Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-13
NO BUSINESS
Transacted by the House Yesterday--Mr.
O'Neill Gives Thanks.


WASHINGTON, March 12.-The ludi-
crous situation that may sometimes de-
velop from the rule that requires mem
bers TO attend the sessions of the House
under pain of arrest and arraignment
for contempt, was fully illustrated In
the attempt made toamend the rule this
morning.
The usual Friday night session, for
the consideration of private pension
bills, found the House without a QUO
rum last evening, and some one having
raised the point OF no quorum, a call Of
the HouSs was ordered and the Ser
geant-at-Arms sent out after the delln-
quent members.
Under the rules the Sergeant-at-
Arms in this emergency may be direct
ed by the House 10 arrest every absent
member whom he can find in any part
of the city, and conduct him before the
bar of the House. Here he is cited for
contempt OF the House in absenting
himself without leave, and required TO
give reason or excuse for his direliction.
The House is usually quite indulgent TO
the culprlts on these occasions, and the
mantle Of charity is usually cast over
the erring member by unanimous vote
Of his colleagues purging him OF con-
tempt.
When the point OF no quorum was
made last night by Messrs. Kilgore and
Bailey, of Texas, and the Sergeant-at-
Arms was ordered to bring in the ab-
sent members, he succeeded in arrest
ing four or five of the absentees and
bringing them before the bar OF the
House. According TO the journal this
morning it appears that Mr.. Coombs, Of
New York, was last night, during call
of the House, brought TO the bar OF the
House in the custody OF the Sergeant
alarms. This Mr. Coombs denied. He
said he had been notified by page that
his presence was required in order TO
help make a quorum, and he had come
TO the House voluntarily and not under
arrest.
Mr.. Bynum, OF Indiana, inquired
whether the person TO whom the gem
teman alluded as page" was not
deputy sergeant at arms. This, Mr..
CoOmbs did not know.
He moved that there be stricken from
the Journal those words which showed
that he was brought to the House under
arrest. Mr.. Bynum thought the Jour
nal should be an accurate account OF
the proceedings Of the House. 1t was a
fact that Mr.. Coombs had been brought
TO the bar under arrest and the Journal
should record that fact.
On Mr.. CoombS' motion the vote stood
- 70 81.
Mr.. DUNCAN (Ohio) raised the point
OF no quorum, and Mr.. Coombs there
upon withdrew his motion, in order not
to embarass the business Of the House.
Mr.. O'Neill, OF Pennsylvania, took e1-
ception TO the Journal. 1t showed that
last night he had been excused from at
tending on account of sickness. He
had not been sick nor intirm. He had
stayed away because he had no pension
bills on the calendar. During his
twenty-seven years Of service in this
House he had by the blessing OF God
been detained from the House but one
day and a half on account OF sickness
and he wanted the Lord TO continue
that blessing. (Laughter.)
The Senate amendments 70 the urgent
deficiency bill were uon-concurred in,
and MesSrs. SayreS, Holman and Ding
ley were appointed conferees. Public
business was then suspended and the
House proceeded TO the consideration Of
hesolution in respect 10 the memory of
the late John L. Gamble, Of South
Dakota. After the eulogies, the House,
as a mark Of respect TO the memory Of
the deceased, adjourned.