The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-29
SLOW WORK IN THE HOUSE.
Most Of the Day Wasted in an Attempt
to Get a Quorum.

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The House was
engaged in doing nothing during the first
hour Of its session this morning.
A resolution making the position of the
assistant journal clerk annual instead Of
for the session having finally been adopted
the House, by unanimous consent, went
into committee of the whole, with Mr.
Oates of Alabama In the chair, on the Dip
lomatic and consular appropriation bill.
The pending question was on Mr.. Hits
amendment restoring to 81, 500 tue salary Of
the minister to Venezuela. No quorum
voting, call of the committee was or
dered. Although 1872 members responded
to their names the quorum vanished on the
vote on the amendment. and another call
showed that 40 members were present.
These constituting quorum. the
tellers resumed business at the old stand,
but bus ness was Slack and again the tellers
went INTO liquidation aud another roll call
was insisted upon. This time 1870 prospect
i've customers responded; but when busi-
ness was again resumed the number OF
customers dwindled. The republicans
steadfastly refused to patroniZe and allowed
the trading to be done exclusively by the
democrats, and again tellers were forced to
suspend business. This time, the committee,
on motion Of Mr.. Blount, rose. Mr.. Blount
then moved that the House adjourn, and on
this motion demanded the yeas aud nays.
The result was: Yeas 10, nays lS3
Then Mr.. Blount offered the following
resolution:
WHEREAS, There are a large number of mem
bers absent from the House and public business
is delayed, the serReant.at arms is dir Cted Co
bring i'll all absentees and the proceedings in
connect on herewith shall be in accordance
with rule Is In cases where call Of the House
is ordered, leaves of absence are hereby revoked,
except for providentIal causes
A POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Bergen OF New Jersey made the
point Of order that, as a previous roll call
had shown that a quorum was present, the
resolution was not In order. This point was
overruled by the speaker, and then Mr.
Miller OF Wisconsin moved to lay the reso-
luton on the table.
Mr. Blount modified his resolution by in-
sertiug after the words ito bring IN all ab-
sentees" the words "without leave" and at
the close Of the resolution the words land
the roll shall be Immediately called to as
certain what members are absent"
Mr.. Miller then withdrew his motion and
Mr.. Blount demanded the previous ques-
tion. On the division the vote stood 1874 to
8 and Mr.. Burrows quietly made the point
of no quorum. Thereupon call OF the
House was ordered.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE REVOKED.
After weary waiting from some returns
from the sergeant-at-artns MIR. Blount Of
fered a resolution revolving all leaves OF
absence except those granted on account Of
sickness. This was adopted.
That the question OF securing q quorum is
a live one Is evidenced by the fact that dur
ing this call OF the House the sergeant-at-
arms procured several hacks, and his depu-
ties proceeded at full speed to Bennings,
where the spring races are being held. But
the return from the racO5 WAS not aa speedy
as che trip thereto, and as 1t was evident
that no business could be transacted.
Mr.. Blount offered q resolution resouud-
ing the call Of the House, except so far as the
revocation Of leaves OF absence and the d.
rection for the arrest Of absentees were con-
oerned. The resolution was agreed to and
the House adjourned. ,r.