The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-04-30
QUESTION UF A QUORUM
Raised In tho Srnnte-9Iembers Present
Who Would not Vote.

llniseu III tho Scnhte-9lembers Present
Who Would not Vote.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The Senate
to-day took up the land forfeiture bill.
Mr.. Plumb discussed Mr.. Calls amend
ment as TO lands in Florida. He was
bound to assume that the Legislature OF
Florida and the Governor OF Florida, in
certifying that the roads had been built
and the lands earned, had acted prop.
erly.
On n motion 10 lay the resolution on
the table there was not a quorum vot-
ing, but as Gull Of the Senate showed
the presence Of titty-two members, the
vote wns about to be taken again, when
Mr.. Sherman rose and gave notice that
whenever there was a quorum present
and the vote did not disclose that fact,
he should insist upon the sensible rule
that the Senators present and not voting
should be counted.
Mr.. Blackburn-Is it the purpose OF
the Senator from Ohio, either to disre.
gard the pairs of Senators, or to disre-
gard erule OF the Senate, and authorize
i,s presiding officer to do TINT which the
Speaker OF the House has been recently
engaged in doing?
Mr.. Sherman-I would not break n
pair. But there are one or two Senators
present, whom l will not name, for
whom pairs are not announced, and who
did not vote on the last vote. ! think it
is the duty OF every person, who is not
paired, to vote; and that is the position
that have always occupied. l have
never been present, impaired, without
feeling it my duty to vote.
Mr.. Black burn-1 agree to that.
Mr.. SYSTEMATICALLY there were one
or two Senators present who probably
did not care to vote, and who did not
vote. In such case as that ! think
that the fact OF their being present and
constituting aquorum, may be properly
announced by the chair, and l believe
that even the rule adopted by the House
OF Representatives is in exact accordance
with our own rule, and with the Con.
stitution. as.'ta .or
Mr.. Backburn-Will the Senator an.
swer me another question? aHN,..
Mr.. Sherman-Yes. ~
Mr.. B|ackburn-Does he, in the face
of the rules under which this body has
acted, hold that it is within the power OF
the presiding officer to recognize as pres
ent any Senator who under his obliga-
tion as he construes it, thinks that he
has no right to vote?
Mr.. Piumb-I rise to q question OF
order. The pending motion is to lay
the amendment on the table; ana debate
is not in order. l.5 Glll.5.l
Mr.. Blackburn-I am not debating.
nm only asking question.
Mr.. Cullom-There was but one vote
lacking Of quorum, aud that vote is
The Vice-President directed the Clerk
10 cnll the roll.
Mr.. Blackburn--I ask unanimous con.
sent to have time given to the Senator
from Ohio to answer tho question which
have propounded to him.
Mr.. shermau-I would rather not an
swer it now. Thsra is a non.debatable
question pending--n motion to lay on
the table.
The question was again taken; and
Mr.. Calls amendment was laid on the
table by n strict party vote-yeas, 80;
nays, IS. aa pa sE
Mr.. Moody offered an amendment,
which was agreed to, declaring that the
act shall not be construed to confer any
right on any State, corporation or person
10 lands that wero excepted in the
grants.
The bill was then passed without
division.