Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-03
on The HOUSE FIGHT.
Tho Inconsistent Course Of the
Democratic Members.
LIKE THE pRovsReIAL czLr.
"Agin'' the Govern ment when IL
Proposed the New Rules ana
Is Now They Are Dying
for Them.
The Majority Shall Govern.

HA'JNAiNl 'hp'h fNRA"
WAsuTSGToN, Feb. 1.-Speakcr Reed
today made to tho representative of the AS
ISOLATED press the following statement con-
corning the republican position IN the pres.
ent general controversy:
mir. Carlisle was entirely right when ne
said in substance that the decision Of the
house that a quorum was constituted to do
business when the majority of the house was
present, would change from the
foundation the method Of doing business.
1t certainly will do so, for IL will enable
the majority elected by the people TO rule by
their own votes and not by the sufferance of
the minority. The rule Of the majority is at
the very base of our government. II 1t be
not the true rule our faith is vain and we are
yet in our sins. Look at the practical work.
ing of the other doctrine. The republicans
have a majority Of seven but they have only
three over a quorum. One hundred and
sixty-eight is our number, 165 Is q quorum.
II we are to furnish the quorum
the whole democratic party sit
ing idly by in their seats, but
not present, dumb and silent when business
is to be transacted, hut vocal when it is to
be obstructed, then there can be but three
republicans absent on penalty of the stop
page Of public business. Now let US see how
that works. We are allowed but three
absentees. Rockwell is sick. 1t would en-
danger ms NE 10 come. wilbur is Ill the
same condition. browne is TOO SICK to pc
able TO be there all the time. CaswelFs
wire was dying Ahother memoer
must be with his wire Tor
reasons somewhat similar. Just about THIS
number of member will at all times be sick
or Inexperienced. ihese may get well, out
then one quorum, according to Carlisle's
iuea, gone entirely, gone 10 pieces, though
} even alter all fraud be deducted the people
had founa Tor the republicans by seven ma
1ority. All this time while we are Keeping
IN the house other men hardly less SICK
l4O members sit silent in their seats.
us 1t possible that the United States is
paying these gentlemen Sl3 n day without
even the poor privilege oil counting their
silent 10; ms! Mr.. Carlisle says there is no
have personally seen and heard him furnish
a hundred. A hundred times have heard
MIN declare mat the number Tor and against
such a Dill was eighty Tor ana twenty
against, mathematically less than u quorum,
and yet declare the bill passed ana
then sign the Dill, thereby certifying
under the most solemn sanction. OF his oath
oil once that the oiil mad properly and con-
sttut,onally passed me mouse, How could
ne nave done TINS II his doctrine Is true
that q quorum must vote, understand me,
day after day. Carlisle in my presence has
declared that such a bill had votes for and
against II, wnen by ms own count as speaker
less than a quorum was present, and
yet Immediately declared it raRsed,
proof the president could nave that it had
passed. How could this be except on the
PLAN ground that IL a quorum did not vote
the presence oil a quorum was enough. But
this matter does not need argument. In
Carllsle's W state. in democratic Tonnes
see. in democratic New York, in democratic
Ohio, in Massachusetts and in the courts