Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-03

When the House reconvened at II
o'clock, the pending question was the
adoption OF the conference report on
the Alaskan Homestead bill. Richard
son, the minority leader in pursuance
of the tilibustering program attempted
to make the point that it must be as
certaincd that a quorum was present
be fore business could be transacted
but the Speaker declined TO entertain
the point and upon the demand Of
Payne. the majority leader. Il roll cali
was ordered pending the question. The
report was agreed TO- 201 TO 8.
Grosvcnor from the committee on
rules then presented the special rule
to send the immigration bill to con-
ference by Il direct vote and cut off
the previous question on conference re-
ports.
Grosvenor briefly explained the scope
of the rule and then yielded 20 minutes
to Richardson. Tenn, who in turn
yielded five minutes to Underwood.
Ala. The latter declared that the rule
proposed to force a vote upon con-
ference reports on appropriation bills
carrying millions after five minutes dc
bate on Il side. He tainted the other
side for the inability to do business
with delihcratiGn.
Williams, Miss, protested against the
course of the Republican partisan
press in attrihutins the action Of the
minority in the House to revenge
against the unseating of Butler. He
said that the country should know that
the situation was broader than that,
The Democratic minority. he said,
was not acting III retaliation; it was
teaching the majority that its rights
must be respected. If reasonable time
had been given for discussion and pre-
senting the contested election case, he
said the minority would not have been
under the necessity of pursuing its
present course. Williams then dis
cusscd the rule and ridiculed the en-
ployment of the French phrase zen
bloc" much to the amusement of the
House
De Almond attributed the phase TO
Grosvenor. who, he said sarcastically.
had recently had much experience in
authorship. He denounced the Re-
publicans for doing business on the
sabbath.
Grosvenor in closing the debate on
Inc rule remarked facetiously that
when the Lord said Six days Shall
thou labor and do all thy work, he did
not see the presence on earth of the
Democratic party. Still, he added, he
might have done so. The injunction
about rescuing the OK or ass on Sunday
If it fell into the pit. ne said certain
ly foreshadowed the coming of the
Democratic party. Fl
Grosvenor then compared the present
situation with that when the Demo-
Gratis in the SD Congress brought in a
rule to concur in the 600 Senate amend
ments to the Wilson tariff bill lin
gross" The pretext of the Democrats
for their present course he said, was 9
tlimsy excuse. The minority, he said.
was trying 10 paralyzeathe government
but the majority would not allow it to
do So
We arc not paralyzing tho govern
ment." interposed Williams. Miss. AN
extra session could be called and such
a session would give Congress an op-
10 pass the Littlciicld BILL"
IF | were A candidate for Speaker
renlied C;rosyenor smiling, or candi-
date for the minority leadership per-
hans 7 might favor an extra session.
l,rt being either the one nor the other
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