Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-10
A SLIM MAJORITY.
The Disadvantage Under Which Republi-
cans VIII Labor in Congress


WASHINGTON, Sept 9-The Post specu-
ulating about the disadvantages the Re-
publicans will labor under with their slim
majority in the next house of representa-
tlves, says: eff the next congress were
called into session forthwith, the Republi-
cans would have a majority of three. This
is not very large, and it disappears almost
entirely when the question of quorum is
raised. There are 325 members of the
house, and it requires l63 mem
bers to constitute quorum.
As the Republicans have 164 alto
gether the absence of two members
would place them at the mercy Of the mi
nority, if the minority choose to obstruct
business by not voting. The journal
could not be adopted if the point Of no
quorum was raised.
All the resources of the party could not
keep a quorum in the house fifteen min
utes if one was secured and the doors not
locked. The most careless observer of leg
islative proceedings can see that the Re-
publican majority is not majority at all,
except for such momentouS purpose as
electing a speaker when the attendance Of
every member can be secured. As for do
ing anything more than accomplishing
the mere work CT organization it would
be out of the question. The fact that a work
ing majority in the face of opposition from
the minority does not exist, is obvious.
The suggestion, therefore, comes that
1t IS policy to wait until congressman from
the new states appear with their certifi-
Gates and the Republican majority is
sWelled 10 SIX. The presumption IS that
when the membership is increased to $50
by the admission OF the five new congress
men yet TO be elected, four are to be added
to the Republican and one to the Demo
cratic column, making the relative
strength of the two parties in
the house of representatives 1853 Re
publicans to 162 Democrats. 4 lit
tie figuring viii show that the situation
viii not be bettered much even with this
increased Republican majority. With a
membership OF $50 it will require 100 to
constitute a quorum, Assuming that the
minority. for obstructive purposes, decline
TO vote, the publicans will be compelled
to produce 1G6 members out Of total of
l66. Three absenteeS on the side of the
majority places it hopelessly at the mercy
Of the minority, and all the changes in the
rules than can be regularly made will not
affect the constitutional requirement as
regards quorum. Can quorum be
produced with such small majority
in the event of the minority
times in SIX months. In the last congress
the Democrats had some experience in that
direction. Their ma jority over the Repub-
leans and Independents combined was
eleven. One of the Independents acted
uniformly with the Democrats, and prac
ticaIly their majority was increased to
that extent. Yet on the most important
occasions, it was al awful task to get a
quorum. When the Republicans refused
to vote on several occasions the Democrats
had to filibuster to prevent the Re-
pUblicans from out voting them,
and this with absentees apparently
paired. The neglectful and delinquent
members who hang around committee
rooms when they out to be on the floor and
who are hanging over the restaurant bar
when roll calls are in progress are the
hOrrorOf party leaders. \ case in point is
furnished by the CarlisleThOebe contest.
Mr.. Carlisle had been elected speaker,
even though his seat was contested. There
was 10 greater duty to the party demanded
OF the Democratic members during the
EiftieUh congress than to see that their
speaker was fully supported in the con-
test. Notwithstanding the Importance of
the issue, from party standpoint, when
the vote was taken there was enough Dem
ocratic members absent to have unSsated
Speaker Carlisle. As it was, a.large num-
Der of Republicans voted with the Demo-
Gratis, DuC Jne tiDSenjeeS H3u no assurance
that such would be the result. One of the
absentees was a New York Democratic
congressman. who was repeatedly tele-
graphed to make his appearance There
were plenty of trains TO enable him to get
10 Washington without losing much time.
When to late to get here he telegrap pied
that he was detained by an important law
case 1t afterwards turned out that he
was trying TO get RENTED fine of SIS inn
posed on one OF his constituents for Illegal
liquor selling. Most party Inen would
have preferred 70 have paid the amount
rather than risk the consequence of de
liuquency, yet this member took the
chances rather than take the trouble to
come to Washington. The above is SAM
pie of Democratic experiences IN the
coming congress the Democratic leaders
viii grin while they watch the Republican
leaders sweat in the effort TO poll the full
siren 9Th OF their party"