Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-18
FORrY.FIFTH CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, May IL.
SENATE.


second Judicial circuit. comprising the Now York
Vermont aud other Eastern States.
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Ferry, from Post Office committee, report
ed the post route bill, with numerous amend
ments.
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Mcmillan, from committee on claims, re-
ported with amendment the House bill making
appropriations for the payment Of claims allowed
by the Southern claims commission.
Csiendsred
AT the expiration of the morning hour Mr.. Nor
ri, chairman of the finance committee, took the
floor to speak 10 opposition to the bill repeating
specie resumption, but said he was not prepared
to proceed with his remarks to-day. On his mo-
ton further consideration of that bill was post
poned until Saturday.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the pen
sion bills on the calendar, and number were
passed.
The Senate then went into executive session,
and when the doors were re-opened adjourned to
Monday.
HOUSE.
On meeting, Mr.. Sparks of Illinois, reported the
Senate amendments to the Indian appropriation
bill.
Non-concurred in.
Mr. Reagan of Texas, chairman of committee
on commerce, reported substitute for the bill
regulating interstate commerce.
ordered printed and re-committed.
The regular order was then demanded by Mr..
Potter, and the question required on seconding
the demand to the previous question on the Flori-
da resolution.
The Speaker announced 80 Affirmative, no neg
tive, and the usual point mo quorum" WAS raj ed
by Hale, and the Speaker appointed Hale and Pot
ter tellers.
Mr.. Hale reported in the Affirmative 100. mega
tive none.
Mr.. Potter-No, Mr.. Speaker, l report the gen.
tlemsn from Maine on the negative.
speaker-Tsllers report I'D Alternatives aud
negative.
Hae-The Speaker must take the responsibility
of that decision.
Speaker-Let it be distinctly understood that q
gentleman is compelled to vote, whether he wish
es to or not. The gentleman was teller, and the
gentleman from New York reported him as voting
in the negative.
Mr.. Conger-The gentleman from New York
cans report anything but what the telleis have
agreed upon. | make the point that neither te Her
can report except what is agreed upon by both of
them.
Mr.. Hale-Let me state how understand it,
| was appointed by the chair as teller, as q men,
Der OF the House, in order in conjunction with the
gentleman from New York, TO count the votes
the agreement betw cen that gentleman and my
self. As is ususually the case, in counting for af-
hrmative be was counted one, the yeas passed
through, they we're 1872 did not agree and have
not agreed, and do not agree with the gentleman
from New York in reporting | voted q member
Of the House. have the same privilege that ev-
cry member has. did not vote, and reported
that none had voted in the negative. The gentle
man will not say that he and agreed that there
was one vote in the negative, and assuredly the
char cant, when the teers are at variance, de.
eide member has voted when he has not.
Mr.. Potter-There never can be any dispute
with me about question of patent fact. | have
done what have been doing for about twenty
times during the last few days, and reported the
gentleman from Maine in the negative. He be-
gan by counting me in the affirmative, and did
the same with him in the negative. l reported
him Is he reported me. There can be no dispute
about the fact He was teller. He says he
didn't vote.
Mr.. Hsle-Who knows better than whether |
voted or not
Mr.. Potter-Pos,ibly the House does.
Spesker-The gentleman from Maine was APP
pointed teller because he was present and his par
ty friends are constructively absent.
The char accepted the report Of the gentleman
from New York.
Mr.. Hsle-Suppose he had reported me in the
Affirmative
Speaker-Thst would have been an unfaithful
report .,...D
Mr.. Hale-This is an nnfsithful report, because
did not vote at all ..l5
Gar field called attention to the fact that the rule
provided that members passing between tellers
should be counted. The gentleman from Maine
had aot passed between the tellers.
Speaker-That is an sbssrdity. How are tellers
to pass between themselvesf
Mr.. Potter-l do not care to raise any question
about this The gentleman was here; the only
question Is whether he voted.
Mr.. Hsle-I did not vote.
Mr.. Potter-I accept that and report none in
the negative.
Mr.. Hsle-No quorum.
A call of the House then ordered and dis
closed the presence Of 25S, only lacking 81 Of the
full House.
Mr.. Potter-I move to dispense with further
proceedings under the CALL but give notice if
another call is required shall move to have the
doors closed and the Sergsant-atArms sent after
the absen Mt members.
Further proceedings being dispensed with, Mr..
Hale moved to lay the resolution on the table.
The Speaker, after much coloquial argument
ia parliamentary law, declined to recognize the
motion to lay it on the table, and ruled that the
question was not condition to which the rule re-
lied on by Mr.. Hale applied, and that the ques-
ton, alter the call of the House. reverted to the
point where 1t was when it found itself without
quorum, that is, voting on the demand for the
pre- vious question.
Mr.. Hale appealed from the decision of the
chair.
Mr.. Potter moved to lay the appeal on the ia
Bile.
The motion was agreed to-yess 49, nays ia.
When the result of the vote announced,
Mr.. Potter rose and proceeding to put al in
quiry to Mr.. Hale as TO what the republican side
of the House would consent to do in case he with
drew his demand for the previous question, but
before ne could get through tue sentence he was
stopped by Mr.. Conger ohjecting to anything
whatever IN the name of discussion.
The next call of the House showed the presence
Of 269 members. only "a less than full House.
When the doors of the House were closed after
the call of the House, and excuses been made for
absentees, an exciting scene took place between
Conger and Goode.
Mr.. Conger made a sighting susion to Mr..
Goodies voting, claiming he WAS paired with Lor-
ing.
Mr.. Goode resented the reflection upon his
honor, stating that If Conger intended any insult
he would hold him personally responsible.
Mr.. Hale insisted on words being taken down.
Amidst great deal of confusion and excite
ment, mingled with applause and Kisses from the
floor and gallery, the Speaker ruled that the re-
marks Of both Conger and Goode were unpsrlis-
mentaryl
Finally Mr. Loring was excused, and after him
were excused Messrs. Quinn of New York, Met
calf of Missouri Pugh of New Jersey, Kellinger
of Pennsylvania, Chittenden of New York. and
Robinson of Indiana.
None of these members were paired except Mr..
Robinson with Mr.. Hamilton, aud consent to ex-
cuse him given the part of the democrats
only on condition of the pair being dissolved.
Mr.. Potter (st 3 o'clock moved to dispense with
ali further proceedings under the call, stating that
he had been informed that every member who
could be reached by the sergeantst arms to-day,