Wichita eagle., 1890-02-04
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION.
A Paper Prepared Showing Their Attitude
in the House.

in the House.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 3-Mr. Carlisle has
prepared for publication the following
statement Of the present position of the
Democratic members Of the house which
is to be signed by all of them:
The present situation in the house of
representatives is so anomalous and un-
precedented, and the decisions of the
speaker are so full of danger to the in
tegrity Of future legislation, that we con-
sidel it our duty to submit brief state
ment OF the facts in order that the pro-
priety of the course we have taken may be
fully determined.
The house met on the End day of
December, 1883, and Immediately organized
by the election of speaker and other Of
ficers. On the same day, by resolution of
the house, the speaker was authorized to
appoint committee on rules and the
rules of the last preceding house were re-
ferred to the committee. The COM
mlttee, consisting of the speaker him.
self and four other members, was ap-
pointed on the 5th day of December and on
the 9TH 1t made report authoriz,
ing the speaker to appoint all
the other committees and assigning
their jurisdiction. The committee
on elections, to which was referred all
cases involving rights OF members to their
seats, was appointed on the 9th of De-
cember. Although nearly two months
have elapsed since the committee on rules
was appointed it has made no report upon
the matters referred to it, except the
partial one made on the 9th of December,
and consequently the house has been COM
PEELED TO conduct its business without any
rule or system except the general parlia-
mentiary law as construed by the speaker.
There has been no calendar, no order of
business, no fixed time to receive
reports from committees, or for
the consideration of bills and resolutions
and In fact no regular method whatever
IN proceedings OF the house. No measure
can get before the house for consideration
unless the speaker chooses to allow it TO
be presented, and members have no means
OF Knowing IN advance what they are TO be
called upon to discuss or decide This is
the first time in our history that legisla-
tive assemblage or even q public meeting
has attempted TO transact business for any
considerable period without regular
code of rules prescribing the order
of its proceedings and the inconvenience
and injustice resulting from such an at
tempt have been forcibly illustrated in the
present Instance. The speaker has repeat
edIy during these extraordinary pro-
ceedings refused to entertain parliament
lary motions that have been recognized as
Legitimate ever since the government was
established, and when attempts were made
to appeal from his decisions has refused to
submit the question to the house. This
personal and partisan domination of the
house was submitted to, though not with
out repeated protests, until we became
convinced it was the deliberate purpose of
the speaker and his supporters to proceed,
without rules, to GUST the Democratic
whose seats are contested and
admit their Republican opponents whether
elected or not. On Wednesday, January
-, the committee on elections called up
contested election case and the Demo-
cratic members determined that in the
absence of rules it should not be con-
sidered II they could prevent it by any
proceedings. Accordingly
they raised the question of consideration,
demanded the yeas and nays and on the
call of the roll refrained from voting. The
result was that less than constitutional
quorum voted, but the speaker in violation
bdusd b the for uniform n1 ISse practice OF ee0aEs aFe
proceeded TO count members who
were present but not voting and declared
.ha the house had decided TO t Ike the case
up. From this decision al appeal was
taken and on motion to lay this appeal
on the table, the yeas and nays were taken
and less than quorum voted, but the
speaker again counted members not vot-
ing and decided that motion was agreed
TO and his motion thereby sustained.
The constitution of the United States
provides that majority of each house
shall constitute quorum to do business,
but smaller number may adjourn from
lay to day and may be authorized to COM
pei the attendance of absent members In
such manner and under such penalties as
each house may provide.
Speaker Reed himself, when in the mi
nority on the floor of the house, stated the
real meaning and the true philosophy of
the constitution when he said: "The con-
stitutional idea of a quorum is not the
presence of majority of all the members
Of the house, but majority of the MEM
bers present and participating in the busi-
ness Of the house. 1t is not the visible
presence, but their judgment and votes
which the constitution calls for" General
Garfield. Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Hawley, Mr.. |
Conger and other eminent Republicans
have taken the same position and their |
arguments have never been answered We |
ire contending that the majority shall |
AXE the responsibility which belongs to |
hem and shall come to the honse of repre- !
,entatiyes and vote if they desire to con- !
rol its proceedings, and we are protesting |
against their right to carry their measures |
)y counting US when we don't vote. Con- |
titutions are made to restrain majorities |
md protect minorities. A majority ruling |
Without limitations or restraints upon the |
,ower, is pure dsspotism and is incousis- !
eut with our system of government