Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-02-25
Flight Session of the House,

session all last night. the democrats attempting
to force vote % TIM spportioumont bill aud
the republicans resorsirg to all kinds of fbus-
tcriDg tactics to prevent it. We continue cur
report from yesterday:
A motion be!ugru. TO adjourn to day Certain
-Saturday-no quorum voted, and call Of
tho llcuse was ordered. Although The roll.
cIt disclosed tho prescnca CT two hundred and
SKY cue members taOr0 than quorum-lhe
doors were closed aud resolution adopted
dltiClnG the ScrSes... farms to enforce tho
ATTENDANCE OF neutcra.
Thea al business was suspended, and tie
House lis!ltssls awaited the arrival of the Ser
geaot-a Arms with Tho absentees. Members
congregated 10 groups. smoking and chatting,
now and then interrupting the monotony of the
proceedings with points of order, which had the
effect OF raising laugh, but not of putting on
end to tho dead lock. When az hour and o
halt had passed, aud bu: ono member (Mr.
Camp had been brought 10 ty the Sergeant.
at-Arms, Dir. Congcr moved that further pro
cocdlDgs under the call BIO dispensed With, stat
ing that it was tho Intention to extend the usual
ceurtc6es. which had never been refused, TO
tho memory Of the lte Senator Carpenter.
On vote b. tCl!crs this motion wss defeated
TO to Ill.
Mr. Sfrloser submitted g proposition that
tho suit &C: should DO postponed until tomorrow,
that the republicans be allowed tao hours for
debate. and that thea the vote should BIO t.ken
on the bill ard amendments.
Sir. Congcr suggested that the suit G. would
como w Tomorrow ss uufnishcd business, uud
Gcc:lned TO Geree to tho proposition.
a lively CONTROVERSY arose between Mr.. Con.
ger G0d tho Speaker Gs to whether tho main
question had been ordered on the bill, tho
Speaker uan.aiGiog that it had boep. and Mr..
CangcE appealing to the Record to provo the
co0trsrj. Before any decision had beca reach.
Cd upon the point the vote was taken Oh tho
motloa to dispense with further proceedings
uodur the c.iI, and i: was detoated-yeas, lei;
nays, l35.
The House then relapse into lis former coadi.
ton of idlcucss, various propositions being sub.
mlttCd, but being scvcraly rejected. Among
these propositions was ono by Mr.. Chalmers,
that the vote should b, taken on 6ziog the rep
raScutation at 522. and that tho House should
continue voting uolil some lumber should be
decided upot; AID QUO by Mr. Weaver. that
the right ard left should submit the matter to
the arbtrament Of tho centre.
At $50 MIR. Walleco arose., amid shouts of
Regular Order |" from tho democratic side,
aud cskcd for leave Of absoLc, from to pisht's
session. lie had hoped that tho orGiaary res.
oIuI:us OF rfsDcoi to the mtmory of the dad
Senator ircm Wisconsin would have been
adopted Bu: he made no complaint, and he
would not call the resolutions up un!i tho next
regular session of tho House. His leave of alb
scnco WAS granted.
Thcie was another roll call, and then for about
an hour members gathered in groups in tho area
aud alsles, consulting and eodeaviog to COMO to
an agreement IS to tho number of Representa-
tves to be provided for 10 tho bill. Divisions
OF hguros OF State populations by tho various
figures rroposea-from Sol to 322-wtra made
SO as TO ascertain whether tho fraction left over
would DO largo enough to eutitlo tho State TO
an additional member, because that seemed to
b. the special advantage alter which all were
striving.
During this interim CT consultation aud cal.
cu'atlon there was no attempt to 90 on With
business and s:criug motions were withheld
and the monotony of the roll call was suspend.
cd. Bot it was all 10 vail the resulting frac-
lions would not como out SO es to give tho sd-
vantage to every State, and consequently the
magical figure remained undiscovered. Att
&, clock Mr.. Weaver suggested that a vote
should DO ttksn on 3l9. but he would not
promise that vote should then be tskcn on
another figure. Thea he proposed that votes
should 90 taken on 322, 3l9, 81, and 307, and
was net by counter proposition IRON MIR.
Hooker to take vote uro1 each figure, begin
Ming either at the highest or tho lowest, AID
continuing until there WAS msioriy IN favor
OF ooo Particular rumber. No compromise was
reached, and tho Clerk proceeded to call tho
roll ca motion to adjourn, which was defeated,
About o'clock proposition wss submitted
by MIR. Robtsoo, TO tho effect that the roll
should go called, and that each member should
announce his fsvorltc rumber, so es TO chow the
sentiment of the House 90 the QUESTION.
flr, Cox accedad to this proposition 90 the
oo1dItiou that tho number receiving tho larees,
number oil votes should be considered the
cnc!co OF tho House. Darisivo laughter from
the republican side me. this reply. ADD tho con.
fusion in all parts of tho Chamber was yeIy
gteat-so great. indeed. that the services of
tue Sergeant at Arms, with his symbol OF Office,
Wers called into requsi!iol-and it WIS some
time before order vas restored.
Mr.. Cox thon agreed to Mr. Rcbcson's pro,
posal to take On informal ballot each member
rs Ills name was called to ANNOUNCE the basis Of
which be favored.
MI ConSor, however, OBJECTED 10 tho agree
ment, Let the gentleman from Now York
his demand for the previous question.
The Spenkcr-rhe gentleman hss no power
10 do that 1t has boon ordered.
Mr. CoDgor-When tho Chair says that in
proper order | will appeal from it.
The Speaker said that tho appeal came too
ate.
Mr.. Conger-The Chair has just decided for
The first time.
The Spea ker-Tho Chair decided at the imc
ma: the main question was ordered.
MIR. CoDger-1 advise tho Chair tha. the
ine will come when 81 appeal will te tsken O.
hat decision.
MIR. Paeo appealed 10 MIR. Cougor to allow
N lutormal ballot to be taken. He could see |
10 ressoo for objec.ing.
MIR. Couger ocu'd see very good reason |
7hy the House ehouId not determine anything |
Plth ita doors barred, and insisted Oh bis obiac
ion.
Atten o'clock, Matters remained 10 statu quo.
zeapt that oven at his early hour of the night |
members were beginning to lock weary. Several.
including MIR Chj;fandan vho hod rn,,,..I