The herald., 1894-04-18
HOUSE PKOCEEDINGs.
How tho Quorum Counting Rule Was
Adopted.

How tho Quorum Counting Rule Was
Adopted.
WASHINGTON, April 17.-There WAS
very large attendance on both sides and
in the gallery when the house met today,
in anticipation of fight over the new
quorum counting rule. Catchings, from
the committee on rules. secured reCog-
milton before the journal was read, and
reported the rule agreed upon just be.
fore the house convened, the purport of
which has already been given in these
dispatches. Considerable skirmishing
among the Democrats about the limita-
ton OF the debate followed, Reed and
Burrows saying nothing, but watching
the proceedings closely. After an
amendment was offered by Burrows and
Reed, the speaker submitted request
for unanimous consent to Gloss the de-
bate at 4 o'clock.
Wells objected, and this ended the
attempt at Il peaceful agreement. Moth
ing was left but to apply the gag. He
demanded the previous question. The
vote was taken by yeas and nays. The
Republicans made no effort to tilibuster,
but voted in the negative, besides many
Democrats who were opposed to the pro-
posed rule or to driving it through under
the rules of the last house.
The demand for the previous question
was sustained-140 to 100
Under the rule ID minutes was allowed
on each eide for debate. Hatch at
tenn pted to ask unanimous consent for
further time, but Bynum objected.
Some questions followed as to the man
ner in which the time should be divided.
In the course of the controversy Reed
stated that 80 far as the Republican
minority was concerned, the rule re.
ported from the com mittee on rules en-
bodies the principle for which they had
been contending. There might, per-
haps be some objection to the details Of
the rule, but the principle was the cor
rect one.
Burrows, after stating the proposed
rule was substantially the rule of the
fifty-frst congress, Withdrew the substi-
tute which he had offered.
Before the debate began, Catchings
asked unanimous consent that those
who 80 desired should have an opportu-
nifty to print remarks in the Record.
''Oh, | object" shouted Boutelle,
with a smile. ''Such remarks would
make but melancholy contribution to
congressional literature"
The debate was then begun. 1t was
calm, even-tempered and wholly unlike
what had been anticipated. The Rs-
publicans were bubbling over with good
humor over the contamination of their
long legislative struggle, and applauded
every Democratic convert to the rule put
in practice.
Catchings was recognized and made a
two. minnie speech. He yielded one
minute to General Wheeler of Ala
bama, who had just enough time to pro-
test against it as antagonistie to the de-
liberation which ought to obtain in a
Legislative body like the house OF repre-
when tee gavel dropped and
he was summarily taken off the floor.
Reed. who controlled 10 minutes for
the Republicans, at this juncture yielded
five minutes to Bryan.
Bryan was very earnest in hie opposi-
tion to the proposed rule. This was a
matter o' great Importance he said. :
Over half the states in the union, in
Guiding New York, Pennsylvania, Illi-
nois, Indiana aud Ohio required the af
firmatiye vote OF majority of their
legislative assemblies to enact laws. 1t