Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-15
4 POINT OF ORDER.

During the session of the House on Satur-
day, while the banking and currency bill was
pending, Mr.. Spear Of Pennsylvania raised
the psint of order that members holding the
stock of national banks had no right to vote
upon questions affecting the interests of such
institutions, they being personally interested
in them. Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts, said
this was point of order of good deal of con-
sequence, and he desired to be heard upon it,
and argued that the number to whom the rule
applied did not change the operation any
more than if but two or three were interested
Mr.. z. r. Hoar asked how his proposition
differed from the proposition to tax gold
watches and silver plate. Mr.. Dawes said
the rulings had been that if a member be-
longed to class, he was permitted to vote
A holder of bank stock had no more personal
interest in this than a manufacturer had in
taxing imported goods. The speaker said the
question went back of the rules, and was
somewhat deeper that the rules. When Mr..
Macon of North Carolina occupied the Speak
er's chair, question arose on a proposed
amendment 10 the Constitution, changing the
mode Of counting the vote for President and
Vice President. The rule of the House was
peremptory that the Speaker should no, vote,
except in case of a tie. The vote on the pro-
posed amendment was eighty-three to forty
two. The Speaker voted in the affirmative,
making the necessary two-thrds, and through
that vote the amendment became incorporat-
ed in the Constitution. He gave vote on the
ground that the House had no right 10 make
= rule abridging the right of member to
speak. He voted on his conscience and re
sponsibility as representative. If The House
should say that l47 members who come here
owning shares of National Bank stock could
not vote there could be 10 legislation on this
subject at all. 1t had always been held that
where member belonged to d geneial class
of citizens he had right to vote. In the
case OF sitting member voting on a matter
affecting his own seat, there was an obvious
Improperly In his voting as it was individual
interest, but when man did not stand dis.
tinct from class the uniform ruling of the
Congress Of the United States and the British
Parliament had permitted them to vote. In
1871 in the British Parliament, on a bill re.
pealing the sale of commissions, there were
many officers, members of Parliament, and {
point of order was raised, but not sustained
because they belonged to a class. Since h,
had occupied the chair there had been bill
granting bounty, while they had the honor 0
having on the floor many officers who ha
distinguished themselves in the field VIII
shared that bounty. He therefore refused t
sustain the point Of order.
hr. Holman of Indiana appealed from tn
decision Of the chair. The yeas and nay
were demanded, but only thirteen member
rose to second the motion. The Speake
ssid he desired tellers on this motion that
might be made matter of record He ap
pointed Mr.. Holman and Mr.. Parsons as tel
lers. Oae hundred and ninety three mem
bers voted to table the appeal, and nine il
the negative. When the negative vote wa
announced there was come laughter.