New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-31
CRISP AND HIS MOB.

Never was there q more disorderly session
of the House of Representatives, than that OF
Thursday Never was the conduct or the speak
or more arbitrary and tyrannical Contested
election cases there have been in almost every
Congress- of recent times. but never was there
a more fragrant outrage than the attempt OF the
Democratic majority to Dust MI JOY ana 10
install in his seat n Democrat who had no
shadow of right to ii. In carrying out thls
monstrous act Of injustice Colonel Patterson
was forced to take the ground that the House
is not the sole Judge of the qualifications OF lis
own members and the Speaker was constrained
TO rule that the vote of IL quorum was not essen
tial TO the passage Of a resolution directing the
Sergeant at Arms to arrest all members absent
without leave. Seven hours OF pandemonlnm
were. brought to an end by a spectacle never
before witnessed in the HOuse-that of single
teller representing the majority. counting the
members and reporting the result IN dehahce
of all parliamentary prccedents
This final outrage for which the Speaker was
directly responsible. was preceded by other de-
cisions equally arbitrary and indefensDle After
no had taken the floor and made personal at
tack upon the leader of the Opposition. he would
not allow Mr. Reed 10 reply 10 nm ana re-
fused to recognize him for any purpose WHAT
ever He declined to entertain appeals from HIS
rulings points of order and motions 10 al
iourn; he violated all principles OF fair play Ill
his treatment Of Mr.. Reed. Mr.. Payne ana Mr..
BOutelle: and he enforced his tyranncal edictS
by commanding the Sergeant-at-Arins 10 COM
mel these members 10 take their seats. Nh'h
the point of order was made, after rs iheill-
bors had been counted by Nh Patterson, mat
ONLY one teller had reported whereas the rules
OF the House required two. the Speaker over
ruled 1t and allowed the rollcall TO proceed on
the resolution for the arrest OF members absent
without leave. In this way was closed DIS
orderly and disgraceful session. during when
the presiding officer supported by Il mop OF
Democrats. wantony attempted TO gag ana
discipline the minority while himself openly
disregartling and overriding the rules OF the
House.
Scenes like these reveal the incompetence as
well as lawlessness Of the Democratic majority
Nothing can be- easier than procedure by
which motions for arrest OF abscntccs may De
avoided and q quorum secured for the orderly
transaction OF business. All that IS required ~
the Speakers recognition of the quorum actual
" present. while not voting. This VIII preclude
the morning "jail deliveries" the tyrannouS
abuse of the Speakers functions and the ar
bitrary enforcement Of the DEGREES OF the Com
mittee on Rules. The Democratic majority can
obtain complete control Of the House and DIS
arm nlibustering and obstruction by adopting
the expcdicnts followed by the last Republican
House II prefers to have these dlsorderly
scenes enacted. II is ashamed to put on record
its confession that Democratic abuse Of Speak
or Reed and the Republican majority of the
List Congress was partisan claptrap. 1t wei
comes unlicensed fibusterng, INSCRIPTIONS
suppression Of minority rights. continuous
| block In legislative business, and all the dis
| grace and turmoil Of such session as that OF
Thursday. All conceivable outrages upon lcgis-
! lative decency and every possible exhibition OF
! incompetence on the part of the majority are
| preferable in its judgment, to public rccanta-
! ton of the ISLANDERS about THE Republican
/ Gar"
! The legislative records Of the two parties are
before the American people. The last Repub-
| lican House with the narrOwest possible margin
Of votes enforced the supreme principle OF ma
| jority rule. suppressed 4 minority conspiracy,
restored the functions Of Congress as q work
| ing body and made wonderful record for legis-
| lative industry The overwhelming Democratic
majority Of the Lid and Lid Congresses has
not been able to transact business without gag
rule and tumultuous uproar. Both sessions Of
| the LID Congress were spent in imbecile at
! tempts to enact pOpglin tariff bills. The repeal
Of one clause Of the Sherman bill and the anon
| alous Tariff bill, soon to be brought up In the
Senate in a form hardly recognizable by its au-
thors in the House, are the fruits Of two scs-
sons Of the present Congress. How strong Is
the contrast between Republican commonscnse
! and Democratic imbccility.