Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-09-20
ONE tNNT.
THE WORK OF CONGRESS-
A Stubborn Deadlock Still On
in the House.
ALL LONG THE BATTLE RACED

Now You See Quorum and Now Yom
Don't-Thc Langston-yenable Contest
Was Not Disposed of-The senate ana
the National Bankruptcy Bill.
WAsHReTog, Sept. 20-In the house the
Democratic minority by filihustering tao
tics, refusing 20 vote but responding to roll
calls, prevented final action up to the time
Of adjournment on the Langston-V -Venable
Virginia contested election case. Speaker
Reed decided to adhere to the rule that
lbO members constituted quorum. The
speaker said that no matter what the con
duct OF gentlemen who were ohstructing
legislation, il they were obstructing II,
might be, It was desirable that no mistake
be made in the count. Notwithstanding
what might be thought by the house and
the country Of the acts which caused it to
be done, he would order tellers Mr.. Nc.
kinley and Mr.. Crisp were appointed tell
ers TO count the house. After waiting a
quarter Of an hour the tellers announced
the presence Of l64 members.
Talk About Secession.
Mr. Crisp made the point of order that
ing in the membership of the house l6A
members did not constitute quorum. In
the course OF his argument he referred to
the decisions riade at the beginning Of the
war of secession, whereupon the speaker
suggested sotto voce that there was ne
cessity for similar decisions now. Mr..
Crisp retorted that he was arguing a seri-
Gus matter and would not notice sideber
aud undignifed remarks Mr.. Houk
(Tenn.), referring 20 the desertlon OF tho
Democratic side said that it was familiar
repetition OF secession. Mr.. Crisp saln
that he would not 20 into the question Of
secession with the gentleman from Ten
nessee. That was a long way behind him
Mr.. Houk retorted that he was referring
to the present secession. Mr.. Crisp Thought
It was sufficient to reply that the absent
members believed that when the majority
had given notice that 1t was going to un-
seat an elected member that na jority must
have a quorum.
The Quorum Question.
The point OF order was discussed by Mr..
Grosyenor (O.), Mr.. Holman lind and Mr..
Reilly (Pa,). The speaker promised his
decision that i64 members constituted
quorum, with the reservation that if after
CAREFUL examination he should find prece-
dents in opposition to ii he would not adj
here 10 il. He had a distinct recollection
that Speaker Randall had held that
quoran was majority Of the living mem.
hers But he could not find the decision
in The Record. The decision Of Speaker
Grow in 1861 did not appear on examina-
tion TO 20 so far as the chair and some
members had thought 1t only went to
the extent Of saying that a majority OF
those members originally chosen would
constitute a quorum of the house. The
question as 70 whether a majority Of those
sworn Ia should constitute a quorum had
been left in allegiance. All previous de-
cisions had been that quorum must con-
sist of a majority Of those that might have
been chosen. The only hesitancy on tho
part Of the chair wns his recollection of the
opinion OF Speaker Randall Nevertheless
the chair did not think that any doubtful
decision ought to be made and would there
fore adhere 20 the rule that 1865 members
constituted quorum.
An Day the Battle Ragged.
A call Of the house was therefore or
dered, and as a few Democrats entered the
chamber the presence Of 40 members was
disclosed. The speaker announced the
question TO be on the approval Of the jour
nal, and it was approved. The question
recurred on ordering the previous question
on the Langston-Venablec case. The Dem
ocrats then retired, only Messrs. OFerrall,
Crisp, Reilly, Holman and Parrett remain
ing in their seats. The previous question
was oTdered-yeas, 141; nays, THE clerk
noting quorum. Mr. Cheadle Ind), Re
publican, voted in the negative. Mr.
Cheadle moved to recommit the case.
Lost to i45 The question recurring on
the minority resolution, declaring Lang
ston not elected, the quorum disappeared
and call OF the house WIS ordered, which
disclosed the presence of l67 members. The
minority resolution was then rejected and
the vote was taken on the second minority
resolution, declaring Venable duly elected
Lost-4 TO l55-the speaker counting quo
rum.
Again the Quorum Disappears.
The first majority resolution declaring
Nenable not elected was next ordered, and
again the quorum disappeared and once
more was il necessary TO order a call Of the
house. Once more quorum responded on
this call and again did that quorum disap-
pear on the pending resolution, the vote
standing-yeas, l42; nays, 4. There being
no quorum the house adjourned.