The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-02
THE HOUSE RULES
They Form the Subject of an In
teresting Debate.
BURKE COCHRAN SUPPORTS REED
The Ex-speaker Defends His Policy-A Tilt
Between Hoar and Morse-Some
Sharp RetOrts.

committee on rules
1.-The principle that the presence of ma
iority of the members constitutes quorum
has had the sanction of every court to
which it has been referred and l think it
ought to have the sanction of this house."
This was the reply of ex-Speaker Reed in
defending himself against denunciation by
the Democrats of his official actions in the
last Congress. The rules are a subject of
narrowing discussion in the House. There
is general dissemination on both sides of
the House to regard them as party ques-
ton, and Bourke Cochran, the well known
Tammany Congressman, this evening sur
prised his colleagues by eloquently proving
the principle of recognizing the ocular
evidence OF quorum, and his speech was
enthusiastically applauded by the repre-
sentatives as an able defense of Speaker
Reeds rulings.
Immediately after the meeting of the
House this morning there was tilt be-
tween Hoar of Massachusetts, and Morse
Of Massachusetts. Hoar charged Morse
with revising speech made the other
day and interpolating remarks, putting in,
etc. Laughter on the Repu blican side7.
This greatly amused the House. Hoar
continuing said the only applause the Re
publican party would ever give to Morse's
remarks would be to those which were
never delivered.
Morse replied the statement was largely
and substantially false. He (Morse) had
availed himself of the privilege granted
every member to revise his remarks and
added: "My young friend from Massa-
chusetts will do the same when he's older
He is reported, MIR. Speaker, to have shed
tears over your election; he is reported
/ n
because his candidate for speaker was &c
feated; he had in the distance a chairman
ship ana clerK-honor, fame, celebrity
throughout the country and especially in
that district in Massachusetts. Those
| fond hopes were dashed to the ground by
the defeat of his candidate. The young
man belongs to the kindergarten class at
present. Great applause on the Repu bill
can side. BY the time 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.
Arnold, of Missouri, presented for
reference resolution requesting the Pres
! ident to recall the minister of the United
States TO Chill, Patrick Egan, to the end
that reciprocity and amicable relations be-
tween the two countries may be had and
maintained.
The pending amendment 10 the rules was
zone by Oates providing for committee of
fifteen members on the order of business.
Slckler, of South Dakota, wished to offer
an amendment giving the committee On in
valid pensions the right it had during the
Fifty first Congress to report any general
pension law, but demand for the previous
question by Catchings put off discussion
Plckler then moved an adjournment. Lost
Is TO lob. The vote recurring on Oates
amendment 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 requisltion. Oates amendment
was rejected.
On motion of McCreary, of Kentucky
an amendment was agreed to requiring
general appropriation bills to be reported
within eighty days in the long session OF
forty days in the short session.
Bryan, of Neb' aska, aroused the enthu
siasm of the Democrats by taking advan
tage of a little motion to convey to then
notice of the supreme courts decision il
the Boyd-Thayer case.
An amendment by Enloe, of Tennessee
providing that committees in reporting pri
vate bills shall file them with the clerk tt
be placed upon the appropriate calendar
was carried.
, Anderson, of West Virginia, moved t.
add a clause that in no case shall hat
cloak or umbrella in the cloak room b.
counted.
Reed replied his impression was the of
ficers of the House, elected by whateve
, party, were quite capable of honestl,
, carrying out the rules OF the House a
they understood them, and it seemed tt
him it would be a great mistake for tn
f presiding officer to take no notice of wha
3 he (Reed) believed to be quorum unde
the constitution. Of course, if any gen
5 tleman who believed sincerely it wa
r necessary a majority of the member
his duty to stand by the ancient methods
but if in the methods he (Reed) believe
in, that presence of a majority of tn
members constituted a quorum, he shout
, take proper course in ascertaining it.
Anderson said the amendment was no
intended as a reflection upon the speake
or upon the committee on rules, but as
reflection on the doings and actions, an
tyranny, and arbitrary will Of the speake
of the House and his Republican brethre
who had stood at his back. The people ha
passed upon these doings and had said b.
an overwhelming vote they would have n
. more counting of quorums, such as was in
dulged in by the Fifty-frst Congress.
Reed replied to the specific statemen
made by Anderson to the effect that For
man, of Illinois, was counted to make
f quorum during the last Congress, when i
O fact he was absent from the city. Thi
, statement Reed admitted; the gentlema
\ from Illinois (Parsons) then occupied til
l. chair and made an error in the coun
) There was no method of counting, or asce
= tanning the presence of member that WE
. not liable to error and mistakes, and ther
. had been repeated instances under tt
rules of the present House when not onl
s were members recorded who had not votet
/; but members who voted were recorde
: enormously. These errors would ext
= under any system.
After further debate, Cochran, of Ne
l. York took the floor and his remarks, witt
Y out going to the extent OF upholding the III
) limited right of the speaker to count
q quorum, advocated such rule as wou
u permit the House to transact busine
when there was quorum present and r
~ fusing to vote. He would favor closing I'll
% doors during every roll call. He won
:. give the House, either through the speak,
% or upon motion Of any member, power
& compel any Representative here to be-
y that part of legislation which his presen
~ gave and which was according to his pre-
4; ence and not to his voice Applause. II
IL House had the right to take an absent mel
Is Der by force; it had right to punish hill
l. Was not that counting him for one purpo
and if be could be counted for the purpo
of punishment, could he not be counted
the interest of government
II Anderson withdrew his, amendment al
L the question was taken on Burrows amen
g. ments. The yeas and nays were ordere
at nendinp which the House adjourned