The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFacx oun SPECIAL conarsrosDzsr,


siuoi't Iciiit iuic W SObtti tiit
court, and by force make the Repub-
licans take that or nothing. but
they slipped up ON passing it for
want of quorum of their own in
the House. 1t may be remarked
in this connection that the majority
in this Congress seem to have aca-
pacity for. making great many
things, but their most able and
herculean efforts have always been
devoted to make quorum. They
can and do make appropriations
they can and do make the country
grin; they can and do make asses
of themselves, individually and coll
lectively, with the greatest ease; but
the "greatest efforts Of their lives
is that of making a quorum OF
themselves. Once in great while
they achieve one, but such is the
wear and tear TO which the individ-
ual intellects are subject on such oe-
casions that most Of them shrink
from the perils of close contact with
their fellows in the close commun-
ion With the cold tea Of the House
restaurant which "full'' House IN
involves.
Hence it is, when a great question
involving a great principle comes up,
that the able il cubators of the great
question aforesaid and the great
principle therein embodied have
such difficulty in corralling quo
rum. These attempts to do so dur
ing the past few weeks, beside af-
fording a greaa deal of amusement
TO the country, have, it must be said
to the credit of Randall & Co, graft
fed the curiosity of their fellow
members by youchsating them a
chance to become familiar with the
faces of those two eminent Wall
street operators, Tom Ewing and
James O'Brien. So last Tuesday
was set for the great rally. The
party lash was applied and warning
sent out that something must be
done or the Republicans through
Vice President Wheeler would coun;
in Garfield e. Arthur without the
assistance of the Brigadiers. The
absent Democrats rallied in force
so did the Republicans with lunches
in their pockets to stay. The gal.
leries were crowded with anxious
faces to witness the death struggle
Of the great and glorious Democratic
majority. Blackburn was early on
the ground. Conger put in am ap.
pearance with his hand in a sling
which kind of agitated the Briga.
diers as they had hoped he was SO
badly hurt by a fall on the ice that
he could not be there to take a hand
Blaine stopped in for minute tc
give Conger point or two then
skipped back to the Senate to keep
that end of the capitol straight. The
hour arrived. The Republicans
looked kind of shaky for they knew
the Democrats were in the city to
beat them if Randall could only cor.
rail- them in the house. Mr.. House
chairman of the Democratic caucus
adjusted his gold spectacles and took
a survey of the empty seats on his
side Consultation with the Ser
g"ant-at-arms took place. John G.
clinched his first and made run
for restaurant across the street
Soon he returned and reported every
thing just lovely. Up popped thu
silver haired gentleman, Bicknell
with his joint resolution. Randall
recognized him quickly and wa:
Just awful glad to see him. The
gavel banged for minute. TIL,
aisles in the House and area in from
of the speakers chair were cleared
while perfect order was demanded
Mr.. Bicknell demanded the previou:
question. 1t was seconded prompt
| ly by some one. Mr., Conger RAISED
the point on the question of con
sideration. The chair decided O
course against him. He appealed
from this decision and was defeatec
of course as only a majority of til,
members was necessary to accom-
plish this. Up popped Blount o
| Ga, who moved to lay Conrer's ap
peal on the table. A jangle tool
place, Conger got the floor and Rob
eson of New jersey made a tellin.
speech. Now for vote. Here is
where the Republicans got the Dem
ocratic majority into atrap made by
one of their own crowd and helc
them there for five long hours, anC
as Reagan, of Texas, put in "they
ran up hill to slide right down"
Conger's tactics, if l understood
them correctly were for the Repub
licans not to vote on the motion t.
lay on the table and then raise the
point mo quorum, when q call o
the House would of necessity fol
low. To the call of the House
quorum would answer, and ther
the motion to lay on the.tabIe woult
show "no quorum" So it went
The Democrats got dry and scatter
ed. Some went to dinner, som,
went don't know where, anyhow
when Randall's great grand and las
rally came off the Democrats wer,
Just two short of making a quorum
of their own. Alurmurs were start
ed in every direction. All tho sa
looms on capitol hill wore searched
Randall delayed the announcement
of the vote as long rs he could bu
it was no good. He knew they wer,
in the city but he could not corral
them. Cusses were loud and strong
Dodgers were no name for absentees
So wearied and worn out, findin.
the Republicans were masters of tn,
situation and adjournmenttookplace
Among those branded" for no
voting on the grand rally was Rep
resentative Wise, from Green county
Pa. OF course he got the devil al
round and if the Post is taken as tn,
mouthpieoe of the Democracy he
: Fernando Wood. and a few otheF
recorded mot voting" are read ou
of the party
In connection with this subject th'
Post says:
aseores of times q quorum ha'
been broken and the passage of
Democratic measure defeated by tn,