St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-08
BRING THEM TO TAW

Inc proceedings IN congress are de-
generating into a farce, neither amusing
nor instructive. The Republicans, as
sisted by few Democrats, have entered
upon conspiracy to defeat the passage
of the Wilson tariff bill, and are en-
ploylng methods to accomplish their
ends that are not only disreputable but
unpatriotic. BY refusing to vote they
break quorum whenever it suits their
purpose, and although the necessary
number of representatives are actually
present they are recorded as absent or
not voting.
No limit can be placed to the continu-
ance of this condition of affairs except
by the enforced attendance of every
Democratic member of the house. The
police power of the house over its men,
bers is absolute. The sergeant-at-arms
can arrest derelict member wherever
he is found and conduct him to his seat,
Keeping him there as long as it may
suit the pleasure of the majority. The
member who refuses to obey the sum-
nous of the house is subject to severe
reprimand; if he continues obstreperous
he may be punished by forfeiture of
pay; if he is contumacious he may be
expelled from his seat. These punish
ments are not unduly harsh, and in the
existing emergency it is necessary that
they should be enforced
The business of the country is at
standStill On account of the uncertainty
that exists as to the tariff legislation of
yx,il
not purchase goods until they know
whether they are to be admitted free of
duty or whether the rate of duty is to
be Increased or diminished. Manu-
facturers will not resume operations
while the duties on the articles thew
produce remain unsettled, and as
consequence hundreds of thousands of
artisans are out of employment, many
of them suffering the severest hard
ships. Every days delay in settling
the questions i'll controversy is an added
blow to these interests. While congress
putters and dallies with the question
the people are starving. Moro, fiddling
while Rome WAS burning, is the only
historical parallel to the criminality of
the American house of representatives.
The power of the caucus has evil
IDENTIFY departed. Nearly a score of DEM
ocrats are in rebellion against the edict
of the recent caucus Of the congress-
men. But these rebels are not as much
to be blamed as are those who are so neg
lectful of their duty as to absent them
selves from the sittings of the house. If
every member were in his seat-as he
should be compelled to be--tnere would
be no difficulty In proceeding. The
recalcitrants are few in number and in-
significant as far as their influence ex-
tends, and majority of them would
soon fail into line if they saw the re-
malnder of the party marching forward
in solid phalanX. Not one in ten would
dare to oppose the party policy under
such circumstances. Hence o double
responsibility. a double blame. rests
upon the shoulders of the absentees.
Speaker Crisp is evidently made of
the right sort of stuff, and if he receives
the cordial support of the Democratic
majority on the floor of the house he
may be depended upon to bring about a
solution of the existing difficulties. He
has given the precedence for considera-
ton to the report of the committee on
rules, which contemplates arranging the
order of business and means through
which its transaction may be facilitated.
This is question of the highest privi-
lege, for it concerns the welfare of the
entire country. and the speaker did
right in giving it the precedence over
all others. 1t Is sincerely to be hoped
that he, in conjunction with the ma
jorlty, will see that these rules are en-
forced after they shall be adopted, and
will compel all derelicts. especially those
assuming TO be Democrats, to attend
all sessions of the house and vote upon
questions OF vital moment to the we'll.
being of the community.