Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-28
57TH CONGRESS.
Democrats Continue Their Fill
buster in the House.
Appropriations and Public Buildings
Bills Alone Seem Safe.
Naval and Military Academy Appro-
priation Bills Passed.

Washington, Feb. 27.-The Demo-
Gratis of the Elouse, today, carried out
their threat made, yesterday, that II
Butler was unseated they would DO
everything in their power to block leg
islation from now until Congress eX-
pires, March 4. The result was an
other stormy session prolonged from
II o'clock, this morning, until almost
Z O'Clock, this evening. Roll call sue
ceeded roll call and at every pause
party passion manifested itself III bit
ter and acrimonious denunciations
Two special rules were brought into
expedite appropriation bills and to
continue the legislative day of yester-
day in order to reduce as much as pos
sible the minority's power to obstruct
iegislation.
Ii was agreed on both sides that the
present situation sounded the death
knell of practically everything except
the appropriatio bills.
The friends of the omnibus public
building bill who, yesterday, We're
threatening 10 defeat the rules If they
were not modified to include their
measure, We're pacated by promise
which it was understood was given
that their bill would be covered by a
special rule to be brought in later.
All overtures from the Republican
side to the Democrats to induce the
latter to abandon their filibuster have
been fruitless, and there is every lndl-
cation that they will continue their
present tactics to the end of the ses-
sion.
With the reconvening of the House
at II o'clock this morning, the fight
of yesterday was resumed and the ln-
dica tons pointed for a stormy session.
When the Speakers gavel fell, Rich
ardson, the minority leader. made the
point of no quorum. I'VE cannot do
business without a quorum SAID he,
ADDING sarcastically. although we can
.unseat a mernber without one
The Speaker calmly replied that
there was m;tnifestly no quorum pres
ent and directed q call of the House
On the call 2s7 members appeared.
Underwood Dem, Ala, rising to a
parliamentary inquiry asked If the
agricultural appropriation which mad
come to the House with Senate amends
ments. had been referred to the CON-
mittee on agriculture. The Speaker
replied that it had not. that the Chair.
exercising his discretion, had kept II
on the Speakers table.
Underwood called attention to the
fact that, yesterday, unanimous con-
sent was refused when it was asked
I for non-concurrence in the Senate
amendments and reference of the bill
to conference. He asked if that action
did not send it to the committee. The
Speaker replied that it did not. There
upon Underwood attempted to move
the reference, but the Speaker declined
to recognize him for that purpose.
The Speaker then laid before the
House the Presidents veto of the bill
to remove the charge of deSertion
against Levi l.. Reed.
Hull moved the reference of the message
to the committee on military affairs and
upon that motion demanded the previous
question. The Democrats forced a roll
call upon the demand. The previous ques-
ton was ordered 15S to l0i. and another
roll call followed on the motion to refer
the message to the military affairs com
mittce. The message was referred, 11 to
50
AS soon ms the Speaker had announced
the vote Fleming Dem. Ga) rising to
II question of the highest privilege sent
the following resolution TO the clerks desk
and had it read;
Whereas ii appears from the congress
sional record of Feb %. 1909, that by actual
count and announcement by the Speaker
pro tempore quorum was not present
when the resolutions were voted upon de
clarng that James j. Butler was not elect
ed that George {. r. Wagner was duly
elected a representative in the 51th Con-
gress in tho, 18th district. and that the
point of no quorum was duly raised upon
The vote each of said resolutions and
that the same in each instance was over
ruled by the Speaker pro TEN In violation
OF the constitution, the rules Of the House
and the practice of all parliamentary
bodies
Resolved, that the announcement ny
the Speaker pro tenn said that resolutions
were adopted was in fact untrue and that
the said James j.. Butler is still entitled to
bis seat in this House and that said
Geprge c. r. Wagner is not now entitled
10 Ahe same"
! Alync. the majority leader, was recos-
SiN%rdeSpite tffc Protests of Fleming that
keScould not be denied the floor, and he
NuEed to lay the resolution on the ia BILE.
Tho Democrats forced roll cali on the
n1ion. The motion prevailed isl to l07
oe sa S IT, @ asN wt asf fse senate senate
amendments to the sundry civil appropria-
tioh bill and to send the bill to confer
ence. Reserving the right to object. Rich
er,lson asked if under the Republican rules
of the Republican House the bill did not
go to the committee on appropriations.
An the rules OF this Republican House
have been aid are being sacredly enforc-
ed" replied the speaker.
..All / ask is the enforcement of the
rules said Richardson. Il demand the
regular order
The gentleman from Tennessee oh
jects' announced the Speaker. who i'm
scented the two rules agreed to by the rules
committee, this morning, to expedite the