The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-13
Desperate Effort Of Democrats
to Amend House Rules.
SOME woulD o COUNT a QUORUM.
Leaders Want to Get in Working
Order Before Coxey Arrives.
Peter Continues His Tariff speech. the
Third Dsy-Exports Of Geld Do Nos
Alarm the Treasury. Being Custom
arg In April.

ocratic managers of the house have de-
cided that the time has come when some
effective method should be adopted TO
force the Republicans to participate In
legislation. During the last congress and
during the recent congress the Republicans
have on frequent occasions deadlocked
the house for days by refusing to answer
their names. thus breaking . quorum.
There was no rule to compel them to vote.
and as the speaker declined to adopt the
method OF counting quorum without the
authorization OF a rule. the house vas con-
stantiy at the mercy of the minority. For
the last few days the Republicans have
blocked business. and there was wide
spread belief on the Democratic side that
this was IN pursuance Of pre-concerted
arrangement with the Republicans at the
senate end of the capitol to delay all busi-
ness with a view to postponing action on
the tariff bill. 1t was intimated that q
quorum would hereafter be demanded not
only for partisan measures. but on the
routine business of the house.
Under such q stress of circumstances
Speaker Crisp Catching and Outhwaite,
comprising the Democratic end of the
committee on rules. decided this morning
tion embodying q new rule designed to
fine members $40 for refusing to vote was
prepared and presented. When the house
met the Democrats were by no means
unanimous in their approval of it.
While the general sentiment Of
the house favored some modification
Of the rules to accomplish the pur-
pose desired, . wide difference of
opinion existed a. to what that modifica-
tion should be. Tho Democrats today
were unable TO muster . quorum to act on
the new rule, and. finding themselves un-
able to proceed, . resolution was offered to
revoke leaves of absence and compel the
attendance of sbsentees. By resort to
every means known 70 parliamentary law
the Republicans succseded in preventing
the adoption OF this order for six hours
and half Tomorrow the struggle will
be resumed. 1t may bs that the Demo-
cratic opposition to the new rule as drawn
will result in its modification or possibly
complete substitution Of some other
method to prevent filibustsring. bat there
Is no doubt that when tho present struggle
is over tho wings Of the filibusters will
be clipped and . new order of things will
be invoked in the house.
AS soon rs the journal had teeu read
the speaker recognized Catchings, from tho
committee on rules. to present report
Burrows and Reed attempted to delay
matters, raising the point Of order of no
quorum. but the speaker turned his head
and refused to recognize them. The report
submitted by the committee on rules was
to amend the rules to the effect that every
member should be In the hall of the house
during a sitting unless excused or neces-
sariiy prevented, and shall vote on each
question unless he has direct personal or
pecuniary interest in such question. Fail
ure to comply with the rule 10 punish
able by tine Of $40. Reed attemp pied
to get the floor. but the speaker would
not hear, and the vote on the previous
question was ordered. resulting 90 to O.
Burrows demanded the yeas and nays on
point Of no quorum. The Republicans
refused to vote. as did eleven Democrats,
Geary of California being one of the eleven,
and the Populists voting with the Demo-
Gratis. The vote stood l41 to IL, showing
the Democrats to be 81 short of quorum.
On motion Of Catchings call of the house
was ordered. Under the rules motion
was made TO excuse Hall. The motion to
excuse was lost, 81 to los.
Catchings OF Mississippi was recognised
to offer . resolution, but when it was
read Lacey claimed the floor to
move a reconsideration of the vote
just taken. Reed contended that
the motion to reconsider under the
rules took precedence of oil motions.
Richardson. who was in the chair. directed
the clerk to read the resolution, which
nyn al he
leaves Of absence except on account of
sickness, and directing the sergeant-at-
arms to request the attendance of some
aosen,ees by telegraph. Both Reed and
Bonteile jumped to their feet when the
reading OF the resolution was completed
and msds the point OF order that il did
not take precedence over motion
10 reconsider. Catchings argued
that the adoption of the resolution
would terminate further proceedings
under the call. and must therefore take
precedence of . motion to reconsider,
WEIGH was part of such proceedings.
The debate over the point of order con-
tinued for over an hour, the giants on both
sides crossing swords. At the conclusion
OF the debate Richardson, who was in the
chair, said that while II vas competent 10
enter motion to reconsider, previous
motion having been made In the form of
Catehing's resolution the latter took
precedence, bat would not prevent the dis
posal oi the motion TO reconsider a. q SUP
sequent period. he therefore sustained the
point OF order This had the feet of
making the resolution the pending aues-
ton. Then there followed q series of dila-
tory motions. but finally the vote was
taken on the demand OF the previous
question on the resolution to revoke
leaves OF absence and ielegrams for ah-
senIees, and IL vas ordered, li2 20 p.
Reed made The po.ntof no qaorum. The
chair oveEruIed the point oi order. Boa-
telle moved to adjourn. Lost. The reso-
luton vas then agreed 70. aud at s 30 the
house alfogrned