Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-13

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 12.-The
Democratic managers of the House to-
day decided that the time had come
when some effective methods should be
adopted to force the Republicans to
participate in legislation. Throughout
the last Congress aud during the recent
| Congress the Republicans have on fre-
Quent occasions dead-locked the House
for days by refusing to answer to their
names, thus breaking a quorum.
Without the authorization Of a
rule the House was constaotly
at the mercy OF the minority.
The question Of the adoption of some
method to compel the Republicans to
vote was agitsted during the last Con-
gress and at various times during the
present session. Many different plans
were offered by different Democrats and
there were no inconslderable number OF
them who favored a rule which would
empower the Speaker or Clerk TO record
as 'present, but not voting" the Re-
! publicans who declined to respond to
their names. Mr.. Reed himself has
been constantly fighting to force the
Speaker TO adopt the
QUORUM COUNTING DEVICE
| OF which he was the author. but there
was on the Democratic side slarge and
| bitter opposition TO this expedient For
/ the last few days, however, the Repub-
! licans have blocked business and there
was a widespread belief on the Demo
cratic side that this was In pursuance
/ OF preconcerted arrangement with the
Republicans az the Senate end OF the
/ Capitol 70 delay all business with a view
/ 10 postpOning action on the tariff
/ bill. IL was intimated that quorum
would hereafter be demanded not only
| on partisan measures, but on the
routine business of the House.
Under such a stress of circumstances,
Speaker Crisp, Mr.. Catchings and Mr..
Oushwaite, comprising thesDenocratic
end OF the committee on rules, decided
this morning that the time had come TO
act A resolution embodying new
rule designed to fine members $40 for
refusing 10 vote was prepared and pre-
sented when the House met. The
| Democrats were by no means unani-
nous in their approval of it. While
/ the general sentiment OF the House IA
vored some modification of the rule to
accomplish the purpose desired, wide
difference of opinions existed as to what
THAT MODIFICATION SHOULD BE.
Some OF them, like Mr.. Cochran New
York;, preferred an out aud out quo
rum counting rule on the line oi the
amendment TO rules offered some time
ago by Mr.. Springer; others preferred
a rule TO enforce section 40 Of the Re-
vised Statutes, which provides for a
deduction from the salaries OF absentees
for such days as they are absent except
on account OF sickness. The Democrats
TO-DAY were unable TO muster quorum
TO act on the new rule and finding
themselves unable 10 proceed, reso-
luton was offered to revoke leave OF
absence and compel the attendance of
absentees. By resort to every means
known to parliamentary law the Repub-
licans succeeded in preventing the
adoption Of this order for six hours and
half.
Tomorrow the struggle will be re-
sumed. 1t may be that the Democratic
opposition TO the new rule, as drawn,
will result in its modification or possibly
a complete substitution OF some other
method TO prevent filibuStering, but
there is no doutt that when the present
struggle is over, the wings of the fill
ousterers will be clipped and new
order of things will be in vogue in the
House of Representatives.
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The Republicans having cognizance
of the rule by which their hands were
TO be tied before the meeting OF the
House, MeSsrS. Reed aud Burrows de-
termiued TO contest every inch Of the
ground aud a fierce parliamentary fight
was Immediately precipitated. Speak
er Crisp, however, was in no humor for
trifling. and with a stern hand be swept
aside the preliminarieS and forced the
fight on the main issue. As soon as the
journal had been read, be recognized
, Mr.. Catchings from the Committee on
Rules TO present the report.
Reed came forward st this Iuncture
and manifested a disposition to hold
Joint debate with the chair, but the
Speaker declined the invitation aud d.
rected the clerk TO read the report. Mr..
Reed vainly attempted to interrupt the
reading with appeals for recognition on
q point of order, but the Speaker with
Z IN
and Mr.. Reed, finding his efforts futile,
sank down In his chair. The report
from the Committee on Rules was as
follows;
"Rescind clause to rule VIII, and
insert in lieu thereof as follows: Every
member shall be present within the hall
of the House during its sittingS unless
excused or necessarily prevented. and
| shall vote on each question put unless
be has direct personal or pecnniary in
tsrest in the events OF such question.
Whenever in pursuance OF section 5,
article l OF the Constitution OF the
| United States, she House OF Represen-
tatives. at the request of one-ffth OF the
members present, shall order the yeas
and nays on any question to be entered
on its journal. aud. upon a call OF the
roll OF It's members for that purpose, a
Quorum thereof shall fail TO vote. each
member within the hall OF the House
who shall fail to respond when his name
is called unless be has direct personal
and pecuniary interest IN the event OF
such question, aud each member who
shall be absent from the hall Of the