The Helena independent., 1890-01-31
w.. 20, THE DICTATOR.
The Spea. 'e House Persists in
0yeri e Rights Of
.eople.
The Minority Finally Defeated AT
ter a Struggle Which Lasts
All Day,
The journal OF Wednesday Approved and
the Republican, Set Precedent They
viii some Day Rue.

before noon 10y spectators anticipating ii
resumption of the contest of Yesterday, nor
were they disappointed, for as the clerk
read the journal in the usual manner. omit
ting the detailed vote by yeas and nays on
the question of the consideration OF the
contested election cases. Breckenridge rose
and demanded the reading of the full vote.
After moments hesitation, the speaker
directed this TO he done. This having been
completed. Breckenridge demanded the
reading of the names of those not voting,
and the speaker ordered this TO be done.
Springer demanded the reading OF the full
statement Of Reed giving grounds for his
ruling of Yesterday. and the clerk proceeded
to read accordingly.
The reading of the journal having been
completed, Mckinley moved the journal be
approved, and upon that motion demanded
the previous question. Blanchard, of Lou
isiana, was Immediately on his feet. rising
10 a question of personal privilege re-
lating 10 the journal, but The speaker reius-
ed TO recognize him on the ground that the
demand for the previous question was pend
ing. Springer moved adjournment and de-
mHnded yeas and nays.
While the vote was being taken on order
ing them, Springer stated that his object
was 10 allow tho committee on rules To pre-
pare set of rules. One hundred and twen-
iy-four members arose TO demand the yeas
and nays, The speaker declared This 10 be
a sufficient number, and directed the clerk
10 call the roll.
Bland. of Missouri. moved TO reconsider
the vote by which the yeas and nays were
ordered but the speaker refused TO recognize
him. whtreupon Bland shouted, amid much
uproar; You are not a tyrant TO- rule over
the house in any such way, and denounce
-" The remainder of the sentence was
drowned.
The roll was then called and the motion
10 adjourn was defeatcd-yeas. l42: nays,
100. The question then recurred on the
demand for the previous question OH the ap-
proyal of the Journal and the yeas and nays
having been ordered, don't vote" was
passed around the democratic side of the
chamber snd assiduously 0beyed.
Before the vote was announced the speak
er directed the clerk 10 record the Of
thirty members whom he enumerated as
present, and the speaker then announced
the vote 20 stand. yeas ldJ nays |. and adj
ded (which, III addition tothe gentlemen
present, constitute quorum, and the pre-
vious question is ordered" This brought
forth storm of applause from the repub-
licans.
Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois, made point of
order that no quorum had voted, and said
that if the speaker so decided he would
take an appeal.
The speaker said. "and the chair declines
10 entertain the appeal of the gentleman
from Illinois, Applause on republican
side, and hisscs from the democrats
Then amid wild cheering OH the democratic
side, Mr. Breckenridge (ky.) rushed down
the aisle, and standing IN front of the
speaker exclaimed: From that We appeal.
There is no appeal pending. There was an
appeal yesterday, but this is different ap-
peal. because the speaker is assuming that
the house will sustain his decision Of yester-
day, and 50 is carry ing by his own vote to-
day the decision he has made"
The journal WIS declared 10 stand APP
proved, and after another storm. occasiOned
by Mr.. Springer's persistent efforts, which
in the end proved successful. ia address
the chair. the house became quiet and the
toor wns accorded 10 Mr.. Mckinley. who
spoke upon the appeal taken yester-
day, aud supported the speaker's decisiOn.
II was time. hb said. TO stop this legal he
tion. Let the members be honest let them
defeat the bill in u consti utional way. by
debate. by amendment, by yea and nay
vote, expressive Of their judgment. This
controversy was to determine whether the
majority should rule and govern. or be sub
ieci to the tyranny Of the minority. The
position OF the gentlemen on the other side
meant they would either ruin or rule. though
they were in the minority. The republicans
insisted that while they were in the mAio
ity the other side should do neither, lAp-
plause ON the republican side. We settled
one question NJ a great deal of cOst-tbat
4 h.4 30 af.tflI Tnf fbta
fapplause and we intend to settle il we can.
in the broad LIGHT public opinion, and in
the presence of sixty millions OF people
whether the constitutional maioriiy OF this
house shall DO the business Of the house.
Applause.i
Turner Of Georgia, believed If the wild
view presented here was engraited ON the
practice Of the house il would inaugurate u
reign OF anarchy and prof gacy unprece-
dented in the annals OF the country. He
cOntroyortcd the power Of the speaker to
have names entered on the journal.
Butterworth, Of Ohio. said the question
went 20 the power of the majority 10 rule
this country. This was a government OF
the people; II was a government Oi the ma
iority. The majority must exercise that
authority in legislation and government
which was in keeping with the furtherance
of the provisions Of the constitution. II
udQ Defn NIkutN luhl ~ was lpl thtluntE
to answer 90 himself and his cou-
stituents alone whether he would
vote and discharge his dnty.
The speaker had the night, he contended.
10 proceed 90 note that thirty or thirty five
members who had refused 10 vote ON roll
call were present in their seats. All that
was involved in the appeal was simply
question of fact. Did any gentleman whose
name was disclosed by the court rise in his
place and declare be was not present. Not
one Under general parliamentary laws the
speaker had the right to count the mem-
bers. and If there was no quorum ~ stop all
business. The principle was distinctly es-
tablshed that the presiding otncer might
count, and II was his duty to count the
number of members who might be present
10 constitute quorum. The gentleman
from Kentucky Carlislel had declared
under the speakers decision that one repre-
sentative could pass bill with lG1 mem
bers sitting in their seats IN silence. 80 he
could, and 20 he ought 10, II the l6I men,
hers sat in silence and refused 10 vote when
their votes would defeat q proposition! then
the vote OF n single member ought 90 pass
tho bill. When gentlemen sit In their seats
and refuse 10 perform public duty, they
are repudiating a great public trust. Carl
isle. as speaker. had repeatedly signed bills
and resolutions which had not received
constitutional majority. he had done II
over and over again, and done II. too, when
the public record Of the house. announced
by himself. showed less than a majority u
the house had voted. The action of the
democrats yesterday had never been dreamed
of by the fathers of the constitution. They
never dreamed Of sullen silence NJ states
manlike way of destroying quorum.
He was not saying the democrats were do