The herald., 1893-09-07
At The NATIONS CAPITAL
Both Branches of Congress
Again in Session.
The House Finally Adopts a
New Code of Rules.
Crisp's Rules Committee Sustains q
Partial Defeat.
The Repeal Mon Gain Temporary
Victory in the Senate-Sen-
ator Stewart Continues
His Speech.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Elm the house
today the committee on rules, presided
over by Speaker Crisp. was forced to
publicly acknowledge defeat in the ef-
fort to lead the Democratic majority and
secure the adoption OF rule making 100
members quorum in committee of the
whole. When the house resumed the
debate on rules, the announcement was
made that the committee, in Difference
to objection by some prominent Demo-
cratic members, had decided to abandon
the rule. Catchings explained that 90
many Democratic members were opposed
to the proposed rule that the committee
had decided to accept Kyle's amend
ment restoring the size OF quorum to
majority of the house. The announcs-
ment precipitated lively debate.
Dolliver of Iowa said he was Just about
to make speech in favor of the propo-
eition from which the committee had
just retracted. He was sorry the COM
mittee had surrendered. Dolliver then
proceeded to defend ex-Speaker Reed in
his course as speaker.
Springer followed with q general as
sault on what he termed the fundsmep-
tai usurpations of the rules of the Fifty
first congress--the power of the speaker
to count quorum and his power to de-
termine dilatory motions. His power
to determine what was dilatory mo-
ton, he said, placed every member of
the house in the power of the speaker.
1t enabled him to pass on the motions
OF members and was revolutionary in
character. The change made by the
present rules committee in the interest
OF suppreesing filibustering, transferred
this power from the speaker to the ma
jority of the house. 1t gave Republicans,
as well as Democrats, an opportunity to
sustain or oppose vote.
Springer iproceeded to dibcuss the
question of counting a quorum. When
he bad cosseiuded, Reed walked down
the aisle.
II would hardly know what to do"
began Reed. slowly and deliberately,
when / find the gentleman from Illi-
Dois (Springer) and the supreme court
in opposition. were it not that / have
convictions Of my own. I am exceed
ingly sorry the Democratic party cannot
understand the fundamental principles
of this question. The average Demo-
cratic mind seems incapable of grasping
them. The high minds of the rules COM
mittee understand something of essen
tials, but even they are unable to reach
the topmost heights. But the truth will
finally prevail.
81 should not reply to these strictures
again." continued Reed. "but for the
fact that do not want what has been
said to 60 into the record unchallenged.
FilibusteriEg is modern inven-
ton. You cannot 60 back of
the disease to look for the remedy.
There is no remedy for parliamentary
filibustering. Until filibustering be-
came a chronic disease, the power of
the chair was the power OF the house.
Gentlemen speak as If the speaker were
an irresponsible individual. 1t is inn
possible for the speaker to do what the
house does not want him to do. As
soon as the contrary proposition is
stated its absurdity is seen. Therefore,
whatever charges have been made
against me as speaker of the Fifty-irst
house should properly have been lodged
against that house which uniformly sus-
tanned me. Gentlemen speak of the
suppression of dilatory motions. l de-
clare now, and here defy contradiction
that the power to rule out dilatory mo-
tions was ever exercised until the
speaker and every man In the house
believed and knew motions were used
to delay business. In time this whole
matter will become perfectly plain"
''ientlemen," Reed continued throw
ing his arms out wildly in the direction
OF the Democratic side, Il bid you God
speed. l know that Bourbonism and
conservatism hold you firmly in its
grasp, but the right will be triumphant.
Your bonds will be broken. You will
progress as all things do in time, for
after all does not the world move 2"
Laughter and applause.]
Kyle's amendment was then agreed
to.
Catchings called for the previous
question on the report and Burrows
offered as a substitute the code of rules
OF the Fifty-frst congress, with an
amendment providing that when call
of the house is had the yeas and nays
shall be considered as ordered. This
latter amendment would prevent the
breaking of quorum.
Burrows then entered upon general
argument on the comparative merits of
the two codes OF rules and declared the
rules about to be adopted were abso-
lutely powe-less to prevent filibustering.
These rules placed the power of legisla-
tion absolutely in the hands OF the
speaker and the two Democratic mem
bers Catching and Outhwaite).
Bynum of Indiana, in reply to Bur-
rows, went at length into the difference
between counting the house to ascertain
the presence OF quorum and counting
members to pass laws. II care not
whether the counting of members was
declared legal by the supreme court or
not" said he, facing his old antagonist,
Reed, and holding his arm thrsateningly
aloft. 81 acknowledge no body greater
than this house to pass upon it's rights
or privileges"
With reference to the rule cutting off
diatory motions in the present code, he
said the word dilatory need not have
been in the rule. The rule OF the Fifty
first congress- on the contrary. placod il