Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-06
The House Still Without a Demo
cratic Quorum.
MR.. BOUTELLE And FHE SPEAKER
Have a Lively Tilt Over a De-
cision.
A GOOD POINT OF ORDER

than had been seen during the three pre-
ceding days. The republican side, I'm parti-
cular, seemed ready for business; but there
was evidence in the determined attitude OF
the Speaker and In the strict attention
given him by the democratic members that
the majority would do everything in It's
power to carry out the program which had
been obstructed for the past three days, ana
start the tariff bill on its journey.
Mr. Boutelle's Hawaiian Resolution.
The galleries also contained their fun
quota, and. in particular the members and
ladies' galleries were unusually well nlled
Immediately after the reading Of yester-
days journal Mr.. Bouteue (Adaine) again
tried to find out what had become of his
Hawaiian resolution-a question which 10
now looked forward to each day with al
most as much certainty as the reading Of
the Journal Mr.. Boutelle insisted that his
resolution was a question OF high privilege
whereas the special order reported from the
Saln1 Sonlnittee on rules was merely a ''pr1vi-
Iegeo Question He asserted that there
was great difference between a Question
OF privilege and privileged question"
ana ne read from the digest to show thss
lne former took precedence of the latter
MI. Reed Makes n suggestton
Mr.. Reed (Me) here interrupted the tor
rei.t OF Mr. Boutelle's insistence TO express
the hope that the Speaker would carefully
weigh the difference suggested by Mr.. Bou-
telle and would rule upon Il. as IL was neo-
essary to the orderly transaction Of the
business Of the House
MI Boutelle. continuing, asserted thss
the resolution offered by him a few DAYS
ago was stin before the House; that IL had
been before the House since and a had
peen introduced, and should be taken each
day at the point where il was left the dsv
before. He held that there was no place
IN parliamentary sense, where Il could
be put on the table.
The Speaker Reply
The Speaker retorted that the gentleman
from Maine did not seem to understand
the matter thoroughly. The rules provide.
he said. that IL any matter is called up I'm
the House the question OF consideration
shall not be put to the House unless some
member demand it. The resolution Of the
gentleman from Maine had never been be-
fore the House in the sense Of being before
IL for consideration. because when IL was
called up the gentleman from Tennessee
tMr. McMillin) had raised the Question 81
consideration.
And that has never been decided
shouted Mr. Boutelle, excitedly
VIII the gentleman from Maine allow
the chair 10 give its decisiony' the Spesker
asked sarcastically: aad he went on TO saw
that the House had then proceeded TO vote
CONSIDERATION
MI McMillin, but nc quorum had voted. ana
the House adjourned. That question of com
sideration might be raised every day. Each
DAY the House might refuse TO consider the
resolution, yet the next day IL might he
called up again. But when the tiouse sa-
lourned without acting on the resolution
II was the same as II Il refused TO consider
it The resolution therefore was not before
the House. as the gentleman from Maine
contended. but was exactly where n vas
when II was first called up namely on the
table; and IL would rest there until n Wa
again called up.
The Catching Rules.
Yesterday, the Speaker continued. the
gentleman from Mississippi CAr. Catch
ings). had reported a resolution from the
committee on rules and the question OF
consideration had been raised against ft
but the chair had held. in the last Con-
gress. that the question OF consideration
could not be raised against a resolution
coming from the committee on rules The
previous question had been moved by Mr..
Catchings and on that motion the yeas
and nays were demanded but the House
had adjourned without reaching a decision
SO that the pending question before the
House today-the regular order-was the
consideration of the report from the COM
mittee on rules. He then read from the
Digest: 1T shall always be I'm order TO call
up report from the committee on rules
and pending consideration thereof the
Speaker may entertain one motion-that the
House adjourn.
A Lively Tilt.
The Speaker then summed up by deciding
that Mr.. Catchings' resolution was before
the House. when Mr.. Boutelle interrupted
him TO express the hope that the chair
would reflect before announcing its deci-
sion.
The Speaker resented this as an aspersion
upon him and declared angrfly that any in
timaticn that he had not fully weighed the
question was a reflection on the Speaker.
Mr.. Boutelle disclaimed any intention Of
urged that the question should be well
reflected upon.
THE chair has ruled on the question"
announced the Speaker sharply.
Then 1 respectfully appeal from the de-
cision Of the chair" said Mr.. Boutelle.
The chair wants TO give the gentleman
from Maine every latitude" said the
Speaker wearily, but IL seems that every
morning"
Il object TO the expression latitude
interrupted Mr. Boutelle nercely. Il stand
here as representative of a minority and
with a Speaker against me-"
A Roll Call Ordered.
The Speaker thought the discussion was
becoming too personal and said that such
language toward the Speaker would not be
permitted. He then ordered the call OF the
yeas and nays on Mr. Catchings' motion for
the previous question, and amid deafening
uproar in the House the clerk began to
call the roll very rapidly. He had not cali
ed more than a dozen names. amid a degree
Of confusion so deafening that he could
scarcely be heard. when Mr.. Burrows rose
from his seat in the first row and appealed
to the Speaker for recognition. No atten-
ton was paid to his appeal for some time.
but finally the Speaker ordered the clerk
to suspend. and then inquired for what pur-
Burrows replied that he rose to a point Of
order; but the Speaker told him that the
rol. call could not be interrupted, and he
ordered the clerk to proceed.
Mr.. Burrows Point Of Order.
But / wish to make the point Of order
that there is so much disorder in the House
that members cannot hear their Names"
shouted Mr.. Burrows.
The Speaker said the point was well taken.
and while a broad smile seen the
faces Of the republicans. the clerk again
stopped the roll-call. while the Speaker
pounded his desk. trying to obtain order.
No Quorum.
The vote resulted a all those Of yester-
day had done-in showing the absence Of q
quorum. 1t was announced as yeas lG7;
nays, o. There had been twenty-five pairS
declared-which accounted tor the absence