The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-04
RADICALS DEFEATED
A MOVE TO REDUCE THE SoUTH's
REPRESENTATION.
QUITE A FURRY CREATED.
DEMOCRATS BEGAN FILIBUsTERING
AT ONCE.


From the House-The Resolution
Introduced by Oimstead of Penn
syIvania-VOte Was Very Close,
but No Quorum Was Declared and
the House Adjourned.
Washington, Jan. 3.-The radical ele-
ment among the House Republicans VINO
favor cutting down the representation
from the Southern states in which the
franchise is abridged suffered defeat to-
day because a number of their coll
leagues refused to act with them
The issue was precipitated quite unex-
pectedly. The leaders had decreed that
the reapportionment bill should be taken
up to-day, but before 1t could be called
MIR. Olmstead of Pennsylvania offered as
matter of privilege, a resolution recit-
Ing the alleged abrdgment of the sut-
frage in Louisiana, Mississippi, South Car
olina, North Carolina and directing tho
Committee on Census to investigate and
report the facts to the House in order
that constitutional basis of representa-
ton could be established for those states.
The resolution created a sensation. 1t
was a surprise even to several of the
Republican leaders. The leaders on the
Democratic side sought in vain to head off
the resolution with points of order, but
the Speaker ruled against them. They
then began filibuster openly 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 In
sympathy with them and their indiffer-
ence to the fate of the Olmstead resolu-
ton in the end gave the opposition the
victory of to-day. Many of them quiet
y paired with absent Democrats, leaving
their absent colleagues impaired. AS re-
suit, when the question of consideration
was raised against the resolution it was
defeated, S1-SS.
Although the vote was strict party
vote, two Republicans, Lands of Indiana,
and Mann of Illinois, 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
| puolicans were absent and impaired
against sixteen of the opposition. Those
absent and impaired. were:
Republicans-Boutelle of Maine, Brosi-
us. Brown, Burkett Calderhead, Clark OF
New Hampshire Dsiile, Samuel Dayea-
port, Dick, Fowler, Gardner of New Jer-
sey, Hawley Hoffecker Knox Lorimer
| Loudenslager, McCleary, Metcalf Miller
Mondell, Morgan. Needham. Often, Par
ker. Prince, Russell, Showalter, Smith VI
Illinois, Sprague Stevens of Minnesota,
| Wadsworth, and Wanger.
Democrats-Barber of PENNSYLVANIA
Bradley of New York Brewer, Caldwell,
Catchngs, Castor, Gayle. Glynn, Levy.
May, Meekinson, Sheppard, Stallings, VIII
son of South Carolina and zeigler.
Silver Republican-Wilson of Idaho.
| The situation with reference to the ap.
portionment bill is greatly complicated
as result of the injection of the Ohm
stead resolution. Chairman Hopkins, how,
ever, is confident Of victory for his bill.
He thinks the Olmstead resolution may
pass in a full House. and that the inves-
tigation may be made. but that the mat
ter will end there Irrespective of the fate
of the resolution, however, he will press
the reapportionment bill and thinks 1t win
pass on Monday If possible he will dis
place private bill day tomorrow with his
measure.
The resolution was offered Immediately
after the reading of the journal. A furry
ensued on the Democratic side. Mr..
Richardson of Tennessee, the minority
leader, interrupted the reading 90 ask
whether the resolution required unani-
nous consent.
ut does not" replied the Speaker "It
is offered matter of privilege
II make the point that the resolution
does not constitute a matter Of privilege"
said Mr.. Richardson.
THE reading has not proceeded far
enough to determine that point" respond
ed the speaker.
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama immediate-
ly made the point that there was no quo
rum present. The speaker glanced about
the House. Evidently there was no quo
rum present.
oh Lafr mill he IT.
House was counted and when the Speak
er announced 141 present-not a quorum
Mr. Underwood Immediately moved an adj
journment. The ayes and nays were de-
manded 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 decided to flibuster TO the last
ditch. The motion to adjourn was lost,
ayes 6S, noes 95, answering present but
not voting IL; noted present 2; total 179
The speaker included himself in order to
make up the quorum. When the reading
of the resolution was concluded Mr.
Richardson insisted that the resolution
was not privileged. He argued that the
resolution should go to a committee.
Mr. Qlmstead, In rep,y. argued that un-
der the constitution matters affecting the
reapportionment Of representatives were
OF the nlBnesL CONSTITUTIONAL privilege and
cited elaborate opinion of Speaker
Keifer 1 nthe Forty-seventh Congress in
support of his position.
Speaker Randall, he said. had also held
that an apportionment bill was 2 mat
ter Of the highest privilege His reso-
luton, he contended. seeking as 1t did
to determine the constitutional basis Of
representation, was equally privileged.
The House, he argued, could not act IN
telligently unless 1t was advised in what
states and to what extent the suffrage
Of citizens of the United States had been
abridged. Mr. Olmstead said the resolu-
ton touched the dignity of the House it.
self. If the suffrage had been abridged
in certain states then members were un-
Justly and unconstitutionaly holding seats
upon this floor and this constituted an
invasion of the dignity of the House.
The matter dealt with by the resolution
might also affect the election of the Pres
ldent OF the United States. the matter
held repeatedly to be matter Of high
privilege.
Mr. Oiustead was willing TO rest his
case upon the plain mandate Of the con-
stitution.
Mr. Richardson made a brief response
to Mr.. Olmstead. He conceded that an
apportionment bin was privileged. but
contended that a resolution itself was
Continued on Fifth Page.)