Evening journal., 1890-02-18
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Democrats Still Opposing the
Speakers Stand.
THE WORLDS FAIR STARTS A ROW

The Speaker Cosnted a Quorum In the |
Usual Way, which the Democrats
Claimed Was Violation OF the New
Rules-News OF the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb Is The house yester-
day spent almost all OF the time until adj
journment in a warm debate over ruling Of
Speaker Reed. After the reading OF the
journal Mr.. Carlisle arose and said that
since Jan. 20 the Democrats had been pro-
testing against the approval of the Journal,
on the ground that it contained an entry
made by dictation Of the speaker, showing
the names Of members present and not
voting Last Friday a code OF rules was
adopted which gave the speaker that right.
Against this they still protested, and would
continue to do so, as an unconstitutional
practice But this question could not be de-
cided in this house, and whenever proper
cases arose, it would 90 to some other forum,
where it could be finally and decisively
passed upon. He saw no reason why the
journal should not be approved in the form
which the house had right to prescribe
The journal was then approved.
-
Mr.. Gambler then reported the resolution
for the discussion Of the Worlds fair bills
on Thursday and Friday and balloting on
Monday, unless the house shall have deter
mined by vote that the Worlds fair shall
not be held. Tellers we're appointed and the
result announced-yeas, ia; nays, 3 Mr.
Kilgore made the point OF no quorum The
speaker declared that 172 members were
present-more than quorum. After fur
ther protests from the Democratic side,
which the speaker calmly ignored, he de
clared that debate on the motion was in
order.
still Fighting Speaker Reed.
The Democrats strenuousy resisted this
decision. Mr. Mcmillan contended that there
was no rule that permitted the speaker to
count quorum except during the progress
of an yea and nay call.
Mr.. Dockery tMo.) said that the rule cited
by Mr. Mcmillan did not seem to provide for
count by the speaker at all, but only by
tellers
The speaker replied that the rule provided
for the count Of those who voted The vote
had resulted ia to SHAT seemed to be a
majority. There were l72 members present
| by actual count. If members did not desire
/ TO vote the presumption was that they ac-
quiescsd in the result of the vote
Mr.. Carlisle maintained that the moment
the tellers were ordered by the house 70 take
their places, the power Of the chair to count,
except upon their report ceased. The very
purpose of ordering tellers was to prevent
the speaker from making a count, and put
ia the hands Of gentlemen chosen one from
one and one from the other side. When
their report was made to the chair that the
vote was over and if the tellers resumed
their seats, there was no remedy except to
take it over.
The AdvIsablity OF Fair Questioned.
Mr.. Peters KAN said that he had refused
to vote because he had reason-he had
some doubt as to whether there should be a
worlds fair at all. (Applause on the Demo
cratic sidel But he was perfectly satisfied
to remain in his seat and allow persons in
terested to settle the matter If the theory
OF the other side was right. he should have
thus accomplished more than if he bad
voted-an unnatural result The trouble
was that this house had been wrapped round
and round by the cords of legal fiction until
it was as lifeless as mummy Applause
The Speaker Defends His Position.
The speaker said the question was one like
that repeatedly passed upon by the house
Under the constitution a quorum was neces
sary TO transact business Whether it wa
necessary for them to act was the question
in dispute Since it had been decided her,
it had been discussed from one end of tn,
country TO the other, and precedents without
number had been cited ON each side In thi
. house the question was settled that if
majority was present TO do business thei
presence was all that was required TO max
; quorum. If they declined TO vote thei
inaction could not be in the pathway o
those who did their duty. The idea tina
silence could be stronger than a negativ
vote seemed to have been unknown to ou
ancestors. 1t seemed to be a modern parlia
mentary fiction which had never been abl
TO stand the decision OF a court
Urging Speedy Action.
! Mr.. Gambler (Mass.l Immediately took th
J; floor and in a few words announced his sat
Z isfaction at the conclusion of the committed
t work, and hoped that its report would b
n given the immediate consideration the peo
!. pie of the country demanded. Mr.. Flowe
i IN. " recalled that he had promised fai
Q and complete report from the fair commit
: : tee and said that il was now ready for th
r house.
Il Mr.. Hit qlls.) said he had urged speed.
\ action all along and urged it upon the hous
now. Wherever the fair was TO be held th
people were determined that it should be
success and credit to the country. Th
D question was taken on the motion to suspen
the rules and make the special order for th
p fair bills, and resulted in vote by tellers-
r yeas 200; nays, 56-and the special orde
! was made. The call Of committees havin
I 4