Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-07
A QUORUM QUESTION.
Speaker Crisp Confronted With a
Peculiar Point.
VOTE ON THE HAWAIIAN RESOLUTION
Federal Elections Bill in the
Senate.
MR.. HOAR'S STRONG SPEECH.

The indications were when the House met
this morning that a democratic quorum
would be secured to pass the McCreary
resolution condemning Minister Stevens.
approving the course of Mr.. Cleveland and
declaring against the annexation of or the
assumption of a protectorate over the Ha-
waiian Islands. Immediately after the
reading of the journal Mr.. Breckenridge
from the committee on appropriations re-
ported an urgent deficiency bill and gave
notice that he would call it up tomorrow.
Mr.. Patterson of the committee on cleo
tons gave notice that he would call up the
ONeill-Joy contested election case on Mon
day next.
Mr.. Reeds Point of Order.
Mr.. McCreary then called up his Hawaiian
resolution. Mr.. Reed. pursuing the flibus-
tering tactics inaugurated yesterday. made
the point of order that when the House ad-
journed last night it adjourned pending
proceedings to enforce the attendance Of
absentees
He contended that the proceedings under
the call did not terminate with adjourn
ment and that the only thing in order was
the report OF the sergeant-at-arms. or, If the
chair held that all proceedings terminated
by adjournment, 1t also vacated the order
revoking leaves Of absence and instructing
the Sergeant-at-arms TO telegraph for alb
sentees. If the latter order were carried
out, then the sergeant-at-arms had exceed
ed his authority in executing the order and
his accounts should be examined. He Of
fered the Speaker either horn of the dilem-
ma.
The Speaker overruled the point OF order,
holdlng that while all proceedings under the
call terminated with adjournment the ord ar
reVohlng leaves of absence executed itself
The Roll Called on the Resolution.
Inc roll was then called on the adoption
OF the McCreary resolution The republi-
cans sat silent in their seats II the resolu
ton were to be passed they were resolved
that the democrats should produce their
own quorum.
1T was on yesterday Mr.. Cummings NYl
ana Mr.. Geary (Cal) declined to vote, Mr.
Slckles N.Y(, who voted against the reso-
luuon yesterday, was not present TODAY Mr.
Cockrell CTexas), who refused To vots yas
terday, voted for the resolution. Mr. Daniel
tN.YD and Mr.. Adams (Pa) voted arainst
the resolution.
Just before the vote was announoad NJ,
Cummings (N.YD, standing in the area in
front of the Speakers chair, stated thai he
desired to vote to make quorum
Was the gentleman in the hall of ,ba
House and failed to hear his name callet?,.
asked the Speaker
Il was.' replied Mr. Cummings
Inc Speaker directed the clerk to call
Mr. Cummings name. He did so
II vote no." answered Mr., Cummings with
great emphasis.
Mr. Adams asked the privilege of with
drawing his vote on the ground that he
had voted under a misapprehension
Il object" shouted Mr.. McCreary
The Speakers Ruling CHALLENGED.
The Speaker held that the vote could not
be withdrawn save by unanimous consent
Mr. Reed challenged the ruling claiming
that II had never been SO held before
The rule is clear" said the Speaker. "if
the gentleman from Maine will reflect on
the rule moment"
The gentleman from Maine had reflected
on the rules several minutes" returned Mr.
Reed. sarcastically.
II gentlemen who have not reflected
then, VIII give their attention" continued
the Speaker with some vigor, "the chair
VIII state that the rule requires that each
member shall vote unless excused and
when gentleman has voted the chair does
not think 1t competent for a member who
mas voted, as he should do by the rule TO
Withdraw that vote save by unanimous
consent"
And it has always been so held" added
Mr. Bland of Missouri hotly.
hen the gentleman from Maine was in
the chair he counted members as voting
whether they voted or not"
The Speaker then announced the vote
Mr. SprinGer's Point.
Mr.. Springer raised the point of order
that although l79 members would constitute
a quorum, there were four vacant seats
Ia was quorum. This was d most i'm
portant parliamentary question Mr.
Springer called attention of the House TO
the fact that in the Thirty-seventh Con-
gress. lSt3, when several of the southern
states failed 10 send members, it was held
that a majority of the members attending
constituted quorum to do business. and in
a carefully delivered opinion of ex-Speaker
Reed in the Fitty-hrSt Congress he had
maintained that majority of the members
chosen and living was quorum to do busi-
ness.
The Speakers Explanation
The Speaker explained the question pre-
sented was one of grave Importance 1t
had, except on the occasion during the war
always been held so far as the question had
been decided that quorum was a majority
of all the members TO be elected. Mr. Reed
in the hurry of parliamentary procedure
held ir accordance with past precedents
but later. after examining into the matter.
he submitted a review of his decision hold
ing that a majority of the members elected
and living and not majority of those who
could be elected should constitute a QUO
rum.
Mr.. Reeds Statement.
Mr. Reed. who looked somewhat flushed
and disconnected, made statement at this
point as to the circumstances under which
he made his review. 1t had been made. he
said, after the most careful Investigation
He was still of the same opinion although
he called attention to the fact that the
Speaker had undergone a change of heart
The Speaker then held that a majority of
the members chosen and living constituted
a quorum. His decision was a signal for
burst of Indignation from some of the demo-
cratic leaders.
An Interesting Debate.
A most interesting debate followed. Il
venture to suggest" said Mr. Cochran,
that If a quorum is not an arbitrary num-
Der such a decision might lead to ridicu-
lous condition of affairs here. If only three
members were elected, for instance two
would then constitute a quorum. This is
matter of great gravity. The English
house of commons has a fixed membership
of forty members. II the membership of
this House is not a fixed quantity then
the importance of a member here is a
shifting quantity If we have full house
he is 1-119th of a quorum.
THE SENATE.
The attention of the Senate was occupied
for fifteen minutes by Senator Cameron of
Pennsylvania this morning, in the presen-
tation OF fifty or more petitions against the