The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-02-19
Democratic Scheming.


Democratic Scheming.
The Democratic Representatives
In Congress have been greatly in
censed because Speaker Reed had
several of their number who were
sitting in their seats recorded AZ
present. The precise point Is this:
it has been customary to reckon no |
one as present in the house unless
when the roll was called he an.
swered to his name. There are
always some of the members Of
both parties absent from the house |
by reason of sickness ETC., 80 that
when the two parties are about
evenly divided, as they now are,
neither has q majority of all the
number in the house, and If there
be not that majority no measures
can be passed and become laws. If
so disposed in that state of affairs,
the minority can prevent all legis.
lation by refusing to vote, since
there would not be a majority of
votes by the opposite party to carry
the measure. But if the men sit
ting in their seats, who would not
vote, should be counted as present
in the house, then the votes of the
opposite party would carry the
measure because they voted for it,
and but two or three, it may be
voted in the negative. Such a vote
would not be legal unless there
were more than half of the whole
number of members present in
their seats. Of late, while the Re
publicans have small majority in
the house, by reason of sickness
several of their number were alb
sent so that they did not have in
their seats majority of all the
Representatives. How then could
they pass any motion? If all the
Democrats should refuse to vote,
they could not, unless it should be
recorded that there we're enough
of them in their seats who when
counted with the Republicans
! would make majority Of all the
members. The Democrats resolved
> not to vote, and supposing Speaker
Reed would follow an old rule not
to count them rs present, they
would prevent the Republicans
from doing anything A motion
!, was made, all the Republicans
. voted for 1t, one Democrat against
!, it; all the votes cast were not 8
, majority Of all the house, but by
adding to the number who voted
several of the Democrats who
, would not vote though sitting In
. their seats in presence of the Speak
i. er, the motion would be carried
. So, Speaker Reed ordered the clerl
:. to enroll the names of several O
. the Democrats who sat right be
|, fore him and by thus doing tn,
motion was carried.
Immediately Democrats, full o
indignation, rose to their feet, mad
insulting remarks to Mr.. Reed an,
denounced him for ordering thei
" names enrolled as present. l
d must have made decent MAJ
q vince, one would think, to hav
u the Speaker ask one Of these yer
's "innocent and remarkably conscl
y entiOus men" as he was belchin
n his epithets, ado you wish, Sir, t
" have it understood that you ar
N not here in this HALF" Speakin
Is vociferously and yet not presen,
'e Away with such sham pretence
'e The ruling Of Speaker Reed
N precisely what Governor Hill {
n New York did when President {
re the State Senate, what has bee
20 done by the Democrats in the lie.
Ks islature of Tennessee, and exactl
e. the principle laid down by the s,
u preme Court of this state in II
al case of IngersOll W.. Lawrence.
y" If it be true that in all deliber
I'll tive bodies only those who vo
re should be considered present, the
IL half of the meas ures that have b
come laws, were Illegally passe'