The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-10
POINT OF NO QUORUM RAISED
Desultory Debate on Dingley,s Mo-
tion to Adjourn to Wednesday-H
Which Congress Was Called Tc-
gether Was to Pass "a Tariff Bill.

|
thrustlng his thumbs in his trousers pock-
cts, said
MIR. Speaker, 1 make the point tnat
there is no quorum present"
There was a bUzzing OF voices On the Re-
publican side of the chamber, and the
] Speaker quietly requested members to
| take their seats while he proceeded TO
discover a quorum sufficient To Eiil the
objection offered by Populist Jerry With
in two minutes, he loca ted the desired
number and the journal was read.
| sd i,iagIey moves that wnen the House
/ adjourned il adjourn to meet Wednesday
| next.
| InIs precipitated another discussion over
the desultory action OF the Republicans.
| Mr.. Bailey desired to know the object OF
the Republicans in adjourning three days
at time. and Mr.. DingIey replied that
| there was no business.
MIR Bailey-We are not disposed to in
sist on Republican legislation. We be-
lieve the country suffers when the Republi-
can party does legislate. / do not make
this statement to compel them TO legis-
late, but to ascertain just what they intend
to do.
Mir. Dingley explained that Congress had
| been convened in extraordinary session
! purely TO pass a tariff bill.
| II might make this suggestion suavely
| said MI Bailey, but he was interrupted by
| Mr. simpson with a point 0forder that the
motion was not debatahe. The Speaker
so ruled, but MI. Bailey was allowed TO
again explain that his whole object in rails
ing the discussion was in order rhat there
might be full understanding.
"If the gentleman from Maine MIR.
| Dingiey) will tell us what the Republican
purpose is, and the gentleman rrom Kan
sas Mr. simpson, will say what he will
permit, we Will express our Intentions
said Mr. Bailey
Mr. DingIey responded again that the ses-
| sion was to provide an adequate revenue
for the Government. The gentleman is
aware that the passage of the tariff bill is
the sole purpose OF the extra session. de-
clared the Maine Congressman.
Mr.. Simpson, intefrupting: Then the
| purpose OF the Republicans is not To- have
the committees appointed.
Mr. Dingiey-I have na authorityto speak
on that question. The gentleman is aware
that if the majority OF the House desire
to enter on general legislation they can do
50, but | thin they nave no desire Go do
anything beyond the passage of legislation
to provide tariff bill which will result in
general prosperity.
Mr. Balley-If the only measure of relief
proposed by the Republican party Is to
raise taxes 1 want TO go before the ooun-
/ try sa wing that there cal be no prosperity
| by increased taxes. If such legislation win
bring prosperity, then you are wise in not
| going further. We are here 20 proceed to
business and TO discuss any measure. We
are here 20 vote for the good and against
the bad, but believing that nine out of
every ten measures proposed by the Repub-
licans are bad, we are not anxious to
thrust such legislation on the country.
Mr.. Simpson thought that as the gentle
man from Maine ana the gentleman from
Texas had spoken for their respective
| parties he should voice the sentiments OF
| the Popuiist party. Il don't think said
he, that the Republican party is wholly
bad. L want them to have chance.
| They were elected by a large majority
| to pass remedial legislation, and the Presi-
dent has said that the next step after the
tariff hill was to enact financial legisla-
ton" BE believed in giving the party
| chance to do something.
Mr. Bailey said that if the Republicans
would propose some financial measure
they could both support it would be
surprise to all.
Mr.. Simpson, resuming his remarks, pro-
ceeded to again attack the power delegated
to the Speaker by the House He charac-
terized it as dangerous to give authority
TO any one man 10 veto business. The hun
CRY needed legislation, and that should
not be blocked by refusing TO select COM
mittees, and getting down to business.
| Sitting IN Washington and doing nothing
tended to disfranchise the people OF the
United States.
The question on the motion of Mr.. Ding
ley was put by the Speaker, and d.
vision called for by the minority. During
the progress of the count Mr.. Bailey
stated that il thirty minutes was allowed
TO debate the motion, he would not press
the cali OF division, which would consume
a greater length OF time. This was ac-
cepted 10y MFR. Dingley. who consented to
fifteen minutes on one side.
Mr. Bailey yielded some of his time to
Representative McRae, Of Arkansas, who
proceeded to make a speech faroring rec
ognition of Cuban belligerency and re-
stricted immigra tons. subjects which he
said both sides seem to agree upon.
Mr. Walker, of Massachusetts,, followed
the Southern Congressman, and put in
several good blows for the Dingley bill.
Mr.. De Almond, Dem, of Missouri,
wanted it known that he would have no
part in the killing OF time and Mr.. Cannon,
in remarks favoring tariff legislation and
that only, asserted that with the Senate
as it is at present constituted no financial
legislation is possible.
Mr.. Fleming, of Georgia, expressed
the opinion that the Speaker was trying to
ascertain fit men for the committees and he
was assured that within reasonable time
the committees would he announced
Jerry Simpson secured the floor again
and declared that Speaker Reeds policy
was a case of political soonerism as he
had no right TO belive he would be chosen
Speaker again next December. Mr. Simp-
son intimated that the Speaker was pur-
poSely avoiding to announce the commit
tees until such time as it would further
the candidacy for Speakership.
Mr. Bailey secured five minutes to close
the debate, and declared that f the Re-
publican party did anything on the finan-
oial question il would not be to enact any
thing TO command his vote. Hesaid that he
had never seen the time when he wanted
the Republican party to legislate The
country is tired of cheap politics.
This closed the debate and Mr. Dinpiey,s