Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
IL THE HOUSE.


were appointed. The reported result was yeas
H. naysS.
A point of mo quorum was made, and the
Speaker ran his eye rapidly over the House
and in a few moments said: There are Ia
members present, which is more than quo
rum"
McMillin of Tennessee protested that the
rules prescribed the tellers as the means OF as
certaining the presence Of a quorum, and it was
not proper for the Chair to count.
The Speaker inquired what rule required the
tellers to determine the presence of a quorum.
McMillin quoted from rule touching mo-
tions to suspend the rules, which requires that
a motion shall be submitted to the House to be
| seconded by majority, to be decided by tellers
The Speaker responded that a majority had
seconded the motion-1l4 to Sand debate on
the motion was now in order, but the Democrats
made an earnest resistance.
Proceeding further McMillin insisted that the
point was that no quorum voted. and neither
the Speaker nor any other other man could as
sumo that the men counted were in the House
while the vote was being taken.
Bland wished to know by what right the
tellers left their place before the gentlemen
had voted, and the Speaker said if the gentle
men desired to vote the tellers would take their
places
Miller of Texas maintained the rules required
the decision by the tellers and argued against
the Speakers action.
Cannon declared the Chair had done his duty
in counting the members to determine the pres
ence of a quorum. 1t was entirely different
question from the vote by the tellers.
Carlisle maintained that the mo rent the
tellers were ordered by the House to take their
places the power of the Chair to count, except
upon their report, ceased. He was not making
an argument because he was opposed to sec
ending the motion, but he believed this was
most important construction of the rules aud
the House should not surrender its power to the
Speaker.
Cannon asked under what rule Carlisle, when
Speaker, had ordered the roll to be called to
disclose quorum without instruction of the
House.
Carlisle replied by citing the rule recurring
the presence of a quorum before the House be-
gins its daily business. He asserted that he
never held he had right to count quorum on
the floor
Peters of Kansas said the trouble was that this
House had been wrapped round and round by
cords of legal fiction until it was as lifeless as
mummy. The Speaker said that in this House
the question was settled that if a majority was
present to do bu-iness, their presence was all
that was required to make quorum. If they
declined TO vote, their inaction could not be in
the pathway of those who did their duty. In
| this case the Chair repeatedly counted the
| House during the vote and after it closed, and
| being satisfied that constitutional quorum was
present to do Business announced yeas III, nays
i s, and the motion was carried.
| Gambler took the floor and announced his
| satisfaction of the conclusion of the Worlds
| Fair Committee work. and hoped its report
would be given immediate consideration.
Hit also urged speedy action on the question
taken on the motion to suspend the rules and
make a special order for the fair bills which re-
suited as follows: Yeas 14S; nays, %.
cunt demanded the yeas and nays They
resulted: Yeas, 209; nays, Sc, and the special
/ order was made.
On motion of Perkins bill for the relief of
| the Sioux Indians at the Devils Lake Agency,
North Dakota, was passed under a suspension OF
| the rules.
Banks called up the bill to provide for the ap-
| pointment of thirty additional medical exam
| liners for the Pension Office. second was or
dered and Banks said the Secretary of the In
terror earnestly recommended the passage of
| the bill.
Washington of Tennessee said the bill ap-
peared to be scheme to get thirty Republicans
into Office without any draft upon the civil
service.
Gonnor argued that this class of employees was
exceptional, and the appointments could not be
subject to the civil service system.
Springer was for the bill, because it promised
to facilitate pension cases. He invited the Re-
publicans to bring on their pension legislation
aud let him vote ON It,
Blount defended the civil service law.
Bayne of Pennsylvania said he hoped no Re
publican would try to evade it. He asked to
have an amendment inserted providing that
the examiners be appointed under the civil
service law.
Cheadle OF Indiana, Morey of Ohio and other
Republicans objected to Baype's request.
The ayes and noes were taken upon the pas
sage of The bill, resulting Ayes 10l, noes 19-no
quorum. so the House adjourned, with the I'M
derstanding that the bill would be taken up at
the next suspension day.
IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON. February l7th-In the Senate
to. day Dawes presented over 2I0 petitions from
the State of Massachusetts,, stating that more
than 100000 gallons of intoxicating liquors are
annually exported from the United States to
Africa, which is demoralizlng to the people of
Africa and detrimental to all legitimate com.
merce with that people. The petitions pray
which authorizes Congress to regulate COM
merce with foreign Lations, this sort of things
should be stopped.
The petitions were referred to the Committee
OH Education and Labor.
Chandler presented petitions from Mississippi
complaining of the suppression of the Republic
can vote of that State, representing that the
Legislature of Mississippi recently enacted a
law establishing new Constitution for the
State on the 18th of August, $780, the same not
to be submitted to the people for ratification.
The petitions state that it was the ayowed pur-
pose of the Democrats to employ fraudulent
methods and deprive many Intelligent citizens
of their franchise. The matter was referred to
the Committee on Privileges and Elections.
Blair presented petitions signed by 5000
members of the Grand Army OF the Republic in
favor of pensions to army nurses. and petitions
signed by over 100000 persons in favor of his
educational bill
Among the other petitions presented were
several for per diem pensions; for the removal
of limitati on pension arrears, and for bounty
to soldiers of the regular army who served in
| the war OF the rebellion
FRYE, from the Select Committee on Pacific
Railroads. reported back adversely two Pacific
railroad funding bills which were referred to
it, and in lieu of them reported an original bill
on the subject with two reports. One of these
reports touches the Union Pacific Indebtedness
and the other the Central Pacific Indebtedness.
The latte- report Frye declared, had been
drafted by Senator Davis, of Minnesota. He ex-
planned that the reason why the bills were re-
ported back adversely was that the committee
! finally succeeded, to its own satisfaction, in
consolidating the two bills into one. This bill,
| which WIS now presented, contained terms OF
| an adjustment with both companies-the Union
| Pacific and Central Pacific. The REPORTS. he
said had been unanimously adopted by the
committee The bill, so far as the Union Pacific
| Is Concerned, had also been unanimously re-
ported.
At the conclusion of Frye's statement the bill
was placed ON the calendar.
blair smoke about three hours on the educa-
\ tional bill but did not conclude his argument.
Chandler offered a resolution which went
over Ii l tomorrow, calling on the Attorney
General for information as to the recent assas-
sination of Saunders the United States Deputy
Marshal for the Northern District of Florida.
A bill to authorize the President to confer the
breyet rank on officers OF the army Tor gallant
service in the Indian campaign, was passed.
ming having been rearhed on the calendar.
Piatt gave notice that he would call 1t Up for
consideration at the earliest opportunity.
ON motion to have the House amendment to
the bill TO have statistics OF mortgage lndeDteo-
ness obtained in the next census was non-con-
erIrred in and a conference asked.
On motion OF Alien the Senate bill 10 esszD-
l;sh Two additional Land Districts in the State
Of Washington was taken from the calendar
and passed. Adjourned
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