The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-27
ROUGHSHOD 1T RODE
HOUSE MAJORITY TRAMPLED UPON
THE DEMOCRATS.
FlLIBUSTER IS ORGANIZED
ny DEMOCRATS TO RETALIATE
AGAINST REPUBLICANS.

Butler, Democrat, of Missouri, Was
Unseated by the House, and His
place Given to Wagner, Repub-
Iican - Democrats Brought DiIa-
tory Tactics to Bear - Impeded
Proceedings as Much as Possible.
VIII Follow This System-PrOtect-
i've Measures Republicans Take.
washington, Feb. 26.-Amid scenes
which recalled the memorable and ex-
citing days of the Fifty-first Congress,
when party feeling ran fiercely and the
hall of representatives resounded with
denunciation of the high handed"
methods of the majority, James But
Ter of Missouri was unseated to-day by
the House, and G. 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
flibuster from now until March 4, re-
CARELESS of consequences to legislation,
and they began the fight as soon as the
gravel fell at noon. Roll call followed
roll call, and it took over three hours
to approve the journal of yesterdays
proceedings.
Then, when the decks cleared, the
case was called A spirited debate of
two hours followed, and finally after
repeated roll calls, the case was
brought to vote. The Democrats then
attempted to block things by leaving
the hall, but enough absentees were
finally brought in to make up the nee
essary quorum.
DaIzeII Was Denounced.
The closing chapter was dramatic.
Mr. DalzelI of Pennsylvania, who was
in the chair. declined to recognize a
demand for a division. and Mr.. Rich
ardson, the Democratic 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
rough-shod and Mr.. Wagner was
seated, by a vote of 161 to 2, the Chair
declining to entertain the point that
no quorum was present. This still
further aroused the ire of the handful
of Democrats on the floor.
81 did not believe the Chair would
be guilty of such an action cried
Mr.. Richardson, while Mr.. Williams.
Democrat, of Illinois, from his seat,
shouted that the Speaker put a proxy
in the chair to do it.
Mr.. Wagner, the contestant. was
then escorted to the bar of the House
and sworn in. Then the Speaker re-
sumed the chair. and Mr.. Payne, the
Republican leader, moved a recess I'M
til tomorrow, and on that demanded
the previous question. 1t was ordered,
1853 to 5, the Speaker this time over
ruling the point of no quorum. By
vote of 173 to the House then took
a recess.
How Republicans Will Act.
The Republican leaders in deciding
to force this case to a vote did so
with a perfect realization of the en-
barrassments which would follow if
the Democrats carried out their fill
clustering threat, and they have ar
ranged a programme to reduce the mi
nority's obstructive power to mini
mum so far as appropriation bills are
concerned. This is to be accomplished
by a special rule which has been ten
tatively prepared, by which all the
preliminary parliamentary steps for
getting appropriation bills with Sen
ate amendments into conference can
be cut off. But later this afternoon
Republicans interested in the omnibus
public building bill threatened to vote
against the rule unless it made pro-
vision for the bill. The disturbing
factor in the situation was not
Strengthened out tonight.
The Republican programme also in
cludes a proposition to continue the
legislative day of to-day until noon,
March A. in order to obviate the long
and tedious work of approving the
journal against filibustering tactics.
A recess was taken tonight until IL
o'clock tomorrow, and a rule has been
prepared which will hereafter give a
motion to recess precedence over a
motion to adjourn.
Under the operation of these drastic
measures it is believed that none of
the appropriation bills or other neces-
sary measures will be jeopardized, but
the present situation undoubtedly
sounds the death knell of many minor
measures.