The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-31
Reed's Revolutionarv Rulin1.

The decision Of the speaker that he has
the right 20 decide, without any reference
to what the journal may show, whether or
not there is a quorum present in the House,
is convincing evidence that the republican
party is prepared to override precedent and
law to accomplish its purposes. II had
been known for some time before
the speaker made his decision
that he had determined to ignore the IN
broken rule Of the House that the question
whether a quorum is present or not
must be determined only by the votes Of
the members. The previous attempts to
give the speaker authority 10 determine
this question failed because it was deemed
dangerous TO clothe him with such extraOr.
binary power, and because 1t was believed
that the granting Of such power was pro-
hihited BY the constitution.
Mr.. Crisp, III his speech in support OF his
appeal from the speakers decision, pointed
out that the ablest republicans who have
occupied the speakers chair, Messrs. Blaine
and Garfield, refused to make the ruling
that Speaker Reed had made, and Mr.
Carlisle showed that the constitution clearly
provided that quorum must be present to
enable the House t. transact business, and
that whether "A quorum is present or not
must be apparent from tie journal. The
journal Is a record of the pro-
ceedings, and cannot be made, at
the viii of the speaker TO show
any fact that the speaker may wish to have
shown. Ii the speaker bad the power 70
say what should appear in the journal a
bill could be passed with only one member
in the House. The speaker would have
only to order 1t to be stated in the journal
that a quorum was present The j urnal,
however, would cease to be a record of the
proceedings 1t would simply be au instru-
ment FOR carrying out the viii of the
speaker, and the country would ceaso to
place any reliance upon it.
Mr.. Reed may gain some notoriety by his
arbitrary and unconstitutional course, but
he will not add anything to his reputation
as public man. He is already known as
an extreme partisan, and his ruling shows
that he is ready TO trample upon law and
violate the constitution TO accomplish tho
objects which his party mas in Wow.
W A4Hb Ao - illulllB db now Is 10
unseat enough democrats and fill their
places with republicans to give his party
good working majority. He does not pro-
pose to do this 10y proving that the demo
Gratis that it is intended to unseat were not
elected, but arbitrarily, without any refer
ence to whether they were elected or
not This could be done without
such ruling as lie has made If
the presence of all the republicans could be
secured, but as enough republicans are
pretty certain to DO absent to prevent
quorum if the democrats should refuse to
vote, the plan to count a quorum whether
the journal shows one or not was adopted.
The Republican party has been guilty of
many acts Of doubtful legality, and has fire.
quently shown the rule or ruin spirit, but it
is doubtful if it has ever before done any
thing that shows more plainly than TIL 5
decision of Speaker Reed its contempt for
constitutional rights and its determination
te accomplish its purposes at any cost.