The Portland daily press., 1894-04-14
A HOPELESS TASK,
The Democratic Attempt to Secure a
Quorum.
WITHOUT RECOURSE TO THE RULE
REED FRAMED.

| The House Democrats Held Caucus Last
Night, But Succeeded in Effecting Moth
ing-springer Wants to Adopt the Reed
Rule-speaker Crisp Objects, Though
He Is willing to Yield His Convictions.
Washington, April 13.-Filibustering
was resumed in the House today imme-
diately after the reading of the journal,
Boutelle objecting to its approval. Yeas
and nays were demanded.
At o'clock the House was unable to
secure voting quorum and adjourned
till tomorrow.
A hundred and forty-one members
were present at the Democratic caucus
held after the House adjourned. Mr..
Bland offered resolution which was
adopted, re-enacting the statute of 1856,
which provides for deducting salaries of
members for every day which they are
absent with leave. Mr.. Springer offered
resolution which provides that upon
second roll call members present and not
voting, be informed by the clerk OF the
p6uuluG Uu6lu05S, UlldU upOA UhClA 1Clun0A
to vote they be counted as present and
not voting in order to establish the pres
ence OF a quorum. The reading of the
resolution was greeted with applause.
Speaker Crisp spoke against the Springer
resolution. He objected on the ground
it might be found to be Intellectual and
cumbersome and needed careful and
critical examination such as could not be
piyen by the caucnS.
Mr., DeArmond of Missouri, offered a
resolution that ft is the sense OF the cau-
Gus that such rule be drafted as would
result in securing quorum. lie asked
Speaker Crisp if the whole matter were
referred to the committee on rules
whether, the speaker would cooperate
with the committee and carry out the
spirit of any resolution that might be
adopted by the caucus.
Amid applause, Speaker Crisp replied
that he was Democrat and would yield
any conviction he had TO the voice of
the Democrtic caucus.
Mr.. Catchings spoke in opposition to
the Springer resolution, and called at
tention to the imperfections. Among
oher things he demonstrated is futIllty
in the event that ..Repnblicans should
absent themselves from the floor during
roIl-call, as the Democrats did during
the 51st Congress.
Mr.. Cochran of New York stated that
securing the presence OF members
and ascertaining the presence OF quo
rum were two separate and distinct pro-
positions AS to enforcing attendance
of memb bers, he had no objection to any
rule on which the committee rules might
evolve. He though it the duty of the
House to have the journal show each
day what memb bers are in attendance
and that some method for securing this
information should be adopted
Mr.. Kilgore of Texas, opposed any sug--
gestionswhich looked to the counting OF
a quorum of mem bers present and not
voting, Democratic members of the
House are absent when they ought to
be here. Some plan should be devised
which would secure their presence in
the House.
Mr.. Williams of Illinois, contended the
Democrats of the House ought to adopt
some rule to secure the presence of mem
bers of their party. The majority of the
Democrats urge they did not have the
same necessity for adopting rules as was
the case in the 5lst Congress. Forfeit
ing the pay of memb bers would have
the effect of aocelerating business.
MIR. Warner of New York said no mat
ter what the caucus might do, ne
would refuse in any case to vote Tor
rule for counting quorum.
Mr.. McMillin of Tennessee, Durham OF
New Jersey, McCreary of Kentucky,
and Bryans of Nebraska, opposed the
coun ting of quorum.
MIR. Allen of Mississippi, favored TAX
ing measures to secure quorum.
Finally, Mr.. Springer withdrew his
resolution, and Mr.. Dearborn's resolu-
tion w as adopted, IS to A.
The resolution offered by McCreary
of Kentucky, delegating the entire mat