New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-09
SMALL NAVY CAUCUS
REBUKED BY DEMOCRATS
No Quorum at Meeting to Bind
the House to a No.Battle-
ship Programme.
UNDERWOOD is OPPOSED
Majority Leader and Speaker
Clark Attend, but Not to
Aid the Advocates of
Economy" Plan.

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Feo s.--The efforts Of the
small navy contingent in the House to
bind the Democrats TO another no bat
tleship' programme were thwarted to-
night. Dozens Of members refused 10 at
forced the economists 10 adjourn without
scti9.
y chagrihed group OF so-called econo-
mists filed out Of the House chamber af-
tor waiting FOR more than an hour for
quorum to assemble The action Of the
stay-at-home Democrats tonight is fa-
vorable 10 a two-battleship naval appro-
priation bill. and Representative Curley,
of Massachusetts, announced after the
attempted caucus that he would start a
counter movement to bind the party to
progressive, instead Of parsimonious.
naval programme.
THE small navy" men who circulated
tho petition for the caucus that failed to-
might arc undecided whether 10 renew
their attempts to have the party make
PARTISAN issue of the increase OF the navy.
For the present the economists" are
rather discouraged.
II vas reported during the day that the
rank and file of the House Democracy in
tended to stay away from tho caucus az
2 rebuke 10 those who had signed the
petition for a caucus on battleships and
economy Members OF the Appropriations
Committee. who say they are attempting
10 uphold economy pledges. took little in
tercst in the proposed party conclave en-
sinecrcd by Representative Sherwood
author OF the dollar-a-day pension bill Of
the last session. and Representative Bur
nett. who soon will report a pork barrel
public buildings bill.
When the caucus convened tonight only
scventy-three members were present. AMI
many OF these were friends Of the navy.
who went to object TO a mo battleship'
programme. IL was Immediately apparent
that quorum OF il2 members would not
be present, and the early arrivals began
10 leave the chamber By ones and twos.
When the number present had dwindled
10 thirty-nine Representative Townsend
made point OF no quorum. At first the
caucus" refused 10 adjourn. The jubi-
liant friends Of the navy were swapping
stories and the Sherwood Burnett econ
cmy crew were making the best OF AN
embarrassing situation. Representative
Talbot renewed the poin, OF no quorum.
and Representative Saunders. the actins
caucus chairman, adjourned the futile
affair.
No business was transacted, but Repre-
sentative Sherwood was permitted TO
make an informal explanation OF his pen
sion hill. which has subjected him 10
criticism since the circulation Of the
Sherwood petition calling for a caucus
on economy" The veteran Ohio Demo-
crat denied that his bill had added So
10000 10 the pension rolls. The amount
would not be half so much. ne ssid.
Speaker Champ Clark and Representa-
tive Underwood were on hand tonight,
but were understood not 10 be in sym
patty with the motives Of those who
called the party council. II 10 reported
that if a caucus is held on battleships
Mr.. Underwood will tell his colleagues
that they are committing an error in
making a party issue of the navy and
tldl Ht WIGS Hittbith t'-AHHAt W NNHA 80
his disapproval Of the proceedings.
Only three members Of the Committee
on Naval Affairs attended the fasco to-
night They We're Representatives Tfih-
ble. Hensley and Talbot. Chairman Pad
gett OF the Naval Committee was absent.
The members OF the Committee on Ap-
prcpriations also were missing.
II shall inaugurate a movement next
week 10 bind the party in the other d.
iectior-toward progressive instead OF a
parsimonious policy" said Mr. Curiey.
discussing the performance tonight. 81
think we can have a caucus and commit
the House to at least two, and perhaps
three. battleships."
The Sherwood and Burnett contingent
Lad little 10 say, but their looks were
expressive Of their resentment at the
trick played upon them by their less
economical" colleagues.