The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-01-05
SIT MUTE
And ihs Democrats Pail TO Muster a
Quorum Of Their Own.
ANOTHER DAY IS WASTED
Some of the Democratic Absentees
Said to Be Very Lukewarm
Towards the Wilson Bill
Leaders Disguised.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The democrats
suffered a repetition of the experience of
yesterday, again being unable to produce
q democrat quorum, which the republic
cans insisted they should have before tho
tariff debate could be proceeded with.
Tho high water mark was 40, II more
than yesterday, but 70 less than the rcqui-
site number. 1t is claimed by democratic
whips that more than $50 democrats are
in the city and that some OF those whodid
not appear to-day are lukewarm in their
support of the Wilson bill, or openly fight
ing some of its features, and have delib-
erately decided to offer no aid toward get
ting the bill before the house. One demo-
crat, Sperry of Connecticut. although
present, acted with the republicans to-day
and refused to answer TO his name. The
democratic leaders are very much dis
gusted over yesterdays and to-day's pro-
ceedings and assert vchemently that there
is no excuse for the heavy list of abb
sentees at this important time, saying
that every democrat understood when the
holiday recess was taken that the pro-
gramine was to take up the tariff on the
day that congress reconvened.
The republicans naturally arc jubilant
over the success that has attended their
efforts to block progress, although there
are some manifestations OF dissatisfaction
with the course of Boutcllc, whose at
tempt TO launch the Hawaiian debate yes
terday and to-day has cut of all pros
poets of tho consideration of that subject
until the tariff is disposed of. Had he
permitted the arrangement suggested by
McCreary and agreed to by Hit, to have
been entered into yesterday, tomorrow
and Saturday would have been devoted TO
the Hawaiian matter, and the same block
ade could have been effected in the house
with reference to the tariff by refusing to
vote TO GO into committee of the whole for
the consideration of the Wilson bill.
1t is almost certain that the democrats
will have a quorum present tomorrow,
but two days have already been wasted
and this will probably neccssitate tho ex-
tension of the limit of the debate beyond
Jan. IL, ON which day the programme con-
templated a final vote. There is some
talk of carrying out the original pro-
pramme and voting on Jan. Il. reducing
the time for general debate to four days,
and the debate under the five minutes
rule to seven days. With this in view.
some democrats who desired TO speak
were asked if they would consent to speak
very briefly with the privilege of extend
ing their remarks in the Record, but sew
eral threatened to. vote against the bill
unless they were given an opportunity to
tell the house in open session why they
opposed 1t in part or as whole. IL is
likely that the debate will be extended at
least two days to make up for the two
days that have been wasted. The com.
mittee on rules will consider the question
tomorrow morning.
When the house convened this morning
the republicans pursued the same tactics
as yesterday and the democrats wero
again without a quorum TO take up the
tariff bill. Although an order passed yes
terday recalled absentces. only IS men,
bers were on the floor when the house was
called to order. Boutello precipitated the
Hawaiian fight by moving the considcra-
ton OF his resolution thereon. The dem.
ocrats had decided to fight this off till tho
tariff bill was disposed of. SO Mcmillan,
on behalf of the ways and means commit
tee, raised the question of consideration.
Boutellc was sarcastic and McMillin con-
temptuous IN the exchange of remarks
which followed. Finally, by rising vote
of IS to 124, the house decided not to con-
slider the resolution. The ayes and nays
were demanded.
A call of the house developed the pres
cnce of 2io members. The vote recurred
on the question of consideration raised by
McAlillin against tho Boutelle resolution.
The republicans again renamed mute and
again n quorum disappeared, the demo-
Gratis again mastering but $50 votes. This
time four votes were cast in tho afiirma-
tive. After consultation the democratic
leaders decided that il was ussless to con-
tinuc the effort 10 secure n quorum to-day,