The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-19
THE VOTE ON PARTYLINES
Democrats Will Fight it to the Last
Ditch.
A CAUCUS TO CONSIDER THE MATTER
The Hostility Of the Minority May Fx'end 10
Stopping the Regular ProcedureOf
the House as a Last
IN
(By the Associated Press


Washington, March 1.-THE House
Committee on Rules, by divided vote
on party lines, today decided to report
the resolution of Representative Crum-
packer. of Indiana, for special com
mittee OF thirteen members to investigate
and report on the alleged disfranchse-
ment of voters in some of the States.
The two Democratic members of the
committee, Representative Richardson, of
Tennessee, and Underwood of Alabama,
protested against reporting the resolu-
tion and when it was ordered to be re-
ported by the affirmative votes of the
Republican members of the committee,
Speaker Henderson and Representatives
DalZell and Grosvenor, the Democratic
members, consulted their colleagues on
the floor of the House and began consid-
ering the advisability of expressing their
dissent by resorting to the most extreme
devices of parliamentary procedure, even
to the extent of stopping the regular pro-
cedure OF the House.
That this extreme step shall be taken
has not yet been decided upon, as
Messrs. Richardson and Underwood, at
ter comforting with other Democratic
members. stated that action of the char
acter contemplated should not be taken
unless there is the most complete con-
currence by the entire minority and de-
termination in advance to make a most
determined contest. To this end it is the
intention of submitting the matter to a
Democratic caucus probably on Wednes-
day night. A caucus has already been
called for that night to consider the
Boer war. Under the caucus rules it will
require unanimous consent to consider
anything outside the Boer subject. But
in view of the general sentiment among
Democratic members, it is expected that
unanimous consent will be given to con-
slider this Acknowledgement question.
Otherwise another caucus will be called.
One of the minority parliamentarians
said
1.-The hdsiness of the House is largely
done by unanimous consent the cour-
tesy of the minority yielding a strict
conformance to the rules. But the mi
nority has the power to withhold 'unani-
nous consent and to require a constitu-
tional vote under the rules on every
question arising. Without unanimous
COuSeHl, even the approval Vi IhC JUL hai
will require roll call and it will take
a week to pass bridge bill. The minor
ity will be cautious in going to this ex-
IRENE and will not take such step I'M
less assured in advance of united COL
lowing If the step is not taken it will
only be because of the question OF pro-
prety of resorting to such extremes"
1t is stated that the movement on the
part of, the minority is directed not only
against the Crumpacker resolution, with
a view TO contesting its adoption to the
last extreme, but also to the legislation
so as to embarrass and harry the ma
jority at every point.
The action of the Committee on Rules
in favor of the Crumpacker resolution
will not be reported to the House for
about ten days. as Representative Gros-
venor, who is to make the report, will
be out of the city temporarily.