New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-24
MURDOCH F|L|bUSTER
HOLDS UP CONGRESS
Kansas Insurgent UnreIenting in
His Fight Against St. Louis
Terminal Company.
NO QUORUM HALTS HOUSE
Expected to Relent o-day-
Senate Clears It's Slate, Adopt
ing Conference Reports on
Army and Postoffice Bills.
LFrom a. Trllunc EnreauI !

From The Tribune Eurcaui
Washington. Aug &.-Representauve
Victor Murdoch, the Kansas insurgent'
checked the rush Tor adjournment in the
House late tonight by demanding a
quorum. the call for which disclosed the
fact that less than a working majority
was present to put the finishing touches
upon the legislation Of the session.
Only 1G2 members answered TO their
names, tLirty-four short of wOrkinS
majority. and Representative Underwood.
Seeing the futlity of carrying on the
fight against the lone Kansan insurgent'
moved nat the House adjourn.
The sergeant-at-arnrs Immediately set
himself TO the task to telegraph absent
legislators 10 come back to the capital.
This is merely a precautionary measure
I'm case Mr. Murdocks ire should fail to
cool before tomorrow. 1t is not expected
that he will conduct his lone flibuster
when the sun rises again, and that he VIII
permit the adoption Of the conference re-
port of the Postofiice appropriation bill
which led TO to-nights fracas
Senate Clears Its Slate.
the day. adopting the conference report
on the army bill. passing the deficiency
bill and adopting the conference report on
the Postofiice bill.
If Mr.. Murdoch does not resume ms
fight there will be no obstacle IN the
way of adjournment of Congress to-mor-
row night
Before making q point of no quorum
Mr.. Murdoch exhausted other parliament
airy tactics to strike from the Postotnce
bill the special appropriation for the 81
Louis Terminal Company. First he mace
the point of order that the conlerreeS
had exceeded their authority in inserting
i'm the conference report the S5.OO appro-
priation after both the House and Senate
had decreed that the terminal company
should be paid as are other bridge com
panies-on the mileage basis.
After a brief parliamentary skirmish
Speaker Clark overruled the point OF
order holding that the amendment was
germane 10 the subject matter Of the bill
REPRESENTATIVE Moon, in charge OF the
bill. said he was not fully cpnversant
with the details OF the 81. Louis mail
service hut that hc had been informed
by the Postofiice Department that the
customary arrangement with the ter
uinal company was necessary to obtain
n the prompt handling of the mails at the
Missouri city, and that Mr.. Murdoch s
suggestion that another bridge might be
used was not practical.
Mr. Murdoch then asked for separate
vote on that section of the conference
report relating to the transportation vi
the mails across the Mississippi at ST
Louis He was informed by the chair
that the rules of the House forbade a
separate vote on any one item In con-
ference report, and that the report must
be adopted or rejected as it stood.
lnsureent in an Angry Mood
An this time M Murdoch was growing
anerior As the time for the vote APP
preached NJ arose and made the dreaded
point OF no quorum. and the missionary
work" of House leaders who had attempt
ed during the night to dissuade him from
such course went for nauSht
As the call of the House proceeded va
rious members. both Democrats and Re
publicans. crowded about the obduratc
Kansau and besOught him TO withdraw
the point. fearing that quorum might
not be obtainabe to-day or tomorrow.
Mr. Murdoch stood pat, asserting that hc
was determined to end the special priv
leges Of the * LOUIS Terminal Company.
Representative Mann tho minority
leader: Representative Underwood, the
majority leader; Representative Ollie
james. Representative Weeks and others
made short pilgrimage 10 the desk Of
Mr.. Murdoch, and various members from
a distance muttered their resentment that
The Kanean had taken action which might
delay the final adjournment OF the SEES
sion.
When il became rumored to-day that
Mr.. Murdoch would make point Of no
quorum if he found himself unable to
reprove the conferrees I'm any other way,
Speaker Clark held an earnest confab
with the Kansas insurgent and eudea-
vored to make peace between him and
the conferrees on the postoftice bin. II
later developed, however. that the efforts
of the Speaker had been unsuccessful.
All General Legislation Out Of the Way
Representative Underwood. Democratic
leader Of the House, went over TO the
Senate chamber late to-day, and reached
an Informal agreement with Senators
Penrose and Smoot to dispose of all gem
eral legislation tonight, leaving only the
conference report on the general def
cheney bill 10 be acted OF tomorrow
The army bill caused but little debate
I'm either branch. and the conference re-
port was adopted by both houses during
the day The Senate passed the general
deficiency bill after a short debate, and
conferrees will adjust the differences OF
the two houses on this measure to-mor-
row. The postoffice appropriation bin was
the last Of the measures to pass the Sen
ate.
The general deficiency bill, as It passed
the Senate. carried nearly s12.0o000o, al
most double the amount Of the House
bill Many amendments were adopted
during its consideration In the Senate.
Chief among the Senate's additions was
the item of $4,000 to repay contributors
10 the ransom fund for Ellen n. stone
the American missionary captured in 1901
by Bulgarian brigands.
The Senate agreed TO the conference re-
mort on the postofiice appropriation bill
after short discussion of the parcels
post plan Endorsed by the conference
committee.
Army Bill Passes Both Houses.