The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-27
An Exciting Session Of the Lower
Branch of Congress That Resulted
in Defeat Of Filibusters.
MINORITY WAS REBELLIous
AND REPUBLICANS WERE FORCED
TO TAKE DRASTIC ACTION.
Further Severe Measures to Be
Adopted to Prevent Threatened
Blocking Of LegiElation.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Amid scenes
which recalled the memorable and exciting
days Of the rifty-first Congress, when
party feeling ran fierce and the Hall Of
Representatives resounded with denuncia-
tions of the alleged "high-handed methods
Of the majority. James ]. Butler. of Mis-
souri,. was unseated to-day by the House
and George c. r. Wagner was seated in
his place. The Democrats had decided at
their caucus this morning that If this case
was called UP they would prosecute fill
buster from now until March 4. regardless
of consequences to legislation, and they
began the fight as soon as the gavel fell at
noon. Roll call followed roll call, and it
took over three hours to approve the jour-
nal of yesterdays proceedings. Then. when
A spirited debate of two hours followed.
and finally, after repeated roll calls, the
case was brought to a vote. The Demo-
Gratis then attempted to block proceedings
by leaving the hall, but enough absentees
finally were brought in to make up the
necessary quorum.
The closing chapter was dramatic. Mr..
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, who was in the
chair. refused to recognize a demand for
division. and Mr.. Richardson. the minority
leader, stood in his place and denounced
his course in unmeasured terms. amid the
jeers of the Republican side. The handful
of Democrats present were overridden
roughshod and Mr.. Wagner was seated.
The Republican leaders in deciding to
force this case to vote did so with per-
feet realization of the embarrassments
which would follow If the Democrats car
ried out their fflibuster threat, and they
have arranged a programme to reduce the
minority's obstructive power to minimum
as far AS appropriation bills are concerned.
This Is to be accomplished by q special
rule. which has been tentatively prepared
by which all the preliminary parliamentary
steps for getting appropriation bills with
Senate amendments into conference can be
c,t Off But later this afternoon Repub-
licans interested in the omnibus public
builoing bill threatened to vote against the
rule unless it made provision for the bill.
This dsJurbicg factor In the SITUATION was
not straightened out tonight.
The Republican programme also includes
a proposal to continue the legislative day
of to-day until noon on March in order
to obviate the long. tedious work of ap-
proving the journal against flibustering
facftcs recess was taken tonight until
II O'Clock tomorrow. and a rule has been
prepared which hereafter will give motion
to recess precedence over a motion to ad-
iourn. Under the operation of these drastic
measures IL is believed that none of the ap-
nropriation bills or other necessary meas
ures will be endangered. but the present
situation undoubtedly sounds the death
knell of many minor measures
The House Democratic caucus committee
adopted the following resolution: THAT
i we shall resist by all honorable means at
our command the unseating of contestee
Butler and the seating of contestant Wag-
oner. being convinced that the Republic
an managers in the House have determined
to disregard the large majority of $500 votes
bv which contestee Butler was returned
and dispose of the contest arbitrarily in
hind craftsmanship without reference to its
merits and without effort or desire to
learn what they are and that by way of en-
nhasizing our condemnation of persistent
partisan disregard of the rights of the mi
nority and this wanton outrage. lacking
even the sorry excuse of pretended parti-
san necessity and TO prevent the passage
of vicious measures which there Is every
reason to believe the majority have planned
TO rush through the House in the confu-
sion incident to the ending of the final ses-
sion of an expiring Congress. We pledge
ourselves TO stand together In support OF
| the demand for the presence of quorum at
| ALI times for the transaction of business
| and a recorded yea and nay vote upon ev-
erything upon which the House shall act
| nm TO the moment of adjournment
Sumdry Civil Bfll AdOufed.