The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-30

He referred to Tom Reeds action. The
yeas and nays were ordered on Taylor's
amendment. Before they were taken
Breckinridee renewed his motion to excuse
Mr.. McMillin. The knot caught and defied
all attempts to unite it. The motion was
put and tellers were appointed on tho point
of no quorum before the friends Of the
measure recovered from their establishment.
Then Mr.. Caswell inquired whether Mr.. BIS
motion was privileged.
mo-" replied the speaker. sit inter-
venes now because tho rule directs that
member shall vote on each question put I'M
less he is excused by the House, and it is
also provided that the motion to excuse him
shall be made before division or the COM
mencement OF a roll call"
On toe point of order made by Mr.. Bur-
rows, Mr.. Carlisle acknowledged that under
the rules the motion would not be in order
pending a motion to adjourn OF to adjourn
over, nor after the main question is ordered,
nor pending the demand for the previous
question. The rules specifically excepted
those cases. and no Others. The pending
question here was not to adjourn, but to
take a recess. Mr.. Burrows reminded him
that the admission of these motions indefin-
itely might prevent the House from taking
a recess. The speaker replied that they did
not prevent the house from adjourning,
thereby terminating its session. As it was,
the point of order was made too late, be-
cause the House was actually voting upon
the question when it was raised. Tom Reed
insisted that the application for an excuse
ought to come from the gentleman who
sought to be excused, but the speaker de-
cided that, when made, it vas proper par
liamentary motion, and he supposed that a
gentleman could make any proper parlia-
nentsry motion he desired
After much discussion aud more confus-
H. Id th.,I
of the chair. The question was put, and a
division ordered. Gov. McCreary secured
the yeas and nays, and the clerk was about
to call the roll, when Mr. Cannon of Ill
inois dumfouDded the speaker by moving
that Mr.. McMillin be excused from voting
on the appeal
A division was demanded The speaker
saw the dilemma. The house was rapidly
drifting in the anomalous situation Of hav-
ing two sets of tellers upon the floor at
once in the ascertainment of quorum upon
different questions. Mr.. McMiilin came to
the rescue. He said he had not sought TO be
relieved by tho interposition of the gentle
man from Illinois. Tom Reed seemed to
enjoy the snarl caused by the overriding of
his point of order Mr.. Carlisle said that he
had no feeling in the matter. He simply
desired the House to give its best Judgment
on the question, without regard to any decis-
ion of the chair. Then he rather appeal
ingly asked Mr.. Breckenridge whether he
insisted upon his motion to excuse the gen
tleman from Tennessee.
"No, l do not" was the prompt reply.
Gov. Long then diagnosed the parliament
tary status He said that two points of
order were pending. Zone is, the motion
to excuse is not in order and the second is
that one member has not the right to move
another member shall be excused. The
chair has overruled both points" He
wanted division of the question on Mr..
Sowden's appeal Mr.. Carlisle said that if
tho appeal was withdrawn he could submit
to the House whether it was competent for
one member to move to excuse another
from voting on motion for a recess. Mr..
Sowden withdrew his appeal. Here Mr..
Breckenridge settled the whole matter by
withdrawing his motion to excuse Mr.
McMillin from voting. There was some
question as to the precedent established by
the speakers action. Mr.. Randall said that
the chair had decided nothing except that
the mere motion of Mr.. Breckenridge was
in order. Business then proceeded as fol-
lows:
l. The Taylor 10 a. m. amendment
2. motion to adjourn.
3. motion to adjourn till Monday.
a. Amendment to Friday.
5. Amendment to the amendment to Satur-
day.
g. No quorum voting on motion s.
T. A motion.for call OF the House.
g. motion to adjourn Qost).
g. A call of the House ordered
TO- Quorum obtained, and a motion to dis
pense with further proceedings under call car
ried.
II. motion to reconsider No. 10 lost.
12. A motion TO adjourn lost.
70. A second call of the House ordered.
a. A motion to adjourn lost.
IS. A recess taken at 2:27 a. m. to 11:4S a. m.
Day after day was lost in similar motions,
until the legislative day of Wednesday
lasted nearly a week, when a compromise
was effected upon a three days discussion of
the bill. At the end of the three days a
vote was taken and the bill was passed.
Amos J. CUMMINGS.