Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-04
HIS Thick Hide Penetrated.

We are glad that Mr.. Speaker REED IS
not so thick-skinned rs we had supposed
him 10 be. In the North american Her'e1o
for March-at the request no doubt OF the
editor-he undertakes TO Justify the
rulings which have connected his name
with such cpithets rs "tyrant," dc
tator." &c. &c. We do not see that he
has made q single good point. On the
contrary. he has adopted the false plea, 50
often made in the House of Representa-
fives by his own partlsans whilst the
House was without rules. that the rulings
which he made were made in obedience
20 the Constitution. This plea Is
stqqes'io fqlsi. IF" SAYS NJ. REED,
IF by any chance there is not IA quorum,
the Constitution proudcs'a way TO get
ONE 1T j. mott he continues. by re-
cording those present as voting either yea
or nay. but by making the absent present"
And vet, though Mr.. REED himself did not
say that ne counted those present as having
voted yea or nav. yet he did ID effect carry
his point and unseat Mr.. PENDLEroS by
causing the Clerk Of the House TO record
as present members enough 70 make up
quorum when counted with the kepubh-
cans voting. In other words, though Mr.
RYED pretended not - count the votes OF
the silent members on his own side, vet the
effect Of his tyranncal act Of counting
them as present was exactly the same as II
he had counted the silent members as
voting with the Republicans in every III
stance in which il was necessary for REED
% manufacture by bis arbitrary counting
q quorum not otherwise ohtanable.
Mr.. RrED's statement that If by any
chance there is not a quorum, the Constl-
tuition provides way 10 get one IS not
strictly accurate. II suggests rather than
states a positive falsehOod. 1t conveys to
the uniformed mind the impression that
the Constitution itself provides for call
of the House. for sending the officers OF
the House out after absences. &c, &c, 6c.
This is not true. The Constitution merely
empowers the House 10 provide how
quorum NAV be obtained by cOmpulsion.
The language Of that instrument Is: "A
majority Of each thousei shall constitute
Quorum 10 do business; but a smaller
number may adjourn from day to day, and
may he authorized TO compel the attend
ance of absent members in such manner
and under such penalties "a each house
may provide"
Note here that when Mr.. REED made his
arbitrary rulings no authority had been
given by the House Of Representatives to
any number less than quorum to compel
The attendance Of absent members. Nor
was there any rule of the House IN force
which authorized him TO count as present
members who on yca-and-nay vote had
declined to answer 10 their names. Such
a rule has since been adopted by the
House: but il can have no retroactive ei-
feet. Ii cannot be invoked TO justify
wrongs committed in the absence of rules.
Note, too, that the Constitution does not
empower less than quorum 10 compel the
silent members to vote, but contents itself
with empowering such minority 20 compel
the attendance Of absent members. The
Constitution goes with MIR. REED 50 far as
20 allow minority TO compel the attend
ance Of absent members, but it goes no
farther. The same Constitution provides
that when the two houses are assembled IN
JOINT session TO count the votes for Presi-
dent and Vice-President Of the United
States. 1.-THE President Of the Senate shall
open all the certificates, and the
votes shau then be counted" Here, said
Mr.. COSKILsG in 1877, the Constitution goes
with the President of the Senate until 1t
comes 10 the provision for counting the
votes, and then lit turns its back upon
Il 4 y hat Il. "a L
of the Senate shall open the certificates and
count the votes. but that he shall open the
certificates, and the votes shall then
DO counted. We borrow MIR. COMBINES
Observation-Disclosures phrase, and say that
the Constitution goes with Mr.. REED until
be has compelled the attendance Of the alb
cent members, and then lit turns It's back
upon him" Expressive silence" tells US
that the trainers of that instrument stopped
short of compelling man 10 vote against
his will. All that was necessary to be done
would be done when the members We're
brought together. If they declined to vote,
that was matter between them and their
commitments.
MIR. RKHD's reference 10 the custom Of
passing bills by less than quorum Is I'M
worthy Of him-puerle, in fact. All such
bills pass unanimously in a certain sense,
seeing that any member has the right TO
raise the question of quorum.
The Constitutions of a number of the
es-Pennsylvania, Illinois, and others
provide that no bill can be passed unless it
be voted for by majority of the members
Of the House in which the bill is pending.
The Democrats of the national House of
Representatives simply make the same re-
quiTement when they call upon the Repub-
leans to furnish q majority Of their own If
they wish to pass any bin Objectionable to
the Democrats. On this point, Dir. REED
answers his own arguments when he says,
Us he does say. that - if the majority of the
members were on the spot. within sound
of the Transaction. if they heard the bill
read at the desk and the voice of the
Speaker putting the question. there could
be no human probability that any measure
would pass detrimental to the republic"
So we say. If a majority of tho members
are in the House, hear the bill read and
the Speaker putting the question, they
need not vote, and ought not TO be COM
PEELED 10 vote; because, as Mr.. REED says,
there could be no human probability that
any measure of merit would fail Of being
passed under such circumstances.
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TIE HuB AT FAULT.-In the Boston
Arena for March Is a pretentious article on
Al "a