Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-26
MUCH Time WASTED
Scenes in Halls Of Congress
This Afternoon.
CARRIED OUT THREAT
DEMOCRATS AGREED ON A PLAK
OF FILIBUsTERING.
Tactics Of Delay Employed In the
House When the Butler-Wagoner
Case Was to Be Considered.
CARRIED OUT THREAT

Case Was to Be Considered.
The democrats Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives today pledged themselves IN
caucus to see that a quorum is present at
all times during the remainder of the ses-
sion and to demand a roll call on all meas
ures. This action was taken in retaliation
Of the action Of the republicans in report
ing resolution for the unseating Of Rep
resentative Butler and the seating Of Wag-
onsr.
Action Of the Caucus.
The caucus was attended by more than
one hundred democrats, and the following
resolutions were adopted, with but two
negative votes:
Resolved. That we shall resist by all
honorable means at our command the I'M
seating Of Contestee Butler and the seat.
ing Of Contestant Wagner. being con-
vinced that the republican managers N
the House have determined to disregard the
large majority Of $500 votes by which con-
testee was returned and dispose Of the con-
test arbitrarily In blind partisanship with
out reference to its merits and without
effort or desire to learn what they are, and
that by way Of emphasizing our condemna-
ton OF persistent partisan disregard OF tho
rights Of the minority and this wanton
outrage, lacking even the sorry excuse OF
pretended partisan necessity and to pre-
vent the passage of vicious measures which
there Is every reason for believing the ma
jority have planned to rush through the
House in the confusion incident to the
ending of the final session of an expiring
Congress, we pledge ourselves to stand to-
gether in support Of the demand for the
presence Of a quorum at all times TO- the
transaction Of business and recorded yea
nd N-nfn VT n n WI
the House shall act up to the moment OF
adjournment"
The filibuster was promptly begun in the
House When the Speaker announced that
the journal would be read for approval, Mr..
Richardson Of Tennessee made the point
that no quorum was present The Speaker
counted 1863 members-not quorum. Mr.
Payne of New York moved call of the
House On this motion, Mr.. Richardson de-
manded the yeas and nays, and his demand
was sustained This necessitated two roll
calls, consuming the first hour OF the House
over the question Of the approval OF the
Journal - :s.s-s.5
was the Intention Of the republicans to
take up the Butler Wagner election case
had no hope OF saving Buffers seat hut
they declared themselves firm In their In
tention to keep up the filibuster. to the emo
of the session.
Leaders on tho Alert.
The decision of the democrats at their
caucus this morning to filibuster for the re-
mainder Of the session il the republicans
pressed the Wagoner-Butler contested elec-
ton caused considerable tension on both
sides when the House assembled today.
The leaders were alert, and the fight began
almost with the drop Of the gavel. After
the chaplain had delivered his invocation
the Speaker was about to direct the clerk
to read the journal when Mr.. Richardson,
inf tad inn
made the point of no quorum.
"The Constitution requires the presence
of a quorum to do business" said he.
The Speaker acquiesced, but was able to
count only 167. Thereupon Mr.. Payne, the
republican leader, moved call of the
House. and upon that motion the demo~
Gratis forced a roll call.
The call of the House was ordered-237
to 0.
Mr. Payne then moved to dispense with
further proceedings under the call. The
rising vote resulted-ayes, 1877; noes, 90.
Mr. Richardson demanded tellers, and the
Speaker sustained Mr.. Payne's point OF
order that the demand was dilatory.
'"Then demand the ayes and noes" said
Mr.. Richardson; that is our constitutional
right
support of his demand, and the Speaker di-
rected the clerk to again call the roll.
Mr.. Paynes motion was carried, 232 to 1.
Presidents Clerks Waited.
The next business in order was the read.
ing Of the Journal. The democrats had in-
tended to demand the complete reading
of the journal, and the Speaker, anticipate
ing this, created smile by directing the
clerk to read the journal 'in full"
While this was proceeding. clerks OF the
President and Senate who had been In the
hall for an hour awaited patiently an op.
portunity to deliver their messages
yryn,a dncY Of fho ia1Irn nal no1
twenty minutes.
At the conclusion Of the reading Mr..
Payne moved its approval. but Mr.. Rich
ardson demanded the reading of the bills
and resolutions introduced yesterday.
The Speaker said that while it had not
been the practice to read these addenda, if
demanded he would direct the clerk to read
them.
Mr.. Richardson Insists.
Mr. Richardson insisted and they were
read. 1t required fifteen minutes to read
the addenda.
Mr.. Payne then renewed his motion to ap-
prove the journal, but withdrew it to allow
Mr. Russell cTex.) to ask unanimous con-
sent to correct the journal In regard to a.
vote he cast yesterday.
Mr. Hay (Va.) objected; but the Speaker
somewhat sharply ruled that member had
the right to make such correction
Bad Feeling Appears.
Bad feeling began to show and a moment
later, when Mr.. Payne again renewed his
motion, he exchanged sharp words with Mr..
Richardson Mr.. Payne said he made the
motion as there was an evident disposition
ON the other side to delay proceedings and
all sorts OF motions to amend the journal
might be made.
tte previous question without giving his
side an opportunity to reply, but Mr.. Payne
declined to yield and demanded the previous
question.
mand The previous question was ordered,
154 to 81. Another roll call was forced
upon the motion to approve the journal.
The Nevada Accepted.
The Secretary of the Navy has accepted
the monitor Nevada, built by the Bath iron