
tween Senators Harris and Aldrich
providing that general debate on the
tariff shall continue each day from one
10 FIVE o'clock, 6nd that it shall not be
interrupted by roll calls or other busl-
ness. This will probably preclude all
parliamentary contests and pave tie
way for ter or q dozen prepared tariff
speeches. The Democratic side OF the
chamber will furnish greater number
of speeches this week than last
Senator Smith had given notice Of q
speech for Monday, but it will be
postponed until Tuesday or later. Sen
ator McLaurin will speak on Wednes-
day. Later In the week Senators Tur-
pie and Palmer and possibly other
Democratic Senators will speak. On
the Republican side Senators Dolph,
Morrill,, Parkins, Higgins, Gallinger,
Hoar, Cullom, Cameron and Washourn
will probably address the Senate In the
order named II time is permitted all Of
them, aud IL there should at any time
be any lack Of speakers Senator Quay
will continue the speech begun by him
self on Saturday, the delivery OF which,
it ls understood, will consume several
days time.