Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-02-25

WAS auJOuTllSu ny inc speaker laSG Satur-
day night During that session, and while
a matter was pending before the house, a
member arose and addressed the chair on
point OF order, stating, in substance,
that there were number Of persons, not
members on the floor of the house, and
that their presence impeded legislative
business, WhereupOn the member moved
that the said persons be excluded from
the floor of the house. There was much
confusion on the floor at this time, which
increased to such an extent as to require
the speaker in the discharge of his duty
to repeatedly call the house and individual
members to order. A motion was made
and carried to lay upon the table the mo-
ton to clear the floor OF the house. This
motion prevailed upon the call Of the ayes
and noes. Great confusion ensued, the
chair heard unparliamentary language
made use Of, the tumult was great, and
the chair was impelled to call upon the
sergeant at arms to preserve order and
compel members to be seated. Members
failed to take their seats when requested
by the chair, and in the opinion Of the
presiding officer the house was in
such mood that an adjourn
ment was an imperative necessity
in order to avoid y condition that
might result in bringing censure upon
the house. At this juncture several mem
bers, including the member from Socorro,
Mr.. Cooneyl, the member from Sierra
and one of the members from Taos,
made the motion to adjourn. The mo-
ton was put to the house amidst great
confusion and declared carried, and the
house was adjourned. Several members
claim that at the time the chair declared
the house adjourned they were calling for
a vote by ayes and noes on that motion,
and that their request was dl5regadcd by
the chair. The speaker distinctly re-
members that number of members
were upon their feet calling upon the chair
at the time of adjournment. They were
undoubtedly calling Tor vote by ayes
and noes. The chair amidst the confu-
sion failed to hear any such request, but
will frankly say that had he heard such a
call, in view of what was passing at that
moment under his eyes, he would have
been compelled in the exercise Of his du-
tv and to prevent what might have re-
suited in a personal collision between
members, have declined to entertain it,
bnt in so doing would have been actuated
by no feeling other than a determination
to maintain the dignity of the house.
When the speaker Of this house was
elected to preside over your deliberations,
he took an oath to perform his duty faith
fully and impartially. To maintain order,
to preserve decOrum and to MAINTAIN the
dignity of the house are duties which the
speaker is sworn to perform in the per-
Torrance OF these duties the speaker is
invested with certain powers and also GER
tain parliamentary discretion, which he is
required to exercise with great caution.
Had the chair on an occasion like that Of
Saturday night not exercised that dlscre-
ton, had the session continued with the
state of feeling then manifested, and had
anything occurred likely to have brought
reproach upon the house, the chair would
have been held responsible.
The speaker of this house has always
received from its members the most
courteous and kindly consideration, which
he fully reciprocates, and he asks mem
bers to credit him with the intention of
doing what from his standpoint he re-
garded as necessary for the preservation
OF the dignity OF the house, which he be-
lieved to be imperled We are here to
pass laws involving the lives, the liberty,
the property and the well being of the
people we represent. / feel satisfied
that upon cool reflection every member
upon this floor will admit that the tenn
per of the house st the time Of the adj
journment on Saturday night was not
such as to justify the belief that calm de-
Liberation could be obtained for any SUBJ
ject before the house, and that the pre-
vailing excitement could but have the
effect of wa-ping the judgment OF men,
bers, and that the action of the chair in
the matter was the only thing to be done.
The chair believes that every member
upon this floor will impute to him no other
motive than a sincere desire to maintain
the dignity of the house and preserve
harmony during the short period we have
vet to remain together. [ thank the
house for its uniform courtesy and for its
kindly expressions on this occasion.
Mr. SniAen said tie cnair III his opin-
ion had but little to do with that adjourn
ment, that the house adjourned itself, rs
that was about all that could be done
under the circumstances, and the sound
of the speakers gayel was simply
the starting point that suggested to the
house that it had best adjourn.
Mr.. Cooney moved the house to accept
the apologies and explanations OF the
speaker and Mr.. Foster.
Mr.. Romero said the time of the mem
bers belonged to the people Of the terri
tory and suggested the chair call a caucus
of republicans this afternoon to consider
the matters which TRANSFERRED on Saturday
night.
Mr.. Romero offered the omnibus bill
establishing public institutions in various
towns in the territory.
Mr.. D. Martinez, OF Rio Arriba, moved
to refer the bill to committee OF one
from each county.
Mr.. Romero moved to suspend the
rules and place the bill on its third read
ing. Carried by vote OF Is to 7.
Mr.. Mascareneas moved to refer the
bill to committee Of one from each
county. On motion to table this motion
the vote stood Is to 8, and the motion
was tabled The bill was then read a
third time. 1t provides for all the insti-
tutions named in the council bill except
the normal school at Bernalillo--this
clause being omitted.
Mr.. Baldwin moved to amend, but was
ruled out of order. The bill passed by a
vote of Is to 7.
Mr.. Kister presented unanimous re-
port from the special committee to con-
slider the libel law amendment, recon-
mending that it do not pass.
Mr.. Sanchez moved the adoption Of the
report.
Mr.. Garcia moved to adjourn.
Mr.. Kister called for the ayes and nays,
and the motion to adjourn was lost
The report OF the committee was then
aIe,Aod and tho or,onlnnan To thn lihal