The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-13
TO STOP FILIBUSTERING
Necessity for Determined Action
in the National House.
PROPOSITION TO IMPOSE A FINE.

Men who Refuse to Perform the Work
for which They Are Paid May Find
Their Salaries Rcduced-ovsr Six Hours
of Filibustsrins Yesterday.
WASHINGTON, April 13-The Democratic
managers of the house yesterday decided
that the time had come when some sfiec-
tive method should be adopted TO force
the Repu ublicans to participate in legisla-
ton, All through the last congress and dur
ing the present congress the Republicans
have on frequent occasions deadlocked
the house for days by refusing to answer
to their names, thus breaking a quorum.
AS there was no rule to compel them TO
vote, and as the speaker declined to adopt
Mr.. Reeds expedient of counting quo
rum without the authorization Of rule,
the house was constantly at the mercy of
the minority
The question of the adoption of soms
method TO compel the Republicans to vote
was agtated during the last congress and
at various times during the present ses-
sion. Many different plans were offered
by different Democrats, and there were no
inconsiderable number of them who fa-
vored rule which would empower tho
speaker or clerk to record MS present, but
nDL Nbllne, lDN WIZ
clined to respond to their names. MIR.
Reed himself has been constantly lighting
to force the speaker to adopt the quorum
counting device of which he was the
author, but there was on the Democratic
side II large and bitter opposition to this
expedient.
Some time ago Democratic caucus was
held to consider the matter, but the cS-
igency, having passed when the caucus was
held nothing came of it. For the last few
days, however, the Republicans have
| blocked business, and there was Il wide
| spread belief on the Democratic side that
| this was in pursuance of preooncerted
arrangement with the Republicans of the
| senate to delay all business with view TO
| postpouing action on the tariff bill. 1t was
| intimated that quorum would hereafter
| be demanded not only on partisan meas
| ures, but on the routine business of the
| house Under such stress of circum-
stances Speaker Crisp, MIR. Catchings and
| Mr. Cultivate, comprising the Democra-
tic end of the committee ON rules, decided
! that the time had come to act. A rcsolu-
tion embodying new rule, designed to
fine members $50 for refusing to vote, was
prepared and presented when tho house
| met
| The Democrats were by no means unan-
| imous In their approval Of it, While the
| general sentiment of the house favored
come modification of the rule to accom-
plish the purpose desired, a wide difference
| of opinion existed as to what that modii-
cation should he Some 81 them, Ike Mr..
Cochran IN. ", preferred an out and out
| quorum counting rule on the line of the
amendment to the rules offered some time
ago by Mr. Springer. Others preferred a
/ rule to enforce Section 40 of the revised
statutes, which provides for a deduction
from the salaries Of absentces for such
days rs they are absent except on account
of sickness. The Democrats yesterday
were unable to muster quorum 10 act on
the new rule, and, finding themselves un
able to proceed resolution was offered
to revoke leaves of absence, aud compel
the attendance OF abscnsees. By resor;
20 every means known to parliamentary
law the Republicans succeeded In prevent
ing the adoption of this order fors hour.
and half. Today the struggle was re
sumed.
II may be that the Democratic opposi
tion to the now rule as drawn will result
in its modification or possibly complete
substitution of some other method to pre-
vent filibusterlng, but there Is no doub
that when the present struggle is over tn,
wings of the filibusterers will he clipped
and a new order of things may be il
vogue In the house of representatives.