The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-05
WITHOUT A QUORUM
Amos Cummings Depicts a Scene
in the House.
4 WHOLE WEEK WAS WASTED
The Fruitless Efforts to Get Up Contested
Election Case-Monotonous Roll Calls
Business Under the Rules.

WASHINGTON, d. c. Sept. /, $780,
Especial correspondence of THE HERALD. i
There were novel scenes in the House in
the week following the Maine election.
Day after day passed with a vanishing
quorum. A quorum was frequently devel-
oped on a call of the House, but it disap-
peared when an effort to do business was
made. William E. Mason had set bad ex-
ample in filibustering against the lard bill.
Tse hog had finally swallowed the negro,
and in swallowing him had swallowed the
special order setting down two days for the
consideration of the Butterworths option
bill. OF course those opposed to the latter
bill were delighted. Mr.. Mason's example
was followed by gentlemen interested in
defeating other measures. Monday, Sep
TENDER S, was District of Columbia day. A
bill giving the Baltimore 81 Potomac rail
road company freight facilities in Washing
ton was bitterly opposed. The majority of
the House favored it. Its opponents, how
ever, went so far as to leave the House
without a quorum when the bill was re-
ported back from the committee of the
whole and the previous question moved.
This threw it over until the next district
day, fortnight afterwards.
On the next day Mis- p. Haugen, of Wis
consin, called up the contested election case
of Langston against Venable. Langston is
the well-kown colored professor, who
doWned Malone. He somewhat resembles
Herman, the prestidigitateur. Colonel
O'Ferran, of Virginia, promptly raised the
question of consideration. Only 103 Repre-
sentatives voted. A call of the House de-
Veloped quorum, 166 members being pres
emit. Upon motion to adjourn Immediately
afterward only 81 members voted. The
quorum had vanished. 1t was evidently
somewhere about the capitol, but not to be
seen by the Speaker Then another call of
the House was ordered, and the day was
spent in a vain effort to do business. Day
after day followed in vain efforts to secure
quorum. The journal of Tuesday could
not be approved without one. Even bills
that We're engroSsed, including the river
and harbor bill, could not go to the Presl-
dent without being presented to House
with quorum present. Scores of bills that
had passed both branches of Congress were
thus blockaded.
The scene on September 10th is worth de-
picting. 1t will give those who have never
visited Washington some idea of DAY in
The House without quorum.
Members began TO appear as early as 9 &c
am. Some answered their morning mails
Others stood at their desks or strayed
around the chamber, with their hats on,
discussing the Maine election, and chatting
with visiting constituents. About half
past eleven floral tributes were placed upon
the Speakers desk. One was a small pine
tree, ornamented by the American flag
Another was huge floral gavel, adorned
with the word Business In view
of what followed, it was out. of place
Speaker Reed had returned to the capitol
that morning, fresh from his triumph IN
Maine. His admirers had banked his desl
with flowers, evidently fancying that he
would onter the House in state. His mod
esty stood in the way. He remained in his
private room and did not appear upon the
floor during the day.
The thin Clergyman crossed his hands
upon the clerks desk and prayed for five
minutes. He ended with the Lord prayer
distinctly enunciated. The word Amen,
had hardly been uttered before the cham
Der hummed. Belated members came il
through the various entrances and sough
the cloak rooms to put away their hats. 4
few of those at their desks were on the 0lt
uiUe. Nils Haugen kept close watch on the
proceedings, determined to force the Langs
tony enable case on the House at the frs
opportunity. Election cases are priv
legged. ''The clerk will read the journal o
yesterday proceedings, ''Speaker Burrowl
said.
Colonel O'Ferral, MIR. Venable's col
league, was on his feet in an instant ''Mr
Speaker" he shouted, 81 suggest that Their
Is no quorum present, and that we SHOULD