Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-02-18
over The House and determined that a
quorum was present when the rule re-
quired the tellsrs to determine it, and the
Speaker was simply to

Quorum was present when the rule re-
quired the tellsrs to determine it, and the
Speaker was simply to
ANNOUNCE THEIR DECISION.
That rule was necessary TO the interest OF
fairness.
Mr.. Cannon, Ills, declared that the
chair had done his duty in counting the
members to determine the presence Of
quorum. That was an entirely different
question from vote by tellers. II there
was quorum the House could do busi-
nees and ia votes were sufficient and
were a msjority as against. In this
country and in Great Britain the speaker
had always had the power to count the
House to determine the presence OF
quorum.
Mr.. Carlisle charged the gentleman to
cite an instance where it had been donein
this House before this Congress.
Mr.. Cannon was under the impression
that Mr.. Carlisle when Speaker had with
ont instructions ordered the House to be
counted.
Mr.. Carlisle denied having done this.
Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, defied any one
to produce an instance where the Speaker
had overridden the decision OF the tellers.
Mr.. Lodge, Massachusetts,, argued 10
favor Of the spesker's position and quoted
at length from the Adams diary to show
that John Randolph had led filibuster
ing movement in the early days of Con-
Q-ess when the speaker bad counted the
House himself to learn that no quorum
was present. Mr.. Carlisle maintained
that the moment the tellers were ordered
by the House to take their places, the
power of the chair 10 count, except upon
their report ceased. The very purpose Of
ordering tellers was to prevent the speaker
from making count and put ii in the
hsnds of gentlemen chosen one from one
side and one from the other side. When
THEIR REPORT WAS MADE
to the chair that the vote was over, and the
tellers resumed their seats. There was no
remedy except TO take il over sga'n. He
was not making his argument because be
was opposed TO the secondipg of the
motion; he expected to vote for the second,
bat be believed that this was most i'm
pnrtant construction of the rules, and the
House should not surrender it's power to
the Speaker.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, wished to know
under what rule, Mr.. Carlisle, when
Speaker, had ordered the roll to be called
10 dispose a quorum without the instruc-
tion Of the House. Mr. Csrlitls replied by
citing the rule requiring the presence of
quorum before the House begins it's daily
routine. He said the roll was thus called
as preliminary in every legislative as
sembly or convention, but he had never
held that he had the right to count
quorum on the Hsor.
Mr.. Burrows, Michigan, argued in sup
wort of the SPEAKERS tight to count a
quorum. Mr.. Carlisle interrupted to in.
quire if the quorum could not be found
more certainly by calling the roll.
Mr.. Burrows retorted that that seemed
to be very uncertain wsy. Mr.. Peters,
Kansas, said be had refused to vote be-
cause he had some doubt whether there
should be q worlds fair at all (applsuse
on Democratic side, but he was perfectly
satisfied to remain in his seat and ALLOW
persons interested to settle the matter. Ii
the theory of the
OTHER SIDE WAS RIGHT
be thought he had accomplished more
than if be had voted en- unnataral resolu.
lion. The trouble was that this House
had been wrapped round and round by
the corner oflePal fiction, was as lifeless
as a mummy. Applause.
Mr.. Flower, of New York, recalled that
he had promised a fair and complete re-
port from the Fair Committee, and ssid
tha. it was now ready for the House.
Mr.. Hit, of Illinois, said he had urged
il upon the House now. Wherever the
Fair was to be held his people we're deter
mined that it should Re SUCCESS and
credit TO ths country.
Mr.. Hatch, of Missouri, and Mr.. Wilson,
of West Virginia, decliled 20 vote, pre-
feyring a speedy vote.
The question WAS taken on the agree
ment to suspend the rules and make the
special order for the fair bills and resulted
Yeas 14S, nays "a.
More than two-thirds voted in the af-
iirmative, but Mr. Blount, of Georgia,
demanded the yeas and nays. They were
ordered, and resulted: Yeas 209, nays Sc.
and the special order WAS made.