The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-02-06
A VERY STRONG CASE.
6nA DEMOCRATS sCArE THEIR CASE
TO THE PUBLIC,

A. Taken by tho Demoora,s-0uotes
speaker Hsed-Iefsra 10 GaFheld,
nlalps, nawlsy and others Address
signed hy all Democrats
WASHINGTON, Feb, 4,.-An address 10
the country, explaining the position OF
lhe Democratic members OF tho house,
has been prepared by eX-speaher Car
llale, and signed by all OF tho minority
members to-day The address Ia as fol-
lowai
"The present situation In the house Of
Representatives Ia 30 anamloua and tho
unprecedented decisions OF the speaker
aia 10 full Of danger 10 tho integrity Of
future legislation, that We consideF II
our duty 10 submit q brief atatemeI OF
the facts In order that the proprety OF
tho course we have takon may be fairly
determined.
The house met on the second day OF
December, 1880, and Immediately organ
lzed by tho election Of speaker and
other onioca, On the same day, by
resolution OF the house, the speaker was
authorized 10 appoint committee on
rules, and the rules Of the last preceding
house were referred 10 that committee
Tho committee, consisting Of the speaker
himselt, and four other memberh, was
appointed on the fifth day OF December,
and on the ninth, II made u report au'
fthorlzng tho speaker 10 appoint all tho
other committees and defining their
jurisdiction. The committee ON cleo.
tiona, 10 which was referred all cases
involving the rights OF members 10 their
Beala, was appointed on tho ninth day OF
December Although nearly two
months have elapsed since the commit
tee on rules was appointed Il has made
NO report on tho matters referred 10 10,
except tho partial one made on the ninth
OF December and consequently the house
has been compelled 10 conduct IL buA.
neaa without any rule or ayatem, except
Tho general parliamentary law ~ con.
etrued by the speaker, There have been
no Calendara, no order OF business, no
liked time % receive reporia from com
mitteea or for tho consideration OF bills
or resolutions, and In fact no regular
mothoda whatever In the proceedings OF
abe houae.
The American house OF representatives
has been during all this time, and still
IL, 10 far ~ rules for ita government are
concerned, In precisely the same cbndi-
tion M a popular meeting or
A Political Convention,
IA which the chairman and his pnrtlaanh
absolutely control oil the proceedings.
No measure can get before tho house for
consideration unless the speaker chooaee
20 allow Il 20 be presented and members
have no means Of knowing In advance
what they arc 10 bo called upon 10 dia.
ouas or decide. SO The speaker
has repeatedly during these oxtraordi'
mary proceedings refused 10 entertain
parliamentary motions that have bISB
recognized ~ legitimate ever since emo
government was established. and when
attempts have bocn mndo 10 appeal from
his deoiuCna he has refused 20 submit
the question 10 tho house, by hia
arbitrary rulings, sustained In some In
stances by lccd than quorum, ho has
subyor,cj nearly every principle Of con
atitationn aud parliamentary law horo-
eJfore recognized In the house.
This personal and partisan domination
Of the house was submitted 10, though
not without repeated protesia, until wo
become convinced that u waa the do.
liborate purpose Of the apeaker and his
supporters 10 proceed without rules 20
Gust tho Democratic members whose
meats ARE contested, and admit their Ro.
publican opponents, whothor elected or
not
On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the commit
tee on elections called up contested
election caae and the Democratic mem-
bcm determined that IN the absence OF
rules II should not bc considered N they
could prevent II by any proper parlia.
mentary proceedings, Accordingly thoy
raised the question OF consideration, do
mandcd the yeas and nays, and on the
call OF the roll rCfraincd from voting
tional quorum voted, but the speaker, In
violation Of tho uniform practice Of tho
house for moro than century, pro.
ooodod 10 count members who We're pres.
ent, but not voting, and declared that the
house had decided 10 take the caso up
From this decision an appeal was takof
and, on motion 10 lay this appeal on thl
table, the yeas and nays were taken, and
loas than a quorum voted, but thu
speaker again counted momborB not vot
ing and decided that the motion wns
agreed 10, and his ruling thereby sus-
tnined.
The constitution Of the United States
provides that majority Of each house
nhall constitute quorum 10 do business;
but n smaller number may adjourn from
day 10 day, and may bo authorized 10
compel the attendance OF absent mem
beis In such manner and under such PEN
alties az each house may provide An
Other clause OF the constitution requires
zach house 10 keep n journal Of lie pro
yeodinga, and provides that when ono
NTH OF the m0mbers present desire II.
the yeas and nays shall be taken on any
question and entered on the journal
Since the beginning OF tho government
under the constitution moro than
A Hundred Years
ago, the house Of Representatives and tho
senate have uniformly construed the first
clause OF the constitution quoted above
10 mean that majority Of all the mem-
bors-elcct must bo present and actually
participate In the transaction OF bust
ness; and that whenever, upon call OF
the yeas and nays u appegrd from the
sournal, which is the only official REQ
ord, thaf less than the constitutional
quorum has voted on any proposition,
Che yoee was o nullty, and no further
buainrbg could be done Until the requi-
bita number appeared and voted
Every presiding officer In the senate
and every speaker Of the house, except
the present one, has held that when less
thAn quorum voted on q call Of the
yeas and nays, no matter how many
might be actually present, II was his
duty TO take notice OF tho fact and do
ola, clare that the pending bill Or motion had
himself, when In tho minority ON tho
hoOr OF The house, stated the true mean
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