The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-04-14
TO COUNT A QUORUM.
House Democrats Indorse the Tao
tics Of Ex-Speaker Reed,
ABsBNTBEs WILL NOT BE PAID.

UonRressmon wnI Not Hereafter Draw
Their Full Salaries While on stumpInR
Tours in the Interest Of Political Par
ties-sioknoss the Only Excuse.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-After a heated
,ession Of two hours and half the Dem
ocratic caucus yesterday afternoon de-
cided, by a vote of so to "A, TO instruct the
committee on rules to report a new rule to
ascertain and record the presence of
quorum whether voting or not. This is
the elimination of the long and bitter
struggle that has been on in the Demo
cratic house ever since the end Of the
Fifty-hrst congress.
When the committee on rules on Thurs
day brought forward the proposition to
punish members who declined TO answer
TO their names on roll calls by the imposi-
ton of $40 fue for each offense as the
solution OF the situation with which the
house has been frequently confronted
when Il was deadlocked by the refusal OF
the Republicans to respond to their names
a great deal of opposition was manifested
TO it on the part of various Democrats.
Some Of them did not believe that such a
method would prove effective, and in
sisted that the house should go farther
than the committee on rules seemed TO 90
and adopt the quorum counting device
invented by Mr.. Reed in the Fifty-tirst
congress.
Others we're not disposed to go even as
far az the rule framed on Thursday con-
templated. The result was that when the
Democrats were without aquorum yester-
day it was decided to hold caucus to dis
cuss and agree upon some plan. Practi-
oally all the Democratic members of the
house attended the caucus As soon as 1t
was called to order Mr. Bland presented
resolution directing the sergeant-at-arms
to carry out the provision of Section 40,
Chapter2, of the revised statutes, by which
deductions from the salaries of the mem
bers should be made for every days alb
sence except on account of sickness, This
was in accordance with the action of the
judiciary committee earlier in the day.
After the members of the judiciary COM
mittee had made their explanation the
resolution was unanimously adopted.
Then followed the fight over the ques-
tion of determining some method by
which some members who refuse to
answer to their names should be made to
participate in legislation. Several propo-
sitions were submitted. The resolution
which contained the rule reported from
the committee on rules yesterday, how
ever, was not one Of them.
The debate upon various propositions
continued for two hours and developed a
wide difference Of opinion. Speaker Crisp
took the floor and made vigorous speech,
pointing out the deplorable position in
which the house found itself on account
of continued and persistent absenteeism
1t left the house at the mercy of the mi
nority whenever at a wink or nod from
Mr. Reed the Republicans declined *
answer to their names.
Quite a number Of speeches were made
in opposition to any and all rules looking
TO the counting of members who refused
to vote. During the course of rather hot
tempered speech from Mr.. Kilgore on the
subject, Mr.. Bland shouted, with an ex
preston Of disgust, something to the sf
feet that il a Democratic house was forced
to resort to Rsedism they had better ad
iourn sine die and go home Mr.. Cum
mings also made brief speech against th
proposition to count a quorum, at tn
conclusion of which he sent up to the desl
an amendment to the title of any new rul
which should be reported for this purpose
so as to make it read, "A rule to nominat
United States"
After all who desired had sufIicientl
ventilated their views Mr.. De Almond, o
{ Missouri, offered a resolution in lieu o
those which had previously been offere,
expressing it AS the sense Of the caucu
that the committee on rules should pre-
! pare a new rule for Ascertaining the prel
ence Of a quorum, and also some metho
for compelling the attendance of Rbsen
members Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky
then moved to refer all the resolution
which had been presented to the commit
tee on rules with instructions to repoT
their Judgment at caucus to be held mex
Monday evening. This motion was lost
!, 80 to 65. The vote was then taken upo
: Mr.. Do Almonds resolution and 1t cal
= risd by a two-thirds majority-S0 to 40.
8 It has been usual TO give out any resS
luton adopted by party caucus, a
though the proceedings themselves al
kept secret, or at least are presumed to b
e 10, but after the adoption Of the DeAl
4 mond resolution another resolution wa
. prepared, submitted and carried to SUI
v press entirely the proceedings of the cat
! Gus. 1t remains now for the committee o
n rules to formulate a rule in accordAnC
' with the DeArmond resolution. The rul
8 now before the house members will prol
Q ably be withdrawn and superseded by tn
i quorum counting rule to be prepared.
Urging n Dissolution.
ST. JOINS, N. F., April 14-Both house