The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-17
THE QUORUM QUESTION.
What it Was the Supreme Court
Decided.
r-r peed,s Recent Address in the House
of Representatives.

cision of the Supreme Court on the quo
rum question. The abstract telegraphed
was badly garbled and failed to accu-
rately state Mr.. Reeds points. The de-
bate proceeded as follows:
MI. Reed. Mr. Chairman, am, for
my part, truly glad that in this proposed
defiance of the Supreme Court OF the
United States the gentlemen on the othef
side nut forward their strongest man
for have always believed that the gen
tleman from Georgia Mr. TurnerJ was
able to state his propositions Win
force which belonged not only TO them;
but to his own vigorous personallty' ahei
this afternoon he has justified my bellef.
He has stated his propositions with a
yigor and strength that needs no assist
ance from any other source, and am
clad to meet them thus stated. His dec
laration and proposition here is that the
point at issue between the Democratic
party and the Republican party upon the
action of the House of Representatives OF
the Fifty-first Congress was not whether
"a present quorum or an acting quorum
was demanded by the Constitution OF the
united States, but whether I, as an indi-
vidual and as Speaker Of this House, VIC
lated my duty in counting members as
present who were here.
4 must say that j am amazed to listen
TO such statement; and venture the
assertion, in the presence OF this assem-
bly,, three to one hostile. to me, that IN
til the decision of the Supreme Court no
gentleman ever dreamed that that was
the point at ISSUE Never for moment
during the discussion of the rules OF this
wery House was any such assumption OF
admission made, that it was present
quorum and not an s'acting quorum,
that the Constitution of the United
States demanded. Nay, the gentleman
from Georgia himself, this very day and
in this very speech, has shown the con-
trary.
Mr.. Turner. The gentleman from
Maine would not do me injustice?
Mr.. Reed Surely not.
Mr.. Turner. l have merely insisted
that the decision announces the opinion
of the Supreme Court that the Speaker
had right to count quorum after the
House of Representatives made the rule
authorizing it.
Mr. Reed The Supreme Court have
,not announced any such thing. The Su-
,breme Court never SO announced with
Regard to the Speaker, but simply with
REGARD to the clerk.
\ That shows that the gentleman from
Georgia, usually so accurate upon any
question of law, has forgotten to bring
that accuracy to this question OF poll
tics.
Mr.. Turner. The gentleman makes
serious issue with me as to my accu-
iacy I am little surprised at his get
ting off on punctillo of that kind, es-
tpeeially when the question is so easily
t9etermined hope he will pardon me
= X - dorf,i I
read from the decision:
\ But how shall the presence Of amajority be
determined? The Constitution has prescribed
mo method of making this determination, and 1t
is therefore within the competency OF the House.
toprescribe any method which shall be reason
abfyscertain to ascertain the fact. 1t may pre-.
scribe answer to roll call as the only method OF
determination; or require the passage OF mem
bers between tellers, and their count as the sole
test; or the count Of the Speaker or the Cierk,
and an announcement from the desk OF the
names OF those who are present.
Mr.. Reed. Mr.. Chairman, I resume
what had to saw: which is that nobody,
until the decision of the Supreme Court,
ever dreamed of stating that to be the
issue; and the gentleman himself, in his
speech, showed that away down in his
mind it had not rested even there in that
form. For when he undertook to make
a point against me in regard to state
ment which made in the House of Rep
resentatives twelve years ago, he asked
which opinion the Supreme Court sus-
tains. Then he read an opinion OF mine
declaring that twas an 'acting quorum"
and not a present quorum;" showing
that up to that moment his mind was
fixed upon the real decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States.
Mr.. Turner. But the gentleman from
60, 10 n on f1II in
this connection.
Mr.. Reed Surely.
Mr.. Turner That was an opinion in
which the gentleman from Maine went
to the extreme verge of this question,
and when [ compared the opinion which
he asserted in the last House with that
opinion, | simply meant that the gentle
man on the two occasions stated went to
the extremes of the line which connected
them: and, if he will permit me to say
so. will state now that the gentleman
has occupied both sides of this question,
and has been wrong both times. Laugh
ter and applause on the Democratic
side.
MI. Reed. The gentleman takes occa-
sion of my own courtesy in surrendering
him the floor [laughterl to make this in
teresting Interpolation.
MI. IuIuGl. pOo oiiS SohIAoiii"Ai D
pardon
Mr.. Reed. I leave him with the credit
that he has with his party associates on
that subject.
Mr.. Turner. I do not want to detain
the gentleman but moment.
Mr.. Reed. l shall submit to it again.
MI. Turner. | hope the gentleman
does not resent the small byplay which 1
attempted just now. have always had
for the gentleman's abilities the highest
respect, although on recent occasions I
differed with him profoundly. I have
not had the remotest purpose of giving
him offense, nor have intended to abuse
his courtesy [ have been trying to dis
cuss fairly great public question in my
representative capacity, as member of
the same House, and without the remot-
est idea of offending the gentleman from
Maine
Mr. Reed. Mr.. Chairman I have not
the slightest doubt Of the good feeling
and good will which subsists between
myself and the gentleman from Georgia,
and there need be no time spent upon
that. / resume once more the considera-
ton Of the question which is this. The
whole attempt of the Democratic party
II