The age-herald., 1901-01-04
Request for Investigation Precip-
 itated the Fight
UNDERWOOD LED THE FILIBUsTER
Finally Secured an Adjournment on the Point That No Quorum Was Present-Hopkins Thinks
 His Bill Will Pass

Washington, January 3.-The radical element among the House of Representa- tives who favor cutting down the repre- sentation from the Southern states, In which the franchise is abridged, suffered defeat today because a 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. Olm- stead of Pennsylvania offered as matter of privilege a resolution reciting the al- legged infringement of the suffrage in Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina and directing the commit tee on census to investigate and report the facts to the House in order that constitutional basis of representation could be established for those states.
 The resolution created a sensation. It was a surprise even to several of the Re- publican leaders. The leaders on the Dem- ocratic side sought in vain to head off the resolution with points of order, but the speaker ruled against them. They then be- gan a filisbuster, openingly avowing that they would fight every proposition looking to the reduction of representation from the Southern States to the bitter end. Several of the Republicans were secretely in sym pathy with them and their indifference to the fate of the Olmstead resolution gave the opposition the victory. Many of them quietly paired with absent Democrats, leaving their absent colleagues impaired. As result when the question of consider ation was raised against the resolution it was defeated S1 to S3.
 Strictly Party Vote.
 The vote was a strict party one. Two Republicans, Landis of Indiana, and Mann of Illinois answered present, but did not vote. The story of the defeat is found in the absentees of both sides Thirty-one Republicans 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 Olmstead resolution. Chairman Hopkins, however. is confident of victory for his bill. He thinks the Olmstead resolution may pass in full house and investigation may be made, but that matter will end there. IT, respective of the fate of the resolution, however, he will press the reapportionment bill, and thinks it will pass on Monday. If possible he will displace privilege bills to- morrow with his measure.
 It had been arranged before the House met that the consideration of the reap today Immediately after the reading of the journal MT. Olmstead of Pennsylvania sprang a surprise by offering as a matter .- tha al legged abridgment of the right to vote in Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina, and instructing the com Inittee on census to inquire into the sub- ject and report the facts to the House.
 The reading of the resolution caused furry on the Democratic side. Before it had proceeded far, MT. Richardson of Tennessee, the minority leader, jumped to his feet and interrupted the reading to ask whether the resolution required unanimous consent.
 .It does not" replied the speaker. Tt is offered as a matter of privilege"
 "I make the point that the resolution does not constitute matter of privilege" said MT Richardson.
 .'The reading had not proceeded far enough to determine that point" re- sponded the speaker.
 Point of No Quorum.
 Mr. Richardson took his seat but before the clerk could proceed MT. Underwood of Alabama was on his feet.
 q make the point that there is no quo- rum present." said he.
 The speaker glanced about the House. Evidently there was no quorum present. '.The chair will count,' he said.
 The House was counted, and when the speaker announced Al present-not a quo rum, MT. Underwood immediately moved an adjournment. The ayes and noes were demanded and obtained upon this motion.
 During the roll call there were hurried consultations on both sides of the House.
 Many of the Republicans were taken as much by surprise as the Democrats. The latter were greatly agitated and decided to filibuster against the resolution to the last ditch. The motion to adjourn was lost 69 to o5, present but not voting IA; not present 2; total E9. The speaker included lhim- self in order to make up the quorum. The speaker directed the clerk to proceed with the reading of the resolution. When it was concluded MT. Richardson again brought forward his point of order,
 ATr O4mstead argued that under the con- stftution matters affecting the reapportion- ment of representatives were of the high est constitutional privilege and cited opinions of Speakers Keifer,and Randall in support of his position. The House, he ar