The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-20
WILL Press IT TO a FINISH.
A Lively Caucus Concerning a Vote
on the scigniorage Bill.

a Lively Caucus Concerning a Vote
on the Scigniorage Bill.
Washington, Feb. 19.-The success Of
the filibuster against the Bland silver
seigniorage bill which has blocked
proceedings in the House for five days.
today forced the Democratic advocates
OF the measure to invoke the decree of
a caucus. and Immediately after ad-
journment Democratic caucus was
held in the han of the House to con-
slider the situation. There were pres
ent $50 Democrats, but not one mem
Der Of the New York delegation. all Of
whom have Joined in the obstructive
movement; nor, in fact. any others
who joined hands with them.
The presence, however, OF Pence, of
Colorado (PopulisD, was significant
The sentiment in the caucus. there
FORE was all favorable to the bill. and
two resolutions were adopted-one to
keep the Seigniorage bill before the
House to the exclusion of everything
until it is disposed of, and the other
expressing it the sense of the caucus
that it was the duty Of every Demo-
cratic member to be present and vote
either for or against the bill.
The only difference of opinion was as
Their than this and compelling mem
bers to vote or be counted if they re-
fused TO do so.
Boatner presided and advocated a
resolution to instruct the committee on
rules to bring in rule to compel the
members to vote or be fined, and Pat
terSon a resolution instructing the
Speaker to count quorum Patter-
son declared that he believed, after
viewing the spectacle Of the last few
DAYS, that Reed was right, and non
voting members should be counted to
make q quorum. The Patterson reso-
luton was voted down by about %
majority, the Speaker voting against
the proposition.
The caucus adjourned pending a vote
on the Baatner resolution.
Bryan, Bland, Bynum, Springer. and
Williams Of Mississippi advocated the
passage Of the two resolutions (both
offered by BlandI and in the course
OF the speeches some very cauStic re-
Elections upon the action of the east
ern filibustering Democrats were in
duiged in.
The resolutions. which were as fol-
lows, We're unanimously adopted
Resolved, that it is the sense of
this caucus, that the pending bin
(seigniorage silver bilD shall be the
special business Of the House to the
exclusion of ell other business until it
IS disposed off,
The second resolution is as follows:
Whereas, thirty-two Democratic
members If the House were present
and intentionally failed to vote on tire
pending silver bill, thus breaking a
quorum;
Resolved, First, it is the duty of
every Democratic member of this
House now absent, unless the absence
be Tor sickness of himself or family.
to Immediately return to the dis
charge Of the duties Of his
Office; resolved, second, it is the duty
Of every Democratic member of the
House to attend the daily sessions
thereof: resolved, third it is the duty
OF every Democratic member of the
Touse to record his vote for. or against
the pending silver bill to the end that
a quorum may be obtained il order
thai the said bill may be speedily dis
posed of, and the House proceed with
the consideration Of other pressing
bl ness.
The Democrats who were in the civ.
but refused to attend the, caucus will
If the declaration of Tracey lis an indi-
cation. refuse TO be hound by this ac-
ton.
Tracey, however, asserts. now, that
even If the bill be bought to a vote
IL will be beaten. HIS opinion Is NOT
shared by the Hem0cntic House lead
ers, who still positively affirm that the
passage Of the bill is only a question Of
time. They expect tweA ty-twO ReDuh-
Iieans and nine PoDulst votes, and
with a full Democratic attendance 160