The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-06
House..

WASHINGTON, FEB. 1.-"Ihe principle
that the presence of a majority of mem.
bers constitutes a quorum has had the
sanction of every court to which it has
been referred and l think that it ought
to have the sanction of the house.
This was the retort of ~ex-Speaker Reed
today in defending himself against the
somewhat spirited denunciations by
democrats of the official actions in the
DIST congress. The rules are still the
subject of har owing discussions in the
house and the decree of the democratic
caucus and the frequent demands for
the previous questions seem like i'm
portant in forcing debate to a close and
securing the adoption of the code re-
ported by the democratic majority of
the committee on rules. Indeed. there
is a general Discrimination in the rank
and file of both sides of the house 10 re-
gard the rules as a party question. Some
Of the most radical features of the code
reported by the democratic majority of
the committee on rules, find quite earn
est supporters on the republican side
and Hon. Bourke Cochran. the we'll
known Tammany congressman, this
morning surprised his colleagues by elo-
qucntly approving the principle of recog-
nizing ocular evidence Of a quorum and
his speech was enthusiastically applaud
ed by the republicans as an able defense
Of Speaker Reeds rulings in the last
congress.
Various bills and resolutions were re-
ferred, the most important being a reso-
luton by Arnold of Missouri requesting
the recall of Patrick Egan, minister to
Chill.
When the consideration of the report
OF the committee Oh rules was resumed
an amendment was offered by Oates of
Alabama, providing for a committee on
order of business, to consist of fifteen
members. of which the speaker shall be
ey-otlicio chairman.
Picker Of South Dakota wished to
offer an amendment giving the commit
tee on invalid pensions the right 1t had
during the Fifty-iirst congress to report
at any time upon general pension legisla-
ton, but "a demand for the previous
question, made by Catchings of Missis-
sippi, cut him off. Before the announce
mcnt of the vote Picker demanded a
veriticatiOn and asked that the vote be
recapitulated. The speaker replied that
there was no rule requiring this to be
done. IT the gentleman would state
that an error had been made the chair
man would order a recapitulation, but
otherwise he would not.
Picker would not make such a state
ment, but contcntcd himself with refer
rIpn tn Tho 1ront ,,pf,pi,, IL, +In lnn
and the possibility of a mistake having
crept into the record.
The speaker thcreupOn declared the
previous question ordered - yeas 100,
nays %.
Picker then moved an adjournment.
Lost, % TO lO3. The vote recurring on
Oats amendment. no quorum voted, and
Picker raised that point and proceeded
to proclaim that tho amendment he
wished to offer was for the benefit of the
pensioners of the country. Though
Picker is possessed of a strong voice his
words were drowned in the democratic
chorus of regular order. In vain did
the speaker call upon Picker to resume
his seat. The speaker then directed the
official reporter not to report the gentle
man remarks, a surperiiuous order, in
asmuc as the reporter was unable to
hear a word. Finally the services of
the sergeant-at-arms were called into
rcquisition.' and before the mace Pickler
yielded and gracefully took his seat.
Oates amendment was rejected,
Rockers motion to strike out the clause
giving the committee ON rules power
to call up its reports
at any time and preventing
dilatory motions being made when they
are under consideration was lost-yeas
81, nays 100.
Enloc of Tennessee offered an amend
ment providing that committees in re-
porting private bills shall file them with
the clerk, and that they shall be by him
placed upon the appropriate calendar.
Agreed to. Yeas 1853. nays a.
Burrows of Michigan offered an
amendment re establishing the rule Of
the last congress empowering the speaker
to count a quorum when such quorum
is present and not voting. After con-
siderable debate the question was taken
on Burrows amendment. Yeas and
nays were ordered, pending which the
bOuso adiOurne1