Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-30

the door askine him. however, TO make his
remarks brief
Mr. Hooker thanked the Speaker (sarcas-
tically) for the privilege accorded him, and
proceeded to argue on the democratic side OF
the question
Mr.. Hazelton answered Mr.. Hooker and
he was followed BY Mr.. Reagan on the DEM
ocratic side.
Mr.. Robinson followed on the republican
side of the question. The gravity OF the
present situation, he said, could net be over
estimated. The House was brought to q
consideration of the question which it ought
TO hare met and settled many year ago. 1t
was claimed on the other side that fifty de-
feated candidates, if they were falsely certi-
fed by the governors of States, might hold
their seats through the whole of Congress,
and that other members who were here by
the authority of the people, could only hang
their heads in shame while fifty asked with
the utmost complacency. ..What are you 60
ing to do about it?" He did not believe that
the constitution left the House in any such
stripped and helpless condition. The
constitution gave to the House the power
to expAl q member and it was to
be said that so men could stand with the of
Tending member and say he should not be
punished by the House and that the House
| STU ltu uot CNSu Sotuc " tie QutstlOu Vi COu
sidering his expulsion. The power to adopt
the rules was simply to give energy and
m ovement to the proceedings of the House to
enable it to go forward instead of backward.
The rules were for orderly proceedings, not
for disorderly obstruction or for resistance.
The gentleman from Maryland had talked
about the tyranny of the majority. Tyranny
vas bad enough anywhere but tyranny that
came from the majority was not half as obi
Gus as that which came from the minority.
Applause on the republican side.
He was glad the House had been brought
| to meet this difficulty and to provide against
| it in the future. He referred to the s;tua-
| alton in the House for the past eight days and
| said: If the great ability of the minority
| had been brought to bear for the last eigh,
| legislative days on the proper work of Con.
gress would not business have been in better
| shape and would not the members have stood
better before the country. The attitude OF
the majority was that it was right to consider
| this contested election case, and to consider
it in the way the majority proposed. The
| minority said it wanted an investigation and
that it would not consider the case. or any
other case, unless it chose to do. When the
majority had brought hore quorum to dc
business the minority had accomplished ali
/
ed to the majority. 1t had been said the
Speaker had before him the most important
question. He had indeed but it only re-
quired the courage of an honest man know.
ing the constitution and determined to give
it force and effect to come to right decision
| Mr.. Randall explained the decision he hat
made in the case he had made in the electoral
count bill.
Mr.. Reed closed the discussion on the
republican side.
| The Speaker then proceeded to render hi,
decision which he promised with brief re
view of the status of the case at the tim,
Mr.. Reed raised the point of order. 1
cosld not be disputed, he continued, that tn,
committee on rules had the right to repor
any time such changes of rules as it nigh
decide to be wise
Mr.. Randall appealed to the House from
the decision of the Speaker.
Mr.. Reed moved to lay the appeal on the
table, and the yeas and nays were ordered
Mr.. Reeds motion was adopted; yeas $50
NAYS 10.
The report of the committee on rules wer
adopted; yeas $50, nays 2. The House by
vote of yeas $50, nays decided to conside
the election ease.