Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-20
THE FIFTY-RIRsr CONGRESS.


Disgraceful Tactics of the Democrats
-stH Blocking Business i'm the
House-B1ns Passed by the Senate
Remarks by Senator Sherman.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept 19.-After
prayer by the chaplain, Mr.. O'Ferren of
Virginia suggested chat there was no
quorum present, but the speaker was able
to count one and the clerk proceeded to
read the journal
Mr.. Oats of Alabama, Mr.. O'Ferren and
Mr.. Crisp were the only democrats in their
seats.
The journal having been read, Mr. Crisp
objected to its approval and asked that it
be amended in one particular Yesterday
when the house was operating under a call
quorum appeared and the speaker had
directed the clerk to call the roll on the
Langston- Venable case. He (Mr. Crisp
had objected and had made the point of
order that it was not in order to proceed
with the roll call. The speaker had sus-
tanned the objection. The journal con-
tanned no record of this decision of the
speaker. He moved that the journal be
amended by inserting it.
amendment on the table.
On rising vote this motion was carried,
l40-2, and Mr.. Crisp raised the point of
no quorum.
The speaker counted 1854 members pres
ent-a quorum.
Mr. Crisp challenged the correctness of
the count. He did this with the utmost
respect for the speaker and with the ut
most sincerity.
T1o. kl,ok L.
pains in the count and had no doubt about
its correctness.
Mr. Buchanan of New Jersey-Bring in
your men and order tellers.
The speaker said he was informed by the
doorkeeper that there were a dozen demo-
Gratis in the lobby.
Mr.. Crisp reported that there was no
provision of the rules under which the
doorkeepers could count quorum.
The speaker declared that the yeas had it
and that the amendment was laid upon the
table.
Mr.. Crisp-Does the chair decline to
order tellers?
The Speaker-The chair does.
Mr.. Cheadle declared that when the cor
rectness of the count was questioned tel
lers should be appointed. There should
be no doubt about the correctness of the
count.
The speaker stated that the question was
on the approval of the journal, and the
vote being taken resulted 1922.
Mr.. Crisp again challenged the correct
ness of the count, whereupon the speaker
appointed Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Crisp
tellers to count the house.
After waiting three-quarters of an hour
the tellers announced the presence of 1874
members.
Mr.. Crisp made the point of order that
notwithstanding the four vacancies exist
ing in the membership of the house 1854
members did not constitute quorum.
The point of order was discussed by Mr..
Grosvenor, Mr.. Holman and Mr.. Reilly,
after which the speaker decided that 1855
members constituted quorum.
A call of the house was therefore order
ed, and as few democrats entered the
chamber the presence of ITO members was
disclosed.
The speaker announced the question to
be on the approval of the journal and it
was approved.
The question required on ordering the
previous question on the Langston-Vena-
BILE case.
The democrats then retired, only Messrs.
O'Ferrell, Crisp, Reilly, Holman and Par
rett remaining in their seats
The previous question was ordered
yeas 147, nays z, the clerk noting quorum
Mr.. Cheadle Of Indiana and Mr.. Cole
man of Louisiana, (republicans voted in
the negative.
Mr.. Cheadle moved to recount the case
Lost-yeas Z, nays 1874.
The question recurring on the minority
resolution declaring Langston not elected
the quorum disappeared and call of the
house was ordered, which disclosed the
presence of 1877 members.
The minority resolution was then re-
jected and the vote was taken on the sec
ond minority resolution declaring Vena-
BILE duly elected. Lost-yeas 4, nays 1855,
the speaker counting a quorum.
The first majority resolution declaring
Venable not elected was next in order and
again the quorum disappeared and once
more it was necessary to order a call of
the house. One more than a quorum re-
sponded on this call and once more did
that quorum disappear on the pending
resolution the vote standin-yeas 142,
| nays 4, and once more call was ordered.
One hundred and sixty-four members
| responded to this call, the republican alb
sentees being T. M. Brown of Indiana,
| Butterworth, Cornell, Dorsey, Ewart, Fin
ley, Flood, Ketcham, Knapp, Milliken,
Peters, Sweeney, and Wilson of Kentucky.
There being no quorum the house at 4:45
| by unanimous consent took IA recess till 8
o'clock.