The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-04
Republicans as Well as Democrats
Taken by Surprise.
FILlBUSTER INAUGURATED.
Democrats Openly Avowca That They
Would Fight Ary Proposition
Look ing TO Reduction OF nc
South's Representation
to Bitter Enu-I:c-
publican Aid.
U:y Associated Prcss.)

WASH INCTON, Jan. 3.-Ihc radical
clement among the House Republicans,
who favor cutting down the representation
from the Southern States in which the
franchise is abridged, suffered defeat to-
day because Il number of their colleagues
refused to act with them. The issue was
precipitated quite unexpectedly.
The leaders had decreed that the reap
portionment bill should be taken up to-
day, but before it could be called, Mr..
Omstead. of Pennsylvania. offered as u
matter of privilege resolution recltlnS
the alleged abridgment of the suffrage
in Louisiana Mississippi and South Caro-
lima, and directing the Committee on Cen
sus to investigate and report the facts to
the House in order that constitutional
basis of representation could be estab-
liShed for those States.
\ SENSATION.
The resolution created Il sensation. 1t
was Il surprise even to several OF the
Republican leaders The leaders of the
Democratic side sought in vain to head
off the resolution with points OF order,
but the Speaker ruled against them. They
began a tilibuster. openly ayoWing that
they would fight every proposition look
ing to the reduction of representation
from the Southern States to the bitter
end.
Several of the Republicans We're in
sympathy with them, and their indlffer-
ence to the fate of the Olmstead reso-
luton in the end gave the opposition the
victory to-day. Many of them quietly
paired with absent Democrats leaving
their absent colleagues impaired. AS q
result when the question of consideration
was raised against the resolution it was
defeated 81 to S3.
PARTY VOTE.
Although the vote was Il strict party
vote two Republicans-Landis of Indiana,
and Mann. of Illinoic-answered present,
but did not vote. But the story of the
defeat is found in the absentees on both
sides who were impaired. Thirty-two Re
publicans were absent and impaired,
against sixteen Of the opposition.
The situation with reference to the ap-
portionment bill is greatly complicated
as a result of the injection Of the ON
.stead resolution. Chairman Hopkins
however. is confident of victory for his
bill He thinks the O?mstead resolution
may pass in d full House and that the
investigation may be made, but that the
matter will end there. Irrespective OF
the fate of the resolution. however, he
will press the reapportionment bill and
thinks it Will pass on Monday If pos
sible he will diSplace private blll-day to-
morrow with his measure.
FURRY ENSCED.
The resolution was offered Immediately
after the reading of the Journal.
furry ensued on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee. the mi
nority leader, Interrupted the reading to
ask whether the resolution required un-
animcus consent
1T does not" replied the Speaker. 'It
IS offered as a matter of privilege
Il make the point that the resolution
does not constitute a matter of privilege"
said MIR Richardson.
THE reading has not proceeded far
enough to det&mine that point, re-
sponded the Speaker.
Mr. Underwood. of Alabama i'm
mediately made the point that there was
no quorum present.
The House was counted, and when the
Speaker announced III present-not a quo
rum-NIr. Underwood immediately moved
an adjournment During the roll-call
there were hurried consultations on both
sides of the House Many of the Repub-
licanS were taken as much by surprise
as the Democrats. The latter decided to
flibuster to the last ditch. The motion
to adjourn was lost-ayes. 6S; noes, 95;
present but not voting, Il;
noted present, .; total. 1l9. The Speaker
included himself in order TO make the
quorum.
SPEAKERS RULING.
When the reading of the resolution was
concluded Mr.. Richardson insisted that
the resolution was not privileged. He ar
gued that the resolution should go to
committee.
Mr. Olmstead, in replying. argued that
under the CONSTITUTION matters affecting
the reapportionment of representatives
were of the highest constitutional privi-
lege and cited an elaborate opinion of
Speaker Keifer III the 41th Congress i'll
support of his position.
The Speaker then announced that the
question was clearly settled by section
IL of article II of the Constitution which
he directed the clerk to read.
S<He said he never expected to pass upon
a question more simple. He overruled
the point of order.
Mr. Underwood Immediately raised the
resolution. On a rising vote it stood,
ayes 60, noes TO- The ayes and noes were
demanded and ordered. The Speaker an
nounced the vote, 81 to consider the reso-
luton, S5 against and five present but
not .oting-not a quorum. He directed Il
call of the House, pending which Mr.. Tn
derwood again moved an adjournment.
The rising vote resulted. aye 12 noes
81, but Olmstead demanded the ayes and
noes which We're ordered
The motion to adjourn was carried 4 to
10, and accordingly at O'clock the House