The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-02
A KINDERGARTEN MEMBER
Young Mr.. Hoar Made Ridiculous.
by Colleague From tho
Bay State.
Bourke Cochran Advocates the
Prerogatives of a Gear tor
the Speaker.
Tho Gervicss of tho sergeant-nt-Arm rms
Called Into Kequisition to Pat
Down Membcr.

;s3s SWh0A AASV AnEAMAsAsAOA " GNk N&s
Down . Member.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-".rhe principle
that the presence OF majority Of the mem
bers constitutes quorum has had the
sanction OF every court to which it has been
referred and think it ought to have the
sanction Of this house," This was the re-
ply of ex-Speaker Reed to-day in defending
himself against denunoiations by demo-
Gratis Of his official actions il the last CON
gress. The rules are still the subject OF
narrowing discussions in the house. There
j. general disinclination on both sides OF
the house TO regard them as a party ques.
tion and Bourke Cochran, the we'll known
Tammany Congressman, this evening sur
prised his colleagues by eloquently approy-
ing the principle of recognizing ocular evi-
dence of quorum, and his speech was en-
Enthusiastically applauded by republicans az
an able defense Of Speaker Reeds rulings.
Immediately after the meeting OF the
house this morning there was tilt be-
tween Hoar (Mass.) and Morse (Mass.)
Hoar charged Morse with revising speech
made the other day and interpolating
marks, ETC.. putting in daughter on the
republican side," etc. This greatly
amused the house. Hoar. continuing,
said the only applause the republican part y
would ever give to Morse's remarks would
be those which were never deliyed.
Morse replied that Hours statemsnt
was largely and substantially false.
He (Morse) had availed himself Of
the privilege granted every member to re-
wise his remarks, and added: "My young
friend from Massachusetts, will be wiser
when he's older He is reported, Mr.,
Speaker, to have shed tears over your cleo
tion. He is reported to have wet his couch
with tears because bis candidate for speaker
was defeated. He had seen in the distance
a craftsmanship and clerkshlp, also honor,
fame and celebrity throughout the country,
and especially in his district in Massachu-
setts. These fond hopes were dashed to
the ground by the defeat of his candidate.
The young man belongs to tho kindergarten
at present [Great applause on the repub-
loan side.] BY the timo this congress has
closed he will understand the position Of
the democratic party in regard to free and
unlimited silver, free raw material and
other great economic questions
The pending amendment in the rules was
one by Oates, providing for acommittee of
tlfteen members on order of business
Picker Is. d. wished to offer an
amendment giving the committee on in
valid pensions the right it had during the
Fifty-hrst congress, to report at any time
on general pension legislation, but a de-
mnnd for the previous question by Catch
inRs put him off. Pickler demanded yeri-
tication of tho vote but would not assert
that error had been made, whereupon the
speaker declared the previous question
ordered, l5o to ninety-two. Pickler then
to 103 The vote recurring on Oates amend
ment no quorum voted and Picker raised
that point and endeavored to speak for his
amendment, holding the floor until the
services OF the sergeant-at-arms were called
into requisition. Oates amendment was
rejected.
BRYAN (Neb.) aroused the enthusiasm of
the democrats by taking advantage of a
little motion Ito convey to them notice of
the supreme court decision in the Boyd
Thayer case"
Burrows (Mich.) offered an amendment
reestablishing the rule of the last congress
empowering the speaker to count quorum.
Anderson wv. Va.) moved to add clause
that in no case shall the hat, cloak, or
umbrella of member in the cloak room be
counted.
Reed replied that his impression was that
the officers of the house, by whatever party,
We're quite capable of honestly carrying
out the rules of the house as they under
stood them; and it seemed to him it would
be & eat mistake for the presiding officer
to omit to take notice of what he (Reed)
believed to be a quorum under the constitu-
ton. VI course, it any gentleman believed
sincerely it was necessary that a majority
Nf ,1>asc 4
ness it would be his duty to stand by
ancient methods, but If he believed, as he,
Reed. did, Shat the presence of majority
OF the members constituted quorum he
should take proper means of ascertaininp
it.
Dookery (Mo.) quoted from utterances
made by Reed in 1880. giving his idea of
what constituted a quorum. The gcntlc-
man from Maine had then said the consti-
tutional idea of quorum WAS not the
presence of all the members of the house,
but a majority of the members present and
participating in business. 1t was not tho
actual presence of members but their iudg-
ments and votes. that the constitution
called for. He tDookery) simply wished to
let the house know that the gentleman
from Maine had changed his opinion. Al
derson said the amendment was not in
tended as reflection upon the present
speaker or upon tho committee on rules.
actions and tyranny and arbitrary will of
the speaker of the last house and the re-
publican brethren who had stood at his
back.
After further debate Cochran IN. W
took the floor and his remarks without go
ing to the extent of upholding the unlimited
right of the speaker to count n quorum ad-
voeated such rule as would permit the
house to do business when there was
quorum present and refusing to VOTE He
would favor closing tho doors during every
roll, call. He would give tho house, either
through the speaker or upon motion of any
member, power to compel any republican
here to benr thut part Of tho legislation
which his presence gave and which was ac-
corded to his presencs and not to his voice.
(Applause.l Tho house had the right to
take an absent member by force and bring
him to the bar. II Ind the right to punish
him. Was not that counting HIM for ono
purpose, and IL he could be counted for
tho PURPOSE of punishment could he not be
for the interest of the goves snment?
Anderson withdrew his nmcndmcnt aud
the question was taken on Burrows amend
ment. The yeas and Nays we're ordered,
pending which the house adjourned.
THE RECALL OF EaAN.