New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-30
THE HOUSE IN AN UPROAR.
DEMOCRATS FRANTIC AT THE SPEAKERS
ACTION IN CERTIFYING A QUORUM
DECLARING THAT TO COUNT THEM WHEN THEY
ARE PRESENT AND NOT VOTING is "REvo-
LUTIoNARY"-sPEAKER REED IN RE.
PLY, CITES GOVERNOR HILL.
tAY 1EIEGRApu 10 Tile rkIRuNE.I

PLY, CITES GOVERNOR HILL
sBr TELEGRAPH TO TkrBUSEi
Washington JAN oo-"The Army of the King OF
France the Democratic host in the House, swash-
bucklers, suffers, camp followers and ALL marched
up the hill" to-day, and tlen-well, they didn't exactly
"march down again. but they will do so presently
No doubt about that. 1t be depended upon. by
tomorrow they will probably be prepared to face
about and run. Some time must always be conceded
to the Democratic leaders in the House before they
be expected to realize the righteousness OF the
position in which they have placed themselves.
And the noise, the uproar, the frantic appeals they
made .today To listen to some Of their speeches
you would have thought, to paraphrase celebrated
cry, that Freedom shreked when Speaker Reed laid
down his rules" that Liberty lay bleeding In the
gutter when the majority presumed to exercise tho
functions Of majority.
Truly il much "cry" and mighty little wool'
and 1t is gross exaggeration to compare, except
as to the degree of noise made and indecency dis
played by the minority. the scenes in the House to
those of reconstruction times suggested by some
people who witnessed the performance this afternoon
Reconstruction involved principles laid down in the
Constitution, and tbe fundamental doctrines under
lying all government Today's discussion arose over
nothing more important than the question whether
the minority shall "run things whether the
majority is to be permitted to discharge the duties
which it pledged itself to the country to discharge
and to execute when it elected.
1t is not difficult to predict the judgment OF the
country on prepOsterOus a proposition. Incl
dentay, however the discussion turned the eternal
| and eternaly tresome subject of the rules. The
average Congressman regards the rules with something
like superstitious To him they enveloped in
halo OF traditions. As matter Of fact, they the
product OF incompetence and stupidity. The man
that thoroughly understands them never lived They
designed not to promote business, but to retard it,
So ii happens that, when man of strong character
and determination like the present Speaker. takes the
helm, with the purpose of bringing the ship out OF
the deadening CALM in which it has been heplcssly
rocking to and fro the cooks and lubbers and
scullons, headed BY few malcontcnts under the mis-
taken notion that they serving their party retire
to the forecastlc and start mutiny. That the
| Speaker has the full sympathy and support Of his
party in the House. has been stated time and again
in these dispatches. In this respect the Republicans
of the House show themselves to be as progressive
The country at large will certainly support
them in their effort to transact business 1t cares
little about the rules, and looks only at results II
the Democrats should resort to flibusterng, they
certainly will not RETAIN if they had the respect
Of sensible men, even in their own party.
IMPoTENT FURY OF THE DEMOCRATS.
The leaders in the discussion on the Democratic
side to-day the irrepressble Brechnridge. OF
Kentucky Crisp, of Georgia. and exSpeaker Carlisle
Each was loaded to the muzzle, so to speak. Tho
ruling OF the Speaker that member, bodily present.
but refusing to vote be counted in order to make
up quorum being generally anticipated, the Speaker
himself made his position clear in terse and .forcble
statement which left nothing to be desired. The op
position howled and hlsscd and grOaned Like a set
Of baIed nshwomen it delivered itself Of terms Of
| impotent fury, like "Czar," "despot,' "tyrant."
Revolutionary indeed was one of the mildest ex
pressions used to designate the Speakers ruling Poor
Mr. Reed listened to it all with an angelic smile on
10
didn't hurt him at ALL on the contrary they seemed
to amuse him.
on the Republican side Mr.. Cannon distinguished
himself by lucid and convincing argument in sup
port of the Speakers position 1t was in vain that
Mr.. Crisp quoted rulings Of Speaker Blaine Geherai
Garfield. and others and even turned the tables upon
| the present Speaker by reading from speech de-
Iivercd by him ten years ago-all in support OF the
Democratic position. 1t IS not known what Mr.. Reed
thought abOnt this, for he didn't, of course reply rom
the chair in his own iustifcaon but those VINO
know him best are probably not far from right In
suppOsng that he considers himself little wiser now
than he was ten years ago, and that it is only fools
that never change their minds The speaker now
ever scored point by quoting in his own behalf ana
in support OF his ruling about quorum, the decision
| of no less a Democratic authority than Governor
David B. Hill. So things stood certainly more thah
even, the Governor being living authority ana ono
of the beacon lights of the Democracy Of to-day.
4 few words as the critical vote which disclosed
the absence of a quorum. Since Judge Kelley's death
the House counts 800 members, of whom 165 are a
quorum The total Republican vote IS 168. The
Democratic vote is 161. When Mr.. Dalzell called
up the election case of Smith agt. Jackson from the
Iyth West Virginia District, Mr. Crisp raised the
question of consideration The Democrats, with the
single execution of Mr.. Buckaew, of Pennsylvania
refused to vote; and Of the Republicans there were
only 161 present, not counting the Speaker, who re
Trained from voting. Under these circumstances the
absentees have heavy responsibility to shoulder
They were Caswell. GrOsvenor, O'Donnell and
Rockwell Mr.. Wilbur, of New-York, is still
detained at home by sickness, which, OF course, Is
the only valid for not being present which any
of the other members Just mentioned could plead.
REVOLUTIONARY, SAYS MR.. BRBcKINRIDGE
When the name Of Mr. Breckinridge Of Kentucky
was called on the vote Mr. Dalzelps motion, he
stepped into the aisle and in resounding voice said
" deny the power of the Speaker to do this and
denOunce il revolutionary
Cheer after cheer characterized by the Republicans
az q" the Rebel yelIr) went Up from the Democratic
side and it was several minutes before sufficient
order was restored to enable the clerk to continue the
reading of the list OF But the order was only
comparative, for while the clerk was proceeding with
the reading half dozen Democrats were on then
feet denomcing the action Of the speaker. Ar
Crisp desired to appeal from the decision of the Chair
The Speaker replied that in due time, lie would allow
the gentleman every proper appeal TO the House In an
orderly fashion, as the Char would demonstrate &c
the satisfaction OF the House. In the meantime Mr.
Cooper Of Indiana his feet demanding recogni
ton and denonncnS the action of the Chair. The
Speaker finally said
The gentleman must not mistake the situation
lie is not TO compel the Chair to do a certain thing
The Chair must proceed in order; and the gentleman
as member of this body, will undoubtedly allow th'
| Chair to proceed"
The Speaker then proceeded to make statement
The clerk he said, had announced of members votn'
l61 yeas nays. The Chair, thereupon' having seer
the members present and heard their names called II
their presence had directed a record to be made o
this fact. Accordingly, that question was now before
the House, and the Chair proposed to give state
ment accompanied by ruling, from which an ap
neaI cnnd he taken II any gentleman dssatlshet