Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-01
WASHINGTON.
Congressional Proceedings.
House or R,prenenta,iren.

uOuuEeu.
Mr.. Walliug submitted that the rol
had TO be called in order to verify the
fact.
The speaker stated that the motion fol
a call of the house was in order. The
chair regarded it as of a dilatory char
actsr, but was bound to submit.
Mr.. 0'Brien inquired whether it was
not within the knowledge Of the chair
that in former congresses there were
calls of the house, even when it had
been a~scertained that there was q
quorum present.
The speaker replied that that had oc'
Cured where gentlemen had declined to
vote, and that while it was allowable
under the rules of the house it was not
allowable under law, and hat he was
not responsible for the law.
Mr.. Wood claimed the floor to offer a
resolution, but Mr.. Walling insisted on
his motion for a call Of the house.
Mr.. Hawkins remarked that the house
was operating under the elsctoral com.
mission law, that the chair has ascer-
tanned the presence Of a quorum, and
hat the motion for a call of the house
should not be entertained. If a call Of
the house were to be allowed at any time
the proceedings then they could
never be completed.
The Speaker-The chair has a right
to find out whether there is a quorum
present.
Mr.. Hawkins-No gentleman has the
right to claim that there is no quorum
present when the speaker has ascer-
tanned that there is.
The Speaker = There is a quorum
present. but the gentleman from Ohio
(WalliDR) is not willing to take the state
ment of the chair.
Mr. Walling-I disclaim any reflection
on the chair, but | have a right to knew
whether there is q quorum present and
demand the yeas and nays on my mo-
ton.
The yeas and nays were ordered and
resulted-yess 60, nays 1863; so the call
Of the house was refused.
This little movement was so far sue.
cessful as to have occupied an hour and
a quarter Of the time of the house. 1t
was followed by a motion to reconsider
.he vote, and although Mr.. Wood made
a point of order that such motion could
have no practical effect on legislation,
but was palpably and unquestionably a
dilatory motion, it was allowed by the
speaker. who said be had never yet ruled
or decided, either by inference or other
wise. that q motion to reconsider was q
dilatory motion; on the contrary the
chair was very clear that what the house
could do it could undo by a motion to
reconsider.
Mr.. Hale moved to lay the motion to
reconsider on the table. Agree to; yeas
ia, nays IS.
AS o o as the vote was announced q
struggle for recognition by the speaker
was made between Messrs. Wood, Pop
pleton, Caulfeld and Mills. each having
a proposition to submit, which eact
claimed to be Of the highest privilege
1t was made known in the course Of tbs
colloquy that the speaker, who had re
cognized Mr. Wood before the motion
for a call Of the house, and who after
wards learned that Mr.. Poppleton, who
presented objection to the certificate
from Vermont, was entitled to the floor
sent for both these gentlemen and a.
ranged that the resolution prepared b,
Mr.. Wood should be offered by Mr.. Pop
ple,ou, who under the usage was frs
entitled to the floor, and hat Mr.. Woo
should move the previous question upor
it.
As the clerk finished reading the reso
luton the speaker announced the open
lug of a rev legislative day, and tn
noisy passions and tumult of the hou
we're stilled for a few brief moment
while prayer was offered.
The stiffness was of brief duration
for while the clerk was reading the jour
nal Mr.. Springer ascertained hat thI
clerk was emitting, as usual, the detailed
statement Of papers, votes, etc and in
sisted that the journal should be read il
full. That demand, the speaker stated
it would be impossible to comply with.
Mr.. Wood undertook to get over tn
difficulty by moving to suspend
the rules mud dispense with the readin,
Of the journal The yeas and nays wer0
called and the motion was agreed to
yeas l75, nays IS.
A bulletin at lao this afternoon say
the speaker decides that the debate mus
go on. An appeal was taken, but thl
speaker refused to entertain the appeal
Fearful excitement.
2p.m.-0rder restored aud two hours
debate allowed.
Resistance 60 the UnmntOu GOV