The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-30

| termined to give it force and effect to come to
| a right decision. If his decision should be in
accord with What seemed to be reason and
force and the outcome OF the constitution
| there was no fear but an unqualified endorse
| mont would come.
Mr.. Randall explained decision he had
made in the case of the electoral count bill and
said it was based upon a law enacted after the
| adoption of rules and in the enactment or
| which the House had participated
Mr.. Reed closed the discussion on the Re-
| publican side He said if anything needed to
show the impregnability of the position he has
taken in opening the debate tt was the futility
OF the answers that had been attempted to be
made. II arguments made on the Republican
side and answering arguments on the
other side were not enough to
satisfy the speaker Of the ,2tfulness of his
point of order then no argument could be
made
The speaker then proceeded to render his
decision which he promised with brief review
OF the status of the case at the time Mr.. Reed
raised the point of order, and concluded by
saying: The chair has been unable to lind
any dllatory motion has been made to prevent
final consideration of any contested election
case until this Congress. He felt that on
principle and sound precedent the point of
order must be sustained to the extent of hold
ing that the mbtiOn now made by the gentle
man from Pennsylvania which was in fact a
dilatory motion was not now in order.
Mr.. Randall From the decision just an
nounced I appeal to the House whose officer
you are.
Mr.. Reed moved to-day the appeal on the
table and the yeas and nays were ordered. Mr..
Reeds motion was adopted, yeas 15O, nays 8.
Mr.. Cox rose tc question of privilege and
stated be desired to make paper he held in
his hand part Eof that question of privilege.
After some discussion on this subject the pro-
test was read as follows: Whereas-The mi
nority OF this house have heretofore under
rules OF the house successfully resisted the ef-
forts of the majority to consider the case of
MacKay vs.. O'Conner because proper hear
ings had not been granted to the cOntestee by
the committee on elections as to the allegations
OF forgery and fpaud in the evidence submitted
by the contestant; and whereas the majority,
in order to preuent and avoid such fan investi-
cation, have proceeded to change rule in
manner hot provided for in rules by which
alone they can or ought to be changed; and
Whereas, the speaker has made a ruling
which justiies proceeding unknown to the
principles of constitutional and parliamentary
law and subyersive of the rights of the minority
therefore the undersigned, representatives of
the people hereby protest against the proceed
ings of the majority and rulings of the speaker
as unjustifiable. arbitrary and revolutionary
and expressly designed to deprive the minority
of that protection which has been established
as one of the great monuments of the repre-
Gates of parliamentary privileges and civil
liberty. This is signed by Messrs. Randall,
Hewitt, ErmentrouJ and others.
Some objection was raised as to whether the
protest was entitled to place on the records.
But it was finally ordered to be so entered.
The question recurred on the demand of Mr..
Reed for the previous question on the adoption
OF the report or the committee on rules, and an
excited colloquy ensued between the Speaker
and Mr.. Springer, arising from motion by the
latter to lay the report on the table, which the
Speaker refused to entertain, as also an appeal
for this decision, considering both as dilatory
motions The previons question was ordered
152, TO 3, and vote having been announced
Mr.. Springer, rising to q privileged motion,
moved to recommit the report with instruc-
tions to the committee on rules to so amend
the proposed amendment as to permit motions
to lay on the table, to commit and to amend
pending consideration of contested election
cases and the Speaker ruled the motion not in
order.
Mr.. ESpringer appealed from this decision
but the Speaker declined to entertain the ap-
peal.
Springer (excitedly) ''The chair is himself
violating the plainest rules of the house and
ought to be deposed.
Speaker-The chair can only say the gentle
mans motion has been clearly out of order un-
der any rule Even if they were applicable at
all, but the chair has made ruling which has
been affirmed in an extraordinary way by The
house and chair will be bound to stand by that
affirmation of that rule.
The report OF the committee on rules was
then adopted, yeas $50, nays 2, and the House
by vote of yeas 10, nays l, decided to consider
the election case.
Mr.. Randall gave notice that he would at
the proper time offer a resolution embodying
the proposon submitted on the Democratic
side on Friday last with the exception that the
committee on elections be substituted for the
special committee.
TIE Speaker recognized eMr. Miller to open
debate on the election cases, and the House adj
journed to tomorrow.