The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-06
For the First Time They Had the
Balance OF Power in Con-
gress.
Gould HavO Made n Quorum, but
Did Not Want TO
Do So
Democrats Were Nins short Of a Voting
Quorum-Iarin Debate WIN
Ind Jan. 20.

WASHINGTON Jan. 5-The power Of the
COMMITTEES on rules was invoked TO-DAY TO
break down the obstruction ia the path OF
tarif debate. An iron clad order was
brought In setting out programme for
debate. and hHinR Jan. % for taking ths
FINAL vote. This only resulted in side
tracking Boutslls and the Hawaiian reao-
luiion. as when she vote was taken on ths
adoption Of the order the democrats lacked
nine votes Of quorum. Al lshst twenty
democrats az ths capitol either absented
themselves from the hall or refused to
answer their ntmas when called.
For four hours the democratic leaders
tried with roll call after roll call 10 bring
their men into line but Instead Of gaining
they lost votes on each successive ioli call.
Ihe porulists. with the exception OF Bell,
OF Colorado, also declined to aid the demo-
Gratis 10 get tho tsrid bill before the house,
giving as the reason the short limit pro
posed to be set on debate. Their votss
would have made uD quorum. To-day's
proceedings are. therefore Of addiuonal
Importanes as marking the irst time in the
history Of either branch ~ congress since
the organization Of the third party that its
members have held the balancs Of power.
Immediately after reading the journal
the row began. houtelle was on his feet
camoring for recognition to call up the
Hawaiian resolution. but the speaker reeog-
nizsd CatchinRs. from tbs COMMITTEES on
rules. 70 Ut the special order adopted before
the houae convened. Boutells loudly insisted
upon knowing what had become Of hls
privileged resolution. which had been
called up yesterday. The speaker replied
rather sharply that yesterdays proceedings
had fallen with the adiournmsnt, and the
report called up from the committss on rules
was matter Of the highest privilege.
Burrows. amid great confusion. reserved
all points OF ordsr. and when Catchings de-
mandsd the previous question on the re-
port of the rules cOmmittse Boutslle RAISED
the question of consideration. The speaker
dee ded Boutelle out Of order. The latter
sppealsd from the deoisioa. and the
spaeksr, amid some evidences Of satisfsa-
tion on the demscratie side. promptly re-
fused 10 entertain the appeal.
Tne speaker was about TO state the ques.
tion on CatehinRs' demand for the previous
questioa when Burrows called attention 10
the fact that be had reserved all points of
order, and desired 10 be heard. 1hs
speaker graciously yielded, and Burrows
made the poiut OF order that the special
order resented By CatehinRs had ofigin-
sted in committee instead OF In the
house. aud us 10 carrisd with 10 a change Of
existing rules giving lesve 20 print 20 all
members who 30 desirsd) 10 should. accord
ing to existing rules, have had ita inception
IN the house instead Of IA committee.
After some debate and discussion OF prsos-
dents the speaker oVerruled She point Of
order.
A vote was taken on tho demand for ths
previous question on tue adoption Of the
committee on rules. Tie republicans de-
elined TO vote snd several democrats who
were in the hall and known 90 be opposed
to the tariff nill also remained mute.
Among them we're Sperry. OF C0nnsciicut;
Haines. of New York; Robertson, of Lou
ision. and RYAN. OF New Yok. Tue vote
resulted l69 TO one, nine less than quo
tum.
As soon as the fact that no quorum had
votel had teen announced By the SPEAKER,
on motion OF CatchinRs a coll OF the house
Vas ordered. 1he call developed the pres
/ eucs OF 273 members. The motion then re-
cured on the demand for the previous
question on the adoption OF the spsoial or
/ der. Toe republicans sat eiient in their
seats. and a small eoteris OF democrats,
/ led bv hperfy. declined 20 ale their demo-
cratic brethren IN the effort 20 seeats
quorum.
Spsrrv. In fact. actively busisd himself in
] EnlaluK tuo aNhuQANA oA itNAltf kAAnA 80 TAR
/ as 20 ask democratic members TO Iefrain
/ from voting. Cadmus. of New Jersey, vas
/ an additional democrat who declined to
vote on rsll call. The vote resulted les to
| nothing. Instead Of gaining the democrats
lost on this roll call, lacking eleven OF n
quorum. OuthwAite moved a call OF the
/ house. Read demanded division. and the call
was ordered, IO4 20 thirtv-one. The call de-
velopsd ths presence Of 259 mbera Further
/ proceedings under call were dispensed with
/ aud a vote again taken on the demani for
/ the previous question. On this roll call
/ Coombs and Sickles. OF New York. declined
/ TO answer TO their names and although
( breckenridge and BoiTy. OF Kentucky. who
I had just arrived, voted. only l6c votes we're
cast, loss OF one since last vote.
/ The democratic leaders decided 10 con-
| tince, however II for no other purpose than
/ 20 impress upon absentssa the necessity OF
Attsndance as a matter Of party discipline.
Accordingly. ON motion OF Catohinga an
other call of ths house was had. IL de-
vsloped the pressncs OF PA members. and
again TIE roll was called on the motion for
the o der OF the previous question. Eng
lish. OF New Jersey. and hiblsy, of Pennsyl-
vEniA. refused to answer their names 10
this vote. which resulted l66 20 nothing. .
/ loss OF Two a. compared with she last vote.
/ IL having become manifest that a demo
cratic quorum could NOT be secured to-day.
Catehings moved adiournment a. $50