National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATTVEs


On motion of Mr.. SAPP, a bill was passed grant
ing to the corporate authorities of the city of Coun-
ell Bluffs certain lake, known as Carr Lake, sit
uated near that city.
A motion 10 dispense with the morning hour
was defeated 80 to S2 and the Speaker, the reg
ular ORDER directed the clerk 10 finish the reading
of the bill which was pending at the the cXpira-
ton of the morning hour.
Mr.. MARTIN, ofDelaWare, from the Committee on
the District of Columbia, reported back the bill TO
amend the charter of the Metropolitan Railroad
Company oil the District of Columbia. House cal
endar.
Mr.. ALDRICH, of Rhode Island. from the same
act incorporating the CapitOi5 North o, and South
Washington Railroad Company. House calendar.
Mr.. WILSON, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs reported back adversely the bill author
iZng the President 10 negotiate for lands for the
colonization of colored persons. Laid OH table.
Mr.. JOHNSTON, from the Committee ON Military
Affairs, reported back the bill relating to the re-
tirement of army officers. House calendar.
Mr. MONEY, chairman of the Committee on
PoSt-Offices and PostRoutes, reported back the
resolution directing that committee to inquire
into the expediency of establishing a telegraphic
postal system under the Government of the United
States and also into the cost of reproducing faci-
ties for transmitting telegraph messages equal TO
those now possessed by existing corporations, and
into the cost of operating the same and granting
to that committee leave to send for persons and
papers. House calendar.
Mr.. BICKNEI.L called up the resolution prOpos-
ing joint rule for counting the electoral vote
Mr. SPEER asked Mr.. BICKNELL TO yield to him
10 call up the contested election case of Heates
Martin.
Mr. FIELD hoped that the gentleman would not
do that. The report in that case had just been
printed, and the House should be allowed two or
three days to examine it
After some time spent i'll a vain attempt to ar
rive at some determination in reference TO the
time TO be consumed in debate, Mr.. SPEER gave
notice that he would call up the election case to-
morrow, after the morning hour.
Mr.. COBB, from the Committee on AppropTia-
tions, reported the District of Columbia appropria
mtted. -
Mr.. BICKNELL then demiagpdcd the previous
question on the Morgau" eJFeEorai resolution. =
Mr.. CONGER raised the question of considera-
ton in favor of the field.''
The vote bedivision stood 119 to 10 in favor of
taking uD the electoral resolution. MessrS
STEPHENS, FELToN, and SPEER voted with the Re
publicans.
The vote by yeas and nays reSulted-yeas, 13O:
nays l24-n favor of taking up the electoral reso
luton.
This was a strict party vote, except that Messrs
FELTON,. SPEER. and STEPHENS voted in the negative
with the Republicans.
Ofthe Grcenbackers LADD and STEVENSON voted
in the affirmative, and JONES, LOWE, RUSSELL,
MURCH, GILLETTE, WEAVER, and YoCUM in the
Mr.. BICKNELL again demanded the previous
question, pending which Mr.. CONGER moved that
there be call ofthe House
The SPEAKER called attention to the fact that
the last vote showed the presence of Il quorum.
Mr.. CONGER replied that it was nevertheless in
order tc have a call of the House.
=. The SPEAKER said that the Chair recognized
the fact that there was more than quorum; 25i
members had just voted
Mr.. CONGER stated (sarcastically) that his object
was TO compel the forty absent members to return
to their duties. He hoped that the ruling OF the
Chair would not prevent quorum of the House
from calling in absent members.
The SPEAKER ruled that the motion was not in
order i'll the present condition OF business il hav
ing been shown that there was not only more than
quorum present, but more than twOthirGs of a
full houSc-e sufficient number to meet every re-
Quirement Of the Constitution
Mr.. C0NGER appealed from the decision, which
appeal Mr.. BLoUNT moved to lag upon the table
The Republicans refused to vote upon the mo-
ton, and the House was thereby left without a
quorum. The vote stoad-yeaS 1iG; nays >
MesSTs. SPRINGER, GILLETTE, LOVE, MURCII, and
WEAVER.
Mr. C0NGER raised the point of no quorum
call OF the House was ordered, and disclosed
the presence of 25S members, and, all proceedings
under the call having been dispensed with, the
question reclrTed the motion 10 table the appeal
voted.
At four o'clock, after half dozen Toll-caIlS the
House found itselfin exactly the same situation
in which it had been three hours previously Or as
Nh REAGAN expressed it. the House merely went
up hill and then came down again.
The tactics of the Republican side were to
answer to their names call of the House, but
to remain silent upon the motion to table the ap-
peal, thus lCaviSs tie House without a quorum
and forcing Z call of the House.
At $40 q motion TO adjourn was dcfcated-yeaS,
12T; nays, 100
Another call Of the House was ordered and then
tat 5:lt) the House adjourned.