The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-08
STEVENS UNDER THE BAN.
The House Passes the Resolution Of
CelSuro.

The Old Question Sprung as to
Whether a Quorum Consists of a
Majority of the Living Members or
of Full House-Bland Reports His
Bill for Coinage of the SeiRnorage.
Washington, Feb. Almost immedi-
ately after the opening of the House pro-
ceedings this morning the speaker and
MIR. Reed got into a parliamentary
wrangle as to whether or not the order by
which the absentees were recalled con-
tinued after the adjournment The chair
held that it did, and the House took up
the special order, which was the
consideration of the Hawaiian
resolution of the foreign af-
fairs committee. Before a vote was an
nounced it was seen that the House had
almost seemed a quorum, if it did not
actually have it, and that there was an
effort made by some members to withdraw
or change their votes. The speaker, how
ever, held that this could only be done by
unanimous consent, and objection was
made in each case The speaker an
nounced the vote as follows: Yeas ia,
nays 3. No quorum.
Before further action was inaugurated,
Mr. Springer made the point of order that
la constituted quorum, and not l10, as
had been held. In support of this, he
cited the ruling of ex-Speaker Reed in
the Fffty-tirst congress, holding that a
quorum consisted of majority of the liv-
ing members, and not of all those who had
been elected
Mr.: Reed said that he was not clear on
that point but was under the impression
That he had decided otherwise.
REEDS RULING.
The speaker read Mr.. Reeds decision
from the journal of the Fifty-first con-
gress, in which it was shown that on an
important Casa contested election case
he Crisp being on the floor at the
time, point of order was made that a
quorum consisted of a majority of the
mem bership of the House. and not Of the
living members; that Speaker Reed,
owing to the confusion at the time, could
not find the precedents, and so allowed
the point temporarily, but on reviewing
the question subsequently. and looking
up the precedents, decided that a quorum
consisted of a majority of the living men,
bers.
MIR. Reed replied that in that case he
had changed his opinion, and that it was
evident that the speaker had changed his.
The speaker, resuming, held to the
opinions of his predecessor that quorum
consisted of majority of the living mem
bers, but that he would submit the ques-
tion to the House for decision.
Mr.. Reed suggested that three of the
vacancies had been filled by elections, and
that while none of those newly elected
mem bers had been sworn in, the fact that
they had been elected might change the
status of affairs.
The speaker did not think they were
members until sworn in and could not,
therefore, be taken into account.
LAID ON THE TABLE.
Messrs. Cochran, Baily and Rayner
came into the discussion and Mr. Rayner
made parliamentary inquiry as to
whether 1t would be in order to lay the
pending point of order on the table and
order another roll call.
The speaker said it could be done by
unanimous consent, and no objection be-
ing offered, the question as TO what CON
stituted quorum was left in statu quo
and the roll was called on the question of
agreeing to the pending Hawaiian resolu-
tion. On this second roll call the popu-
lists voted no" TO make a quorum, and
the republicans seeing that they could
not prevent the quorum, changed their
tactics and answered to their names.
The resolution was thus agreed to by
vote Of III to IS.
The vote was on party lines with three
exceptions Messrs. Cummings and Sick
les, of New York and Mr. Bum, of
North Carolina, who voted with the re-
publicans.
BoUTELLE's RESOLUTION.
AS soon as the vote had been announced
on the McCreary resolution Mr.. BOutelle
h
he had introduced on Dec. %, 1893, and
which declared that it is the sense of the
House that any Intervention by the exec
utive of the United States, it's civil or
military representatives, without author
ity of congress. in the internal affairs
of a friendly recognized govern
ment to disturb or overthrow it, and to
aid or abet the substitution or restoration
of a monarchy, therefor, is contrary to
the policy and traditions of the republic,
and the letter and spirit of the constitu-
tion, and cannot be too promptly or en-
phatically reprobated. The preamble
recites that the President had invaded
the rights of congress in instructing Min
ister Willis to subvert the republican
form of government in Hawaii.
Mr. Boutelle demanded the yeas and
nays, and the roll was called, resulting
in the defeat of his resolution-Yeas 81;
nays l6l.
BLAND's COINAGE RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Bland, dem, of Missouri, then at
3:10 O'Clock reported from the committee
on coinage. weights and measures, the
bill directing the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to issue silver certificates equal TO
the seignorage on the silver bullion pur-
chased under the provisions of the act Of
July IA, 1890, and he moved to go into
committee of the whole.
The question of consideration was
raised by Mr.. Tracey, but after discus
sion of the point, the speaker ruled that
as the committee on coinage. weights and
measures had accorded TO II the right TO
report at any time, and, as the bill had
first TO be considered in committee Of the
whole. the privilege carried with 1t the
right TO consideration. The question Of
consideration could not, therefore, be
raised in the House, but the point could
be decided by voting up or voting down
the motion 10 go into committee.
F1LIBusTERING BEGINS.
The speaker then put the motion TO go
into committee for the consideration Of
the bill From this point the flioustering
was successful. No quorum could be got
10 vote, and the House. at o'clock p. m,
ad burned with the motion pending to 20
into committee of the whole.
On motion Of Mr.. Bland just before ad-
iournment the House adopted the custom
ary resolution directing the sergeant~at-
a. rfrc 10 npfuog fu the abgput tees