Evening star., 1902-02-11
ACTION POSTPONED
SECOND CAUCUS OF HOUSE Re
PuBLIcANs,
That Proposed Reduction OF Southern
Reprssentiabtion-A Quorum
Not Present.


Iicans to consider the question OF action
looking to reducing the congressional rep
resentation Of the southern states which
abridge the sufrages was. held In the Hall
of Representative last night. but a quo
rum was not present and after two and a
half hours OF discussion the caucus ad-
journed until next Monday without action.
1t requires 1O1 republicans to constitute a
quorum 'of the caucus and at no time were
over ninety-five republicans In attendance.
Speaker Henderson was present for
short time. but took no part In the pro-
ceedings and left early to keep dinner
engagement His lieutenants. Mr.. Payne
of New York. Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Dali
Zell, were present, however. and threw
the weight OF their influence in favor OF a
conservative course. Mr.. Cannon was
openly opposed to action, on the ground
that 1t could only result In agitation In
the only test Of strength made the friends
of action had majority of twenty votes
MI. Crumpacker's Resolution.
Mr.. Crumpacker Of Indiana. at the out
set, offered the following modification OF
his resolution of last week:
Resolved, That 1t Is the sense Of this
caucus that the committee on rules re-
port q resolution as substitute for those
now pending in said committee providing
appointed by the committee consisting of
eleven members. whose duty 1t shall be,
and who shall have full and complete
power. to investigate and inquire into the
validity of election laws and the manner
of their enforcement in the several states.
and whether the right to vote Of male in
habitants Of any of the states, twenty-one
years of age and being citizens Of the United
States. Is denied or in any manner
abridged. except for crime. and such COM
mittee shall report the results Of its in
vestigation at as early date as Is prac-
ticable, and it shall be authorized to re-
port at any time, by bill or otherwise,
such measure as the fact SO found may
justify.
Resolved. That measures SO reported by
said committee shall be advisory only un-
less otherwise ordered by future action of
the caucus"
Mr.. Tayler Of Ohio. in the course of an
argument in support OF the Crumpacker
resolution. made the interesting statement
that when the southern states were ad-
mitted to representation after the war 1t
was on the express condition that none
of them would later deprive any citizen
or class of citizens Of the right to vote.
ing the right to vote some of the southern
states had violated the provisions OF the
act Of June Is. 1868.
Mr.. Shattuc of Ohio. after Mr.. Tayler
had concluded. called attention to the fact
that in the former caucus the opposition
did not show its hand until after all the
advocates of action had expended their
ammunition and he suggested that the
friends and enemies speak alternately. His
remarks were directed at Mr.. Cannon. who
was chairman Of the caucus.
Mr.. cannen's Opposition.
Mr.. Cannon thefeupon relinquished the
gavel and took the floor with an earnest
plea for conservatism He took the position
that no legisaation could result from action
by the House; that the Senate would not
pass a bill and that the net effect would be
agitation which would injure and not bene-
fit the negro In the south. He contended.
as he did last week, that the attempt to
pass the force bill, In the Fifty-first Con-
gress had resulted in the defeat of the re-
publicans in the congressional elections.
Mr.. Dick Of Ohio strongly controverted
this latter statement and. moreover, urged
that no matter what the political effect
might be the republicans of Congress
should do their duty.
Mr.. Grow OF PENNSYLVANIA, the venerable
ex-Speaker Of the House, supported the
Crumpacker resolution, but took issue with
Mr.. Tayler as to the act Of June 25, 1858,
which, he contended, was no. binding upon
the southern states. While 1t was law, it
was. he declared. imperative. Mr.. Cushman
Of Washington. Mr.. Morrell of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr.. TOmpkins of Ohio, Mr.. Douglass
of New York and Mr.. Reeves of Illinois
also earnestly favored the resolution.
Mr.. Morrell OF Pennsylvania offered the
following substitute for the Crumpacker
resolution:
Resolved, That committee composed of
six members of this caucus be appointed by
the chairman to work in conjunction with
the above committee, which committee of
six shall report to future caucus such in
formation and finding of facts as may be
secured by said investigation
Mr.. Payne's Resolution.
Mr.. Capron Of Rhode Island opposed ac-
ton and the proceedings finally were
brought to a close by Mr.. Payne, the floor
leader Of the majority. who offered the fol-
lowing resolution to refer all the pending
resolutions to the committee on census,
which he claimed had Jurisdiction:
Resolved. That all resolutions pending
before the republican caucus be referred to
the republican members Of the select COM
mittee on the census. House of Representa-
tives. which committee has, under the rules
of the House, jurisdiction Of the subject
matter before the caucus, and that leave
to said republican members be given to re-
port touching the premises to the repub-
lican caucus of the House at any time"
He forced a show of hands on this reso-
luton and the vote resulted 80 ayes and
Sc noes. The vote developed the fact that
a quorum was not present and the caucus
adjourned until next Monday.
PRES1nENTTA AT. NnKrN A rrnnrc