The Washington times., 1894-05-22

House Resolved Yesterday that the Old
Absentee Law Is Repealed.
The question OF docking" the salary Of
members On account OF absence was brought
up by an amendment offered by Mr.. Boatner,
of Louisiana. yesterday, of which he gave no.
tice last Friday. Mr.. Hayes Dem, Iowa.
offered the following amendment: 1T is here
by declared that section six of the act ap-
proved August 16. 1856. and section forty of
the revised statutes, have been heretofore re-
pealed."
Mr.. De Armond made a point of order
against the amendment, taking both horns
of the dilemma, and holding that if section
forty OF the revised statutes had been repealed
by implication (as some members asserted),
then this amendment was not germane to the
bill. ana II it was still il force, as he main
tanned. then the amendment changed existing
law, which was lot in order.
Mr.. Reed asserted that a matter of such
importance should be referred to the House,
and not TO tine Chair.
Mr.. CuiDerson. OF Texas, chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, in the course OF a long
legal argument. held that the act in question
was still unrepealed, and until repealed should
be enforced.
The chairman CIr. Richardson) sustained
the point OF order. holding that ths proposed
amendment did not contain any matter which
was germane 10 the bill and did not purport to
be anything but declaration of law. and he
held, moreover, that il il was fact that the
act of 1856 and section 40. revised statutes,
had not been repealed this amendment would
act as a repeater and would be change OF
existing law.
Mr.. HAYES appealed from the decision of
the chair. and the chairman declared the nays
had it; that the decision of the chair should
be overruled. On division the vote was re-
versed. being 90 to 10. Tellers were de-
manded. and the decision of the chair was
overruled by vote OF SO to 113.
The question was then put on Mr.. Hayes
amendment declaring the statutes repealed
which authorized the Sergeant-at-Arms to de-
duct from the salary of members for absence.
1t was agreed to, lis to 81. [Republican sp-
plause.l
bers of the Rules Committee voted in the
negative. Mr.. Dockery gave notice that Q
yea and nay vote would be demanded on the
amendment when the bill was reported to the
House.
The ruling of the Chair sustained the point
of order against the amendment on the
ground that the statute OF 1856 being still in
force, the proposed amendment, would be a
change of existing law.
The next paragraph was read. when Mr..
Boatner came hurrying down the aisle, and
explaining that ne had been engaged in con-
versation at the time of the ruling of the
chair asked unanimous consent to ap-
peal from the decision of the Chair. Several
objections were made, and the reading OF the
bill was continued,
To the section providing appropriations for
the Office Of the Sergeant-at-Arms Mr.. Boat
ner again offered his amendment, which had
been ruled out few minutes before on q
point of order. In order that he might ap-
peal from the decision OF the Chair.
Mr. Boatner then offered an amendment in
which the only substantial difference from
the one he had offered earlier in the day was
that it included Senators in its operations. Mr.
De Almond made the same point which he
had made against Mr.. Hayes amendment,
that it changed existing law, while Mr.. Boat
ner argued in favor OF the amendment Just
presented. The House had the right to con-
troll the action Of the members. but under the
rules. as they stand at present. a member
would lose his salary II he was absent from
the House attending session OF committee
or absent from the Capitol on order OF the
House.
The Chair sustained the point of order.
holding that an amendment in regard 70 the
salary OF members certainly was not germane
to the paragraph providing for the pay OF the
Sergeant-at-Arms, and Mr.. Boatner appealed
from the decision of the Chair. when the rul.
ing was sustained. 1872.
An amendment placing all the messengers
in the office OF the doorkeeper of the House
in the same grade at 81, 100 each was adopted
In lieu OF the present two grades at 81, 200 and
81 900
At 8 o'clock the committee rose and the
House adjourned.