The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-02-15
TIE DEMOCRATIC POSITION STATED
BY NE. CARLISLE.

BY MR. CARLISLE.
Washington, Feb. 23.-Mr. Carlisle
has prepared for publication the fol-
lowing statement Of The present posi-
tion # the Democratic members of The
House, which is to be signed by all of
them:
The present situation in the House
of Representatives is so anomalous and
unprecedented, decisions Of the Speak
er so full of danger to the integrity of
future legislation, that we consider it
eur duty 10 submit a brief statement
of the facts in order that the propriety
of ths course we haye taken may be
fairly determined.
Arhe House met on the I'd day of
December, 1889, and Immediately or
ganized by the election of a Speaker
and other officers. On the same day,
by a resolution of the House, the
Speaker was authorized to appoint q
Committee on Rules, and the rules
of the last preceding House was re-
ferred to that committee. The COM
mittee, consisting of the Speaker
hlmself ani four other members on
the 9th day of December. and on the
9th made a report authorizing the
Speaker to appoint all the commit
tees, aud defining its jurisdiction.
The Committee on Elections, to
which was referred all cases involv-
ing the rights of members to their
seats was appointed ON the 9th day
of December.
aAlthough nearly two months have
elapsed since the Committee on Rules
was appointed, II has made no report
upon the matters referred to II, except
the partial one made on the 9th OF De-
cembcr, and consequently the House
has been compelled to conduct its bu-
siness without any rule or system, ex-
cept the general Parliamentary law as
construed by the Speaker. There has
been no calendars, ne order of bust
ness, no fixed time to receive reports
from committees or for the censidcra.
ton of bills or resolutions, and, in fact
no regular methods whatever in the
proceedings Of the House.
aThe American House of Represen-
tatives has been during all this time,
and still Is, 80 far as rules for its gov
ernment are concerned, in precisely
the same condition as a popular meet
ing or political convention, in which
the Chairman and his partisans sbso
lutely control all the proceedings. Nc
measure can get before the House fol
consideration unless the Speaker
chooses to allow II to be presented
and members have no means of know
ing In advance what they are to b.
called upon to discuss or decide. Thi
Is the first time In our history that |
Legislative assembly, or even public
meeting, has attempted to transact bu
sincss for any considerable periot
without regular code of rules pre-
scriting the order of it's proceedings
ana the Inconvenience and injustice re
sulting from such an attempt hav
been forclbly illustrated In the presen
instance. The Speaker has repeatedly
during these extraordinary proceed
ings, refused TO entertain parlimeutar
motions, that have been recognized a
legitimate ever since the Governmen
was established, and when attempt
have been made to appeal from his dc
cisions he has refused to submit tn
question to the House. BY his arb
trary rulings, sustained In some In
stances by less than quorum he hs
subyerted nearly every principle o
constitutional and parliamentar
law, heretofore recognized in tn
House.
"1his personal and partisan dominI
ton of the House was submitted to-
not without repeated protests-unt
we became convinced that it was th
deliberate purpose Of the Speaker an
his supporters to proceed withol
rules TO oust the Democratic member
whose seats are contested and adm
the Republican opponents, whetht
! elected or not.
"On Wednesday, January 30, Il
Committee on Elections called up
: contested election case, and the Dem
cratic members determined that In Il
absence Of rules 1t should not be CO.
sidered If they could prevent 1t by an
! proper Parliamentary proceeding
! ! Accordingly, they raised the qucstie
/, of consideration and demanded Il
! yeas and nays, and on the call of Il
. roll refrained from voting. The resu
was that less than constitution
f quorum voted, but the Speaker,
Q violation of the uniform practice
Q the House for more than a centur
t, proceeded to count members wi
r were present, but not voting. and d
/, clared that the House had decided
}. take the case up. From this decisit
o an appeal was taken, and on q mott,
II to lay this appeal on the table the ye
q aud nays were taken aud less than
e quorum voted, but the Speaker aga
+ counted members not voting, and d
e cided that the motion was agreed
Ie and his ruling thereby sustained.
q, "The Constitution of the Unit
% States provides that majority of ca
% house shall constitute a quorum to
70 business; but smaller number m
: adjourn from day to day, and may
authorized to compel the attendan
of absent members in such manner al
under such penalties as each hot
10 may provide.
vt eAnother clause Of the Constituti
ty requires each house TO keep jour-
n of its proceedings, and provides Il
:. when one-fifth of the members prest
~ desire 1t, the yeas and nays shall
taken ON any question and entered
the journal. Since the beginning
s' the Government under the Consti
ton, more than hundred years q,
ID the House Of Representatives and
A Senate have uniformly construed
4, first clause Of the Constitution quo
A. above 10 mean that q majority of
m A IL a. a. 4