Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-06
A.rLinp .S4aDORUM.


The regulation pRhS IN ths nouse VI
Representatives, yesterisy, over the West
Virginia contested. glfcio case, YVES con.
oluded Monday evening. After aarcastie
speech by Mr Wilson, Denaoorit w.
Val, the question rccuYred on ordering
the previous question, the adoption Of
the report of the committee ON elections.
and it was ordezed-yeas, l66; nays, y.
Thisis tho hrst time ssinoe the meeting
Of Congress- that abe Republicans have
had quo-um ivotins, and the'rcsuit was
received With applause. The only alb.
santees on chs hspubfienn siae wereF
Messrr. Oaswsils and WILDER, both OF
whom are sick.
-Four roll-ea,ls vera requised before
the vote came finally on seating. SmSh. 4
the Republican contestant; but ct the end /,
he waa declared entitled fe'tho seat by .
vote of yeas, 1876; nays, 0, amid &epubai-i
can applause.
Mr.. Smith appesssd aud ,tookthe cath
Of Office, whsreupon Ms. Bpzanger fLlte J,
sarcas.ioally inquiysd whethes this was
the proper time tosynake q motion to-
adjourn. With o similar intonatIon Of;
sarcssn the Speaaesreplied inthetstiiFsa.
alive. and the A0use aoeordinaigfat 8. as, :.
adjourned.
THE. DEMOCRATIC POSITION.
Ex.Bpsaker Carlisle hos prepared Ton
publication Q ,oenpipte stetementi OF Gtho
present position Of taB Dsmoesstio MEM
berB OF the HOUSE, which syto,he Hlgpea
by all OF them. After reviewing Ia det.sdi
the situRtfon, AND. quoting ample aa.hority
for the attitude Of the Democratic mem-
\ bogs, the 6Aatemont concludes.
When, therefore, the present Speaker
repudiatsi this settled construction Of
the constitution and decided that when
the official record, which the constitution
/ requires tho House to keep, shows on
call of theYess and nays that q quorum, has
not voted, he can count members present
and not voting, and thus by his own aot,
outside of tbs recorded vots, determine
thai measure has passed, va consider It
orr duty, as part Of the representatives
of the people, TO enter our protests
In every form available under tho cir.
cumstanCes- We are not contendipg for
the right Of tho minority to govern, hs
the supporters Ut the speaker have en-
deRvoYed to make the country believe.
On the contrary, We ara denying the right
OF q minority to eject members from thor
Haats, or TO pass laws for thegovernment
OF the people. Under the constitution .
majority Of the msnbers Of the House
constltu6o,s quorum 10 do business, and
we sre simply insis ing that less than 8
majority ahAA not do business.
We are oontending that the majority
tshall take the responsibility which prop
erly belongs to them, and shall, come 10
the House Of Representatives and vote II
they d5Bire to control its proceedings;
and We are protesting against their right
to casty their measures by counting us
when We do not vote.
Tho claim Of the majority TINT they
have right TO govern the House withou;
attending Its AoBsions and taking part IN
the conduct of its business is too prepos.
ferrous to require refutation. II must be
evident to any one who understands the
position tRkeu by ths Democratic
minority in the House that it cannot pos
siuly result in any injury 10 the country
or any injustice to the majority. III
only sffsct will 5s to compel she kepub-
iican majority, elected by the people, tc
assume the responsibility imposed upon
them. On the other hand, no one oar
tosesee the evils that may result
from the inauguration of the prRs
tiee OF counting votes not cast IL
L
minority Of the members. cleo. to the
House and Senate may pass the mos
tyrannioal lave foT the oppression of tn,
people the most corrupt laws for tn,
spoliatioA of the pablo treasury. Whethei
40 intended or net, lite direct ndency Il
to break down tho barriera heretofore ex
letting for tho protection OF the citizei
against the enorOaohments of power unC
1 tina usnf,lRnftnt, nj IA kNao k,,T
iaB tie limitations Nhicb the constituti0,
mas wisely imposed upon the legs
department. Constitutions are
restrain M joritieH ami p4utsn,
4 majority ruling w;thoat han
resttaintB upon its power ia d
pafism, and 10 inconsistent with ou \.
tSnl Of government.
DEMOCRATS WORRY REED.
WABHINdToN, u. o., Fsb. 4.-Gpeake
/, Reed Is hamp rod in his dtptatorBhip b,
. being Obliged to manage the Rspublican
| with one hand whIie he Bieps the Demo
: Gratis with the other. Ths guueamish
J ness Of the Republicans prevented hin
9 from counting v quorum on the seating
OF Smith. It also prevents him froD
going on longer, without, at least, bring
ing In code of rules. 1t is probRhl
r that he will bring IN his proposed ney
. oodu to-morroT. To that end he he'll
9 meetings of the committee on rules thi
Q morning and this afternoon at the Oapito
AID tonight at bis rooms. At thss
! meetings he made Home concessions +
Carlisle and some TO tine Republicans, al
4 that the innovations In the new cod
4 promise to be- less radical than at fra
j. proposed by Reed. Riders on sppro
0 priation bills seem 30 have been aban
: doned, for example; but the restriction
upon hlibuatering remain about the Same
\ Reed has SO far succeeded In heepin
A out an incorporation in the rules of hi
. ruling in counting a quorum as desire
by many OF the leading Republicans VIII
think this would in way validate Reed
doubtful course. Reed proposes to hee
his ruling distinct from the rules.
: The Democrats worried Reed to. day
They not only made aim back dow
!, twice on bis arbitrary rulings, but com
I. PEELED bin to agree TO prompt repo,
a OF the rules in confederation OF a oesaa
tion OF their attack. Reed was in n
!, ugly mood when the House adicurnad
i, end aaid nome rough thiHge of thu Dem
oorats-
4, Ex-SpesAsr Carlisle made his fra
!. recorded ioke this evening. Represehta
, tive Amos Cummings remarked in o.,
\ Isles presence that tomorrow he Or,
y posed to Introduce resolution proyit
y ing for publishing 10000 conias of
"a work on general parliamentary law fc
- the use of Che House.
- why wouldn't Reeds photcsrap
~ do2" asked Cariisie, 60 the astopisbmar
and enjoyment OF those present.
Reed Stis, Etx,ng the vote.