Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-30

quoluus AHo,y WIS no RrOUuu w ~ ~
by any possibility such . bill coulu ~
Of quorum was inferred. and It was III,
ferred from the fact that no one had raisea
the question. All methods of determining
q vote were OF equal value. The count ~
the Chair and the count by the tellers ana
tho count by the yeas and nays were
of equal value. The House had the rignt
on the call of one eth OF the members 70
have the yea and nay vote, and then vots
on that question, but the decision IN easn
of the other cases was of precisely the
same value. II had always been the prac-
tice in parliamentary bodies OF this cha
racter, and especially in the Parliament o1
Great Britain, for the Speaker TO deter.
mine the question il there was or was no,
q quorum present by count. It was be-
cause that was tho determination OF an
actual fact, and the determining of that
was intrusted TO the presiding officer IN
almost all instances. So that when the
question was raised whether there was
quorum or not without special arrange
rnent for determining it it would be de-
terrnined by count of the presiding officer.
Again. there was provision in the Consti.
ton which declared that the House might
establish rules for compelling the attend
ance of members. IL members could be
present and refused TO exercise their func-
tions. and yet be counted as q quorum
that provision would seem 70 be entirely
nugatory. The Speaker then read at length
Governor Hills decision when presiding
officer of the New York Senate. and
laughter and applause by the Republicans
the action of the minority was denounced
a. rebellious and revolutionary.
The Speaker ignored Mr.. Flowers re-
ouest TO have the Republican protest
against that decision read. The reading
having been completed. the Speaker said :
The Chair therefore rules that there Is
quorum present within the meaning OF the
Constitution.
Mr.. Crisp appealed from the decision
and demanded recognition, but the
Speaker recognized Mr.. Payson, of Illinois,
table. This motion is not open to discus
sion and Mr.. Crisp protested against Mr..
PaysOn's recognition. For some time
there were appearances Of return Oh the
excitement which had occurred earlier IN
the day. Mr.. Crisp exclaimed that 1t was
unfair and unmanly to prevent him from
pleading his case TO his feilow-member
He appealed to the Chair on his fairness
as a man and Speaker to give the Demo-
Gratis an opportunity to reply to the argu-
ment which the Speaker had seen proper
to make.
Mir. Butterworth, Of Ohio: ] hone the
gentleman from Illinois will withdraw his
motion TO lay on the table. This IS an I'M
pOrtant question and the gentlemen on the
other side have a right 10 be heard. Loud
applause on the Democratic slde.l
Mr. Peyson thereupon withdrew his mo-
ton
MIR. Hatch. Of Missouri, rising to a ques,,
ton of privilege, said that the Speaker nad
IL 4 IL
TO vote. when the record showed that tor a
week past he had an honorable pair with
the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr..
Rockwell. and he had declined TO vote on
anv question. That showed the fallacious-
ness and unsoundness of the Speakers de-
cisioN.
The Speaker replied that there was no
recognition in the House. except by cour-
tesv, of pairs: that his stateL.en as TO Mr.:
Hatch's presence was one OF TACT, ana tilat
the question of the competency OF his
action was in process OF determination.
Mr.. Crisp then obtained the floor and
made an impass' o led argument against
the Speakers rul X. He quoted from the
ruling of Mr.. Blame when Speaker on the
force bill, to the effect that the Speaker
had not the power TO count quorum, ana
declared that Speaker Reeds decision
would be the foundation of the greatest
legislative fraud ever committed. lie
quoted Mr.. Garfield os denouncing SINH
lar ruling when it was proposed IN his
time, and he also quoted from the remarks
Of Mr. Reed (the present Speaker) IN the
same debate when he used these words :
"The constitutional idea Of quorum is
not the physical presence of majority OF
the members Of the House, but q majority
Of the members present and participating
in the business Of the House." lIri-
umphant cheers and clapping of hands on
the Democratic side and in the galleries.
II appeal" Mr.. Crisp exclaimed, from
Philip Drunk 10 Philip Sober" lAnother
outburst of applause.
The Speaker, in his blandest manner and
entirely free from every trace OF excite
ment said Twill the House have the kind
ness to be in order?" [Laughter.l
Order was restored. and MIR. Crisp went
on with his argument.
Mr.. Cannon replied TO Mr. Crisp and up
held the Speakers ruling. He quoted the
Hon. Randolph Tucker as having In the
Forty-sixth Congress taken the same posi-
ton in q debate as that now held by the
Speaker, and quoted from the Constitution
to support his contention.
Mr.. Carlisle followed in q legal and con-
stitutional argument against the Speaker
At the conclusion Of Mr. Carlisle'sspeech
Mr.. Mckinley took the floor, but yielded
to a motion to adjourn, which was carried
without division.
The matter will come up again to-mor-
row, probably on the question OF APP
proving to-day's journal.