The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-26


Attempt to Take Mr.. walkers Speech
from the Record-It Ends in Adjourn
ment Without Quorum.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The pending
question when the House met this morn
ing was the motion made by Mr.. Reed of
Maine, Saturday last, to lay on the table
the resolution expunging from the rec
ord the portions of the speech of Mr..
Walker of Massachusetts, which were
not uttered on the floor and which re-
flected on his colleagues, Messrs. Will
Jams and Hoar.
The Republicans refrained from voting
and the result was, yeas 6, nays 1873.
No quorum voted and a call of the
House was ordered.
The call of the House showed 213 mem
bers present and Mr.. Richardson of Ten
nessee, offered a resolution for the arrest
of absent members by sergeant-at-
The resolution having been agreed to,
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine made the point of
order that it was not in order for the
House to send for absentees when on
call it was disclosed that there was more
than quorum present. The point was
overruled and further proceedings under
the call were dispensed with and the
question recurred on the motion to table
the resolution. The motion was reject
ed, yeas 5, nays 1856.
Mr.. Boutelle moved to recommit the
resolution with Instructions to the COM
mittee on rules to take into considera-
ton the entire subject matter, Including
the remarks published in the record by
the gentleman Mr. Walker] under leave
to print, the remarks by Mr.. Williams of
Massachusetts,, aninadverting there
upon; and the citations made by the for
mer tending to show the custom and
usage of the House in regard to latitude
of debate; and to report to the House, as
soon as may be, such measures, if any, as
said committee may deem expedient for
the reform of any existing abuses in re-
gard to matter printed in the record and
for the preservation of the highest attain
able degree of decorum in debate. The
motion to recommit was defeated-yeas,
38; nays, 81.
Mr. BouteIIe Then Moved Adjournment,
and the motion was lost-yeas, 10; nays,
1853.
Mr.. Townsend of Colorado moved for
recess until o'clock. This, too, was
lost-yeas, 0; nays, 146; no quorum.
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee moved
call of the House.
Mr.. Boutelle rose to another question.
This was taken under clause 2, rule II,
which provides that call of the House
shall not be in order after the previous
question has been ordered unless it shall
appear upon actual count by the Speaker
that no quorum is present.
The Speaker replied that the roll call
showed 146 members present.
Mr.. Boutelle inquired whether the
Speaker declined to count, as require ed
by rule.
The Speaker replied that the count on
the yea and nay vote showed the pres
ence of but 146 members.
Mr.. Boutelle inquired whether the
Chair would not count the House.
The Speaker replied that if he had not
satisfied the gentleman, it was the gen.
tleman's misfortune, not the Speakers
fault.
Mr.. Reed-'There should not be any
exhibition of temper on the part of the
Chair.''
The Speaker-"The is not. There
should not be any attempt at scolding on
Jhe part OF the gentleman from Malne."
Mr. Reed-'sNot at all. Now / want
to ask the Chair if he regards his action
as a fulfllment of the requirements of
the rule.''
The Speaker-"The gentleman ought
to know that if the Chair did not so re-
gard it, the Chair would not SO state it.''
Mr.. Reed-s'Then, as the Chair inter-
prets the rule, it does not require him
personally to make count of the mem
bers present.
The Speaker -..sThe Chair has stated
that he adopts the count as made by the
clerk. That is conclusive fon this aues-
tion.'' Cries of Irregular order.''7
Mr.. Reed-'I ask the Chair under the
rule to count the House,
The Speaker-"The Chair has stated
that he adopts the count made by the
clerk
Mr.. Reed-''The rule requires the
Chair to COUNT
The Speaker-sThe Chair will enfore
his ruling. If the gentleman objects to
any ruling of the Chair, he has all his
rights"
Mr.. Reed-"In a house three-fourths
Democratic,
Guess Not.''