The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-02
Interesting Debate in the House Yesterday in
Which Dir. Reed Gave Some Valuable Ad-
vice as to the Duty of the Speaker.
His Method Of Counting a Quorum In
dorsed by a New York Democrat.
Mr.. Pickler Forced Into His Chair by the
Sergeant-at-Arms While Trying to Ac-
complish Something for Pensioners.
REEDS RULES FIND SUPPORT.

bate on the rules of the House of Repre-
sentatives is still dragging along. it has
proceeded far enough to show that the day
of tilibustering is over. and that ex-Speak-
er Reed is likely to receive Endorsements
from o quarter in which he least expects
them. When Mr.. Reed walked into the
House restaurant for his lunch this noon
he was Joined by Congressman Tom john
son, of Ohio. who conducted Mr.. Mills's
canvas for the speakership. and is presum-
ably an ally of the Texan. Mr.. johnson
held out his hand to the ex-Speaker. and
after shaking it warmly assured Mr.. Reed
that the recent debate had satisfied him
that the Reed rules were not so bad
as had been pictured, and he
for one would vote to continue
some of their features. This started
the talk. and number of Democrats who
were about added their assurances to those
of johnson. This sentiment IS likely to
bring about compromise on the code of
rules by which some of the features of the
Reed code will be omitted. but many
others retained. The Reed plan of count
ing quorum will be eliminated. but the
more important plan of cutting OF NIL
.
present purpose is to allow the committee
on rules to have the privilege of reporting
on a measure at any time, limiting the de-
bate to specified time, at which oil de-
bate shall close and the previous question
be ordered. This effectively shuts off the
chances of flibustering. as the committee
on rules. which is o sort of steering body,
can at any time cut of flibueterlng tactics
by reporting privileged ruls limiting de-
bate. 1t will be quite as effective as Af.
Reeds plan of preventing filibustering, al
though the latter was bitterly attacked by
the Democrats two years ago.
The debate In the House to-day was in
teresting. The pending amendment to the
rules this morning was one offered by Mr..
Oates of Alabama providing for commit
tee on order of business to consist OF fifteen
members, of which the Speaker shall be
eX Officlo chairman. Mr. Picker OF south
Dakota wished TO offer an amendment CIV
ing the committee on invalid PENSIONS the
right it had during the Fifty-trst Congress
to report at any time upon general pension
legislation. but demand for the previous
question. made by Mr.. Catchings of Missls-
sippi, cut him off. Before the announce
mont of the vote Mr.. Picker demanded
verifcatiOn, and asked that the vote be re-
capitulated. The Speaker replied that
If the gentleman would stats that an error
had been made. the Chair would order
recapitulation, but otherwise he would not.
Mr.. Pickler would not make such state
ment. but contented himself with referring
to the great confusion IN the hall. and the
possibility of mistake having crept into
the record.
The Speaker thereupon declared the
previous question Ordered-yeas. 150; nays,
so.
Mr. Picker then moved an adjournment.
Lost-2S to 103.
SAT- DOWN BEFORE THE MENACING MACE.
The vote recurring on Mr.. Oates's amend
ment, no quorum voted, and Mr.. Picker
raised that point and proceeded to pro-
claim that the amendment he wished to
offer was for the benefit of the pensioners
of the country. Though Mr.. Pickler Is
possessed of a strong voice his words were
drowned In q Democratic chorus of "regu-
lar order" In vain did the Speaker call
upon Mr.. Pickler to resume his seat The
Speaker then directed the official reporter
not to report the gentleman's remarks-a
superf1uous order. inasmuch as the reporter
was unable to hear n word. Finally the
services of the Sergeant-at-arms were
called into requstion, and. before the
menaclng mace, Mr.. Pickler yielded and
gracefully took his seat. Mr.. Oates's
amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Hooker's motion to strike out tho
clause giving the committee on rules power
to call up it's report at any time and pre-
venting dilatory motions being made when
they are under consideration was lost
yeas, 81; nays. 129.
On motion of Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky
an amendment was agreed to requiring
general appropriation bills to be reported
within eighty days of the appointment of
tho committees In long session and within
forty days In short session.
Just at this iuncture Nr. Bryan of Ne
braska provoked the hilarity of the Demo-
cratic side by deftly conveying the intelli-
gence to the House that the Supreme Court
had decided that Hon. James +. Boyd was
the legally elected Governor OF Nebraska.
The announcement was loudly cheered by
the Democrats.
After this little episode the consideration
of rules was again resumed. and Mr. Enloe
of Tennessee offered an amendment provid-
ing that committees, in reporting private
bills. shall file them with the Clerk, and
that they shall by him be placed upon the
appropriate calendars. Agreed to-yeas.
169; nays, "a.
Mr. Burrows of Michigan offered an
amendment re-establishing the rule of the
last Congress empowering the Speaker to
count q quorum when such quorum is pres
ent and not voting.
Mr.. Anderson of West Virginia moved to
amend the amendant by adding clause
providing that in no case shall the hat or
cloak or umbrella of o member in the
cloak-room be counted. democratic ap-
plause.
Mr. Reed of Maine replied that his i'm
preston was that the officers of this
House. elected by whatever party, were
quite capable of honestly carrying out the
rules of the House as they under
stood them. ana it seemed to him
that it would be great mistake
for q presiding officer to omit to take
notice of what he Mr.. Reed believed to be
q quorum under the Constitution. In other
words he desired to call attention to what
seemed to him to be fact; that if this
house had q majority of members actually
present 1t was then aud there constituted
q body to do business; and IT had not itself
any right to obscure that fact to refuse TO
admit it OF TO refuse TO take any reasona BILE
method of ascertainiDg it. OF course. if any
gentleman believed sincerely that il was
necessary that maiority ofmembers should
participate In business it would be his duty
to stand by ancient methods, but If he
believed as he Mr.. Reed did, that the
presence of majority of members consti-
tuted a quorum. he should take the proper
means of ascertaiping it. The amendment
of the gentleman from Michigan Mr.. Bur-
rows proposed to ascertain that fact. 'As
that idea" concluded Mr.. Reed. has had
tho sanction of every court TO which it has
been referred. think il should have the
sanction of this House. Great applause.
Mr.. Burrows thought that If the gentleman
from West Virginia Mr.. Aldersonl was en-
tirely sincere in bis proposition he should
renew 1t when the House reached Clause 2