The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-02-06
A Common Sense View oft.

In Their crlllclsms oil tho rulings Of
Speaker Reed, Democratic papers mis-
rel .ent tho real issue and disregard
the ono fact that remains above all others
after cool consideration Of the aitua.
alton from n non.partsan standpoint.
The charge that the Speaker violated
the Constitution Is the purest nonsense,
and was urged by very few, II any,
OF the Democratic members OF Congress
during their eloquent denunciations OF
his action. Their most serious charge
was that the Speakers rulings were Tar
bitrary, usurpatory and revolutionary"
They did not attempt to prove his acts
unconstitutional, or, Il they did, they
were soon silencsd.
The attention OF the esteemed Register
and other Democratic journals is called
to tho following clause in the Constitu.
ton Of the United States:
Section s, Article l, saye: each
House shall be tho judge Of the cleo.
tons, returns and qualifications OF its
own members, aud majority Of each
shall constitute a quorum to do business ;
but smaller number may adjourn from
day 10 day and may be authorized to
compel the attendance OF absent mem.
bers, i'll such manner and under such
penalties as each House may provide
The frat clause is that upon which
Speaker Reed based his ruling that he
had right to declare u quorum Of the
House OF Representatives present TO do
business, il, on counting the members in
their ocats, he found constitutional
majority in the hall. There is no clause
in the Constitution OF the United States
under which the Democratic members
Gun justify their action lit raising the
point OF mo quorum" simply because,
though nearly the entire membership Of
the House was present, many had stub
bornly refused to vote when their names
were called.
1t matters not what the precedents
are, nor what great man OF this party OF
that party differed with Speaker Reed
the fact remains, and it cannot be dis.
| puted, that tho Constitution says q
majority shall constitute quorum, and
common sense dictates that when mem.
beers do not answer to their names on q
roll call aud the Speaker secs them sit.
ting in their seats, hears them partici.
pating in the debates, Witnesses then,
performing other legislative duties, Lie
has, under the Constitution, the right to
declare them present. This is all there
is in the subject, and it involves very
simple issue, namely, the constitutional
right and duty OF the Speaker to ex-
pedite the public business vs.. the right
OF any number of members to betray n
public trust by refusing to perform their
duty, and combining to obstruct the
proceedings.
It was unfortunate for the Speaker
that the issue was sprung over question
in which party lines were necessarily
closely drawn; otherwise the debate
upon the ruling would have been con-
Quoted without the heated partisan feel.
ing which characterized it, and the
Speaker would have found upon the
Democratic side many advocates. Pos
sibly, also, opposition would have devel-
oped upon the Republican side. The
question Of the right OF the Speaker
would have been discussed purely upon
its merits, and the country would
have realized that Mr.. Reeds real mo.
tive was not to gain partisan ad-
vantage, but to uso his power,
il possible, to put au end to
fllibustering in the House OF Repre-.
sentatives, which has been practiced
and permitted until it has become the
tayor'te tactics Of the minority for se-
curing expensiye delays and for oh.
structing the public business on all
questions. II they look at the matter
in this light, the people OF the whole
country will sustain the Speaker in his
efforts, and If he succeeds in finally do.
ing what hs has set out to do-to make
administering odieus and to inaueurate
a needed reform in the methods OF dis.
patching business in the House, the
whole people will tender him a vote Of
thanks.
There never was tho slightest iustif
cation for the ridiculous claim that
members OF Legislative body can par.
ticipate in it's proceedings and yet refuse
to DO recorded IA present and doing bust.
ness. Had the occasion come for the
decision while non.partisan legislation
was being considered, some measure Of
great Importance to the nation, Tor in
sauce, the Speaker would have been
overwhelmingly endorsed without 70.
gard to party, both in the House Of
Representatives and in the country at |
large. !
"Pig from Kelley.
The late Judge Kelley, says the Wash
iugtou Post, did not indulge great deal
in humor, His inclination WAC IN tha