The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-02-03
SPEAKER REEDS STATEMENT
In Regard to tho Position of the Isepubll
Cnpu u, tl,n ylx,,,a .

In Regard to tho Position of the TsepuLli.
cans III the House.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. 2.-Speaker
Reed to-day made to representative Of
the Associated Press the following state.
ment, concerning the Republican posi-
ton in the present controversy:
Mr.. Carlisle was entirely right when
he said in substance that the decision
OF the House that quorum was constj.
tutcd to do business when majority Of
the House was present, would be change
from the foundation OF the method
of doing business. 1t certainly
will do so, for it will enable the
majority elected by the people
to rule by their own votes, and not by
the sutlerence Of the minority. The rule
of the majority is at the very base OF
our Government. II it is not the true
rule faith is vain and We are vet in our
sins. Look at the practical working OF
the other doctrine. The Republicans
have a majority Of seven, but they have
only three over quorum. lGS is our
number, lG5 quorum. II We are to
furnish quorum, the whole Democratic
party sitting idly by in their seats, but
no one present, dumb and silent when
business is to be transacted, but vocal
when it is to be obstructed, then there
can be but three Republicans absent on
penalty OF stoppage Of the public bust.
ness. Now let us see how that works.
We are allowed but three absentees. Mr..
Rockwell is sick. 1t would endanger
his life to come. Mr.. Wilbur is in the
same fix. Mr.. T. W. Browne is too sick to
be able to be there all the time. Mr..
Caswells wife was dying, and common
decency required his presence by her
bedside, Another member must be
with his vile ior reasons somewhat SIM
liar. Just about this number Of mem
bers will at all times be sick or incapaci-
tated. These may get well, but others
fall sick in their turn. There is one
quorum according to Mr.. Carlisle's idea
gone entirely to pieces, though even af-
ter afl fraud be deducted the people had
found for the Republicans by seven ma
jority. All this time, while we are keen.
ing in the House other men hardly less
sick, hundred and forty.four lusty
Democrats sit silent in their seats doing
no public duty except to draw their pay.
Is it possible that the United States is
paying these gentlemen thirteen dollars
a day without even the
poor privilege Of counting their
silent forms. Mr.. Carlisle, says there is
no precedent for the decision Of the
House. l have personally seen and
heard him furnish hundred. A hun.
dred times I have heard him declare
that the number for:and against such a
bill was, say so for and 20 against, less
than quorum, and yet declare that bill
passed and then sign that bill, thereby
certifying under the most solemn
sanction OF his oath Of Office that the bill
had properly and constitutionally passed
the House. How could lie have done this
if his doctrine be that quorum must
vote. Understand me; Day after day
Mr. Carlisle, in my presence, has declared
that such bill had votes for and against
by his own count as Speaker, less than
quorum, and has yet Immediately de-
clared it passed, and has signed it, thus
furnishing the only proof the President
could have that it was passed. How
could this be except on the plain ground
that quorum did not vote. The pres.
ence OF a quorum was enough, but this
matter does not need argument. In Mr.,
Carlisle's own State, in Democratic Ten.
nessee, in Democratic New York. in
Democratic Ohio, Massachusetts and in
the courts everywhere, ae YOU NAV
see by Mr.. Butterworth's speech the
doctrine just upheld by the House is the
law Of the land, and it ought to be Il
good governments not to perish from the
face Of the earth. Not ruling has been
made in the House to suppress filibus.
tering which has not the full sanction o.
parliamentary law. That men should
resist only shows how inyrained the
wrong course has become and how
necessary the remedy. What is the
House trying to do? Why to perform
its highest function, that OF deciding tht
right OF a member to his seat. Unit
1889 no man ever dared to filibustel
against such case. No man ought Ia
be allowed to do it to-day. Yet, every
day, three hours are wasted in approving
the journal when Ave minutes would bt
ample. These three hours belong to tn,
public business. The people do not un
J derstand that every wanton roll-call con