The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-10
FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS
A SCRAP IN THE HOUSE BETWEEN
REED AND CRISP.
The Cause of the Dispute Was the Much
Vexed and Discussed Question Of
"No Quorum '-The Point sus-
tanned By The Speaker.
THE SENATE.

Stanford introduced bill, directing
the purchase Of silver bullion and the
coinage thereof; referred.
The pure food bill was then taken
up and Senator Vest stated at some
length his position in regard to it and
such legislation in general. He was
aware of the sentiment worked
up all over the country i'll sup
port of the pure food bill.
The Oranges, Alliances and news
papers had all demanded it by petit
ton. He believed the measure was a
prostitution of commerce, the clause OF
the constitution in regard to the eXer-
else of police powers of the state and
for that reason would cheerfully cast
his vote against it.
Senator Paddock denied the state
ment made several days ago that the
bill was aimed at the cotton seed oil
interest. He defied any one to point
to one provision, line OF word in the
bill that Disseminated against any
honest and honestly branded article
of food, in favor of any other such art
icle. In conclusion heappealed to the
Senate to help enact the bill into a
law.
Eulogies were then delivered in re-
spect to the memory of the late Rep
resentative Lee of Virginia, and the
Senate adjourned until Monday,
HOUSE.
Greek met Greek in the House to-
day, and for the brief space Of five
minutes a parliamentary colloquy was
witnessed, which in aptness of retOrt
had no precedent in the present ses
sion. On one side was Speaker Crisp
and on the other eX-Speaker Reed.
AS might naturally be presumed, the
veXed question of a quorum and the
construction and legal significance of
this term was the subject of the con-
troversy. The entire day had been
consumed in desultory consideration
of unimpOrtant private bills, and Mr..
Kilgore of Texas made q motion that
the House take recess till s O'Clock
this evening. On division the vote
stood So to 81.
Mr.. Enloe demanded tellers, and
they being refused, he raised the
point that no quorum had voted.
1.-The gentleman from Tennessee"
said the Speaker, "makes the point
of no quorum on the motion to take q
recess. The chair will have to APP
point tellers."
"The gentleman does not make the
point of no quorum" interpOsed Mr..
Reed. "He makes the point that no
quorum voted"
"Under the rules of the House and
under the present administration Of
the House." said the Speaker, "gen-
tlemen are not present unless they
vote" applause on the Democratic
side.)
"That shows Mr.. Speaker there has
been new system adopted since last
congress-" was Mr.. Reeds reply.
"That shows the present occupant
of the chair will endeavor to enforce
the rules of the House as they now
exist retorted the Speaker.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Speaker, "quick
ly replied the eX-speaker, "the observ-
alton made is entirely correct; name
ly, the point the gentleman from
Tennessee made was that no quorum
voted, while the speaker states that
the point he made was of no quorum.
My observation, Notwithstanding the
retort of the chair, is entirely correct"
"Perhaps it is" said the speaker,
"but it is entirely out of order" Dem
ocratic applause.)
at is entirely correct" persisted
Reed, "and therefore the chair has no
right to make such remarks"
"The gentleman is entirely correct,
but at the same time oat of order" OBJ
served the speaker.
II was entirely in order when [
called the attention OF the chair to the
fact.n
"The chair thinks not"
Entirely in order" persisted Reed.
"The chair thinks the gentleman is
entirely out of order" reiterated the
speaker. "There is no occasion for
such reply. The point was made,
not by the gentleman from Maine,
but somebody else made the point of
no quorum. The chair entertained
the point, whereupon the gentleman
lIOul hdlLlS Ill'uO o SuSSOooiOhi'
"And thereupon," interposed Reed,
81 said to the chair that the gentle
man made the point Of no quorum
voting, and the chair stated it to be a
point of no quorum, which is differ
ent proposition, and / had the right
to call the attention of the chair. The
chair had no right to make such a re-
tort, even if he was supported by dis
orderly applause upon his side, which
he permitted
"The chair will state there is no
distinction under the present rules OF
the house between a point of no quo
rum and no quorum voting, as was
made under the rules of the last con-
gress."
81 want to say said Enloe, "the
speaker is abundantly sustained by
the authorities in making the Tetorts
to gentlemen on the floor"
"The chair does not intend torecog-
nize that" replied Crisp.
During the colloquy between the
speaker and Reed both gentlemen
appeared to lose at the same time
their equanimity and retorts, though
couched in polite language, were
characterized ty earnestness and
some degree of warmth.