Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-17
COUNTING A QUORUM
A Rule Providing for That Passed
by the House.
END OF THE LONG STRUGGLE
Republicans Make No Opposition.
but Vote For Il.
OVATION TO MR.. REED

There was a very large attendance on both
sides Of the House when that body met to-
day in anticipation OF the fight over the
adoption of the new quorum counting rule
ana the galleries were also unusually well
filled
In order to prevent parliamentary compli-
cations, Mr.. Catchings, from the committee
on rules. secured recognition before the
journal was read. and after Withdrawing
the rule reported from that committee last
Thursday, he Immediately presented the re-
port agreed upon just before the House con-
vened. The report was read from the
clerks desk as follows:
The Committee on Rules Report
Amend rule Is by inserting between
clauses l and the following as clause 2
and change the number OF clause 2 to
clause 3.
Upon every roll call and before the be-
ginning thereof the Speaker shall name two
members, one from each side of the pend
ing question, II practicable, who shall take
their places at the clerks desk, to tell the
names OF at least enough members who are
In the hall OF the House during the roll call
who do not respond, when added to those
responding. to make quorum. II a quorum
does not respond on the roll call then the
names Of those SO noted as present shall be
reported to the Speaker. who shall cause the
list to be called from the clerks desk and
recorded in the journal, and in determining
the presence of quorum to do business.
those who voted, those who answered pres
ent and those so reported present shall be
considered. Members noted may, when
their names are called. record their votes.
Notwithstanding the provisions Of clause OF
this rule.
thereto the following words: And on a roll
call should he not vote. ne shall answer
present TO read Every member sh all
be present within the hall of the House
during its sittirgs. unless excused or neces-
sarily prevented. and shall vote on each
question put, unless he has direct per-
sonal or pecuniary interest in the event Of
such question, and on a roll call. should he
not vote, he shall answer present"
The Limit of Debate.
Mr. Catchings suggested an hour and a
half limit for the debate. but Mr.. Wells
fWis), one of the democrats oppo-
nents Of any quorum-countil rule, OBJ
iected strenuously to such a brief opportu-
nifty for debate. He thought considertng
the great Importance of the question, that
at least a day should be given.
When Mr.. Catchings shook his head at
this. he appealed 20 the committee on rules
not TO gag democrats VINO did not agree
with them.
Mr.. Bynum Gnd1 proposed two hours on
side. and Mr.. McMiliin CTenn) expressed
himself In opposition to rushing the new
rule through with undue haste. He was
quite vehement in tone and gesture
Ihe republican leaders, Reed and Bur-
rows, did not attempt to put ID their oars.
ilantly. Finally Mr.. Catchings yielded and
agreed TO allow two hours debate on a
side. vote 10 be taken at 4 O'Clock
The Republican Substitute.
Mr.. BURROWS. one Of the republican MEM
bers Of the rules committee offered on be-
half OF himself and Mr. Reed as a subj
stitute for the proposed rule the Quorum
counting rule of the Fffty-first Congress.
That rule was as follows: ION the demand
OF any member, or at the suggestion OF the
speaker the names OF members sufficient
to make a quorum in the hall Of the House
who Co not vote shall be noted by the clerk
and recorded In the journal and reported 10
the Speaker with the names of the members
determining the presence Of a quorum 20
do business"
The Speaker then submitted the request
Tor unanimous consent to close the debate
at o'clock.
Mr. Wen. Objected.
To the great surprise OF all. Mr.. Wells
CWis) objected This ended the attempt
to reach a peaceful agreement
Mr.. Catchings appealed TO the House 20
witness the fact that he had made an hon.
est attempt to afford a reasonable oppor-
tunity for debate.
Nothing was left but to apply the gag
He demanded the previous question. The
The republicans made no EFFORT TO fill
buster. but voted in the negative as did
many democrats. who were opposed either
under the lash
The demand for the previous question
was sustained; 140-l20.
Under the rule fifteen minutes were al
lowed on a side for debate
MI Hatch attempted to ask unanimous
consent for further time, but Mr. Bynum
QndD emphatically objected.
some question followed as 10 the
manner in which the time should be divided
MIR. Reed Satisfied.
In the course of this controversy, Mr.
Reed stated that so far as the republican
minority was concerned the rule reported
from the committee on rules embodied the
principle for which they had been contend
ing. There might. perhaps. be some objec-
ton TO the details Of the rule, but the
principle was the correct one.
Mr.. Burrows, after stating that since the
proposed rule was substantially the rule
for the Fffty-first Congress, he would with
draw the substitute he had offered
Before the debate prope- began Mr. Catch
ings asked unanimous consent that those
VINO desired should have opportunity to
print remarks in the Record
'Oh, object" shouted Mr. Routelle MAJ
with a smile; such remarks would make
out melancholy contribution 10 congress
sionaI literature" The debate then began
The Debate Begins.
hr. Satcnitss was nrst recognized and
made brief two-minute speech The pro-
posed rule. he said. had been brought I'm
in pursuance OF the demand of the demo-
cratic caucus last Friday.
That caucus had decided that the time had
arrived when members who were present
put who refused to vote should be taken into
consideration I'm determining the presence OF
quorum TO do business.
Many plans had been suggested
The proposed rule, the method Of which he
explained. he believed would easily and ex- o.
pediantly determine whether a quorum was
pi esent. was simple and IA the nature OF
things was fair because its execution would
be left to two members on opposite sides OF
any pending question.
Mr.. Catchings then yielded one minute to
Gen. Wheeler (Ala-), who had just enough
time to protest against il as antagonistic TO
the deliberation which ought TO be main
tained I'm legislative bodies like the House Of
Representatives. when the gavel dropped
and he was summariiy taken OF the floor
MIR. Bryan's Opposition.
Mr.. Reed, who controlled fifteen minutes
for the republicans. at this juncture yielded
five minutes to Mr. Bryan CNeb.). Mr.. Bry-
an was very earnest in his opposition to the
proposed rule.
The Rule Adopted.
At p. m. the quorum counting rule was
adopted by the House by vote Of 2t2-7;
the republicans voting for it.
nNT.a