The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-03
speaker Reed Talks.

Speaker Reed to-day made 10 n represent
atiye Of the Associated Press the following
statement concerning the republican posi-
iion in the present great controversy; 'Mr.
Carlisle was entirely right when he said.
in substance, that the decision of the house
that quorum was constituted TO do busi-
ness when II majority of the house was pres
ent, would change from the foundation
the method of doing business. II certainly
will do ~. for il will enable majority
elected by the people TO rule by their own
votes aud not by the suiierance of the mi
nority. The rule of the majority Is at the
very base of our government.
II II be not the true rule, our faith is vain
and we ARE yet in our sins. Look AZ the
practical working of the other doctrine.
Republicans have ma iority of sovon, hui
they have only three over a quorum. One
hundred and sixty-eight is our number, but
lG5 IL quorum. III we are 70 furnish a
quorum, the whole democratic party is silent
when business is 10 be transacted, but vocal
when il is Ia be obstructed. Then there
can be but four republicans absent on the
penalty Of n stoppnge Of public business.
Now lei us see how that works. We are nj
lowed but three nbsentees; Rockwell s sick
and il would cndanger his life 10 come; Will
bur is IN the same cnsc; 4. W. Browne is
too sick 20 be able 10 bo there
all the time; Caswelfs wife was
dying another member must be with his
wife for reasons somewhat similar. just
nbuut this number Of members will be at all
times sick or incapncitated. These may
get well hut others will fall sick in their
turn. There Is thon one quorum, accord
ing Ia Carlsle's idea, gone entirely, gone To
pieces though even after nll fraud he de-
Quoted. The people had found for
| the republicans by seven majority.
Is il possible the United States IL
paying these gentlemen thirteen dol
/ lars n day without even the poor priv
ilego of counting their silent forms.
Mr.. Carlisle says there is no precedent for
the decision of the house. | have personal
| " seen and heard HIM furnish hundred. 4
hundred times ] have heard him declare
| that the number for and against
such bill WAS. suy ~ for and ~ against,
mathenatically less thnn n quorum. and yet
declare the bill passed. and then sign the
bill. How could he have done this il his
doctrine be true that quorum must vote.
Understand me, day after day Carlisle. in
my presence, has declared such bill bad
votes for Rud against by his own count as
speaker, less than n quorum and vet he inn
mcdately declared II pissed and has signed
IL. thus furnishing the only proof
tho president could have that
II pissed. How could this be. except ON
the plain ground, if II quorum did not vote.
the presence Of n quorum WIS cnonghl But
this matter does not need argument. In
Carlisle's own state, IN democratic Tennes-
see. IN democratic New York, in democratic
Ohio, III Massachusetts aud IN courts every
whore, ~ you may see by ButterwOrth's
speech, tho doctrine Just upheld by tho
house IL the law uf the land. and Il ought to
beif good government X not To perish from
the face of tho carth. Not ruling has been
made ia the house to suppress fill
clustering which has not the
full sanction OF parliamentary law.
That men should resist only shows how
nQHincd the wrong course has become and
how necessary the remedy. What is the
house trying go dDf Why, 10 perform its
highest functions, TINT of decidiug the
right Of n menihcr 10 his sent. Until 1852
no man over dared io iilibustcr aGainsl such
cascs. No nnn ought ~ be allowed 10 do IL
to-day. Yet every day three hours are
wnsted III approving the journal when FIVE
minutes would be ample time. These three
hours belong to public business. People
do not understand that every roll call con
surues three quarters of AN hour. When we
first cnme here the obstruCtiOnists declared
they would die in the last ditch against my
rules. which they did not approve of, and
now they nre wanting ~ die at 1hermopyle
ia defense of the liberties of their country
because We don't force the rules ON them.
II there c0uld be fewer deaths MT Their
mopylW and more business IN tho house the
country would bc better OF. II Is true
democratic leaders like Mr.. Carlisle have
long since censed to participate in defiance
Of good government. but they should
now make themselves heard affirm
ntiyely on the side of order.