The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-08
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
Carlislc's Bill IndOrsed by Vote of
fn

| CarIislc's Bill IndOrsed by II Vote of
81 to %.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. by vote of 81
to 90 the Democratic House caucus voted
to-day, to indorse the Carlisle substitute
| currency bill, now before the House
| Speaker Crisp took the lead in presenting
! the resolution and in vigorously urging the
| necessity of it's adoption. The committee on
| rules was instructed to bring in rule to-
| morrow to close debate. Efforts to amend
Mr.. Crisp's resolution were voted down
one of the adverse votes showing only
thirteen members of the caucus favorable
to an issue of bonds to retire the green
backs. The result of the caucus is ac-
cepted with considerable apprehension by
friends of the bill, Notwithstanding the
passage of the resolu ion of Endorsement
The eighty-one votes which the measure
commanded in caucus is far short of the
number necessary to pass it in the House
1t is the belief, however, that many of the
fifty-nine votes recorded against the reso-
luton will be changed, now that the Car
Isle bill has the prestige of the caucus in
dorsement. But there were several promi-
nent leaders who asserted at the close of
the caucus that the vote showed conclu-
svely that the bill could not pass
The caucus was called together at .
o'clock, with Mr.. Holman in the chair. All
of the party leaders of the House, includ-
ing Speaker Crisp and Messrs Catchings,
Outhwaite, Springer, Wilson, Tracey and
Bland, and the Democratic members of the
banking and currency committee were on
hand There were 152 members present.
Mr.. Cochran, of New York stated early
in the day that if the caucus was to be
binding he would not enter it, and it was
understood that others would, pursue the
same course, AS assurances were given that
the caucus would be advisory, rather than
binding, Mr.. Cochran and his associates
concluded to attend
The issue of the caucus was sharply pre-
sented by the following resolution pre-
pared by MT. Springer, and introduced by
Speaker Crisp.
Resolved. That it is the sense of this
caucus that the Carlisle currency bin
should be passed by the House of Repre-
substitute which has been printed in the
Record and which will be offered at the
proper time by the chairman of the COM
mittee banking and currency, and that
the committee on rules be requested to re-
port order tomorrow Immediately after
the reading of the journal which shall Pro-
vide for it's consideration for one more day
for general debate and thereafter under
the five-minute rule and a final vote there
at the nearest time practicable during
the week
ACTION NOT BINDING.
Repress sntative Livingston, of Georgia.
started the caucus at lively rate by NOV
ing that all who were in attendance should
be bound by the action of the caucus.
From various parts of the hall came cries
of Point of order" and for a time there
was considerable confusion Chairman Hol-
man finally sustained the point of order.
For thirty years" said Mr. Holman, lit
has been the unbroken rule in the House
of Representatives to consider the action
of caucus as advisory and not bind-
ing 1t leaves members entirely free to
act according to their own Judgment
1t was agreed that all speeches should be
limited to five minutes. Speaker Crisp then
offered. He spoke of the profound i'm
portance of the situation in which the ma
jority of the House found itself. 1t called
for conservative and careful action and
united party. The resolution designed
to test the sentiment Of the caucus on the
bill now before the House should pass
Mr. Bland of Missouri, followed in oppo-
sition to the resolution. 1--WE have now
reached the point said me- when the
Democratic party for the first time in its
history is asked to become The advocate of
national banks" He urged his specific OBJ
jections to the bill, being interrupted fire.
quently by calls of vote. vote"
Mr.. Springer next took the floor in sup
port of the resolution. He spoke mainly
of the Importance of a caucus in securing
the adhesion of members. While caucus
action was not binding, it was ncverthe-
less regarded as very persuasive On the
Judgment of members when party action
was involved. The present emergency must
be met by the Democratic party IL whole.
THE responsibility is the party said
he, land the people will hold he party
accountable for its action. IN such
emergency caucus action should be very
effective in bringing members of the party
together and overcoming minor objections
Mr.. Springers time was extended to ten
minutes in view of his being in chalg ge of
the bill.
SPRINGER's TILT WITH COCHRAN.
There was lively interchange of oues-
tions and answers between Mr.. Cochran and
Mr. Springer before the latter closed. Mr..
gard the currency question as an economic
rather than a party question, a question
which never should be submitted TO party
caucus action. MIR. Springer replied that the
question both party and economic
one. but in the present case the party would
be held responsible for the execution of
economic principle. There much con-
fusion the crossfire between Messrs
Springer and Cochran proceeded and Chair
man Holman tried vainly to preserve order
and quiet
Brief speeches were made by Repre-
sentatives Cox of Tennessee, C1ombs of
New York Bailey of Texas. Swanson of
Virginia, Coffeen of Wyoming. McRae of
Arkansas. Washington OF Tennessee BRYAN
of Nebraska and Sperry of Connecticut.
dividual views. Mr.. sperry closed % his IS re- re-.
marks by offering an amendment to the
pending resolution by which the Sperry
bill for an issue of oonds 10 refund the
one on which the caucus was 10 express
its approval
Mr. Johnson. Of Ohio, member OF the
in opposition to the resolution and to the
-. yssss. et Arkansas. also submitted a