Evening star., 1894-03-30
NOTHING YET DONE
The House Wastes Day Over Approval
of the Journal
Mr.. Reed Offers an Amendment That
Ii Rejected-CaIIs of the House
to Get q Quorum.

Speaker Crisp was given a rousing recep-
ton when he ascended the rostrum of the
House at noon today. From both sides of
the hall the applause was deafening The
spectators in the galleries rose to their feet
and leaned far over to get a full view of the
newly honored statesman. Many of them
Joined in the demonstration. The Speaker
gavel in hand, gently inclined his head in
acknowledgment, and as he did so the ap-
plause swellei and broke into a great
cheer. The demonstration lasted fully a
minute.
Mr.. Reeds Point of Order
The battle which came SO abruptly to a
close last night when the House adjourned
was reope1ed by Mr.. Reed as soon as the
journal was read. He made the point of
order that the journal failed TO show that
Mr.. Payne made point of order that but
one teller had acted on the demand for the
yeas and nays, and that the Speaker had
overruled the point-reason not stated. Ne
offered an amendment to meet his obiec-
tion-
Mr.. Outhwaite called attention to the fact
that great deal of confusion existed on
the f1oor during the proceedings last night
There was no confusion as regards that
point of order" replied Mr.. Reed adding
with emphasis, lat least not on the floor"
Mr.. Springer ull) demanded the previous
/
fusing to withdraw ii to allow Mr. Reed
to offer another amendment to the effect
that Mr.. Payne rose to a point of order,
and the Speaker refused TO permit the point
of order to be stated.
On a rising vote the journal was approy-
ed, ana Mr. Reed forced the yeas and nays.
The Previous Question Ordered.
The previous question was ordered-l1S-
1. Under the rule thirty minutes were then
allowed for debate, fifteen minutes on a
side. Mr.. Reed took the floor The rules
provided, he said. that all questions of order
shall be decided by the Speaker. Twice
yesterday the Speaker refused to recog-
nize points of order without giving any
reason therefor. No reason, according to
the usaGc5 of parliamentary Law. could be
given for refusing to entertain a point of
order except that the processes of the House
were being used to obstruct business The
Speaker had repeatedly held that that rea-
son was not valid one.
The Amendmcnt Disagreed to.
Mr.. Springer. who controlled the time
against Mr.. Reed, said that it was unneces.
sary to make any statement in reply. He
asked for vote on Mr.. Reeds amendment.
On rising vote it was disagreed to-61-
1iS
The yeas and nays were demanded.
AT the conclusion of the roll call, before
the announcement, Mr.. Burrows mich.
dIose 70 rnamentary inquiry. He called
attention to the fact that q mistake had
been made in the roll call, by which the
previous question WAS ordered
NJ. Sipe Q'a.). who had gone home last
night. had been recorded as voting ave
The loss of his vote would have broken The
quorum, hence subsequent proceedings were
vitiated.
what Constitutes n Quorum
The Speaker stated that II Mr.. Sine had
not voted, leaving only l7S recorded votes.
the question of what constituted a quorum
was thereby raised.
lie lntimated that he would rule a ma
Jority of the members elected and living 10
be quorum, and Mr.. Rae (ArkO was in-
cllned to force a ruling, but after some
discussion, by unanimous consent an agree
ment was reached to take the vote over
again
The roll call just finished showed the
amendment TO the journal to have been
lost, 1-119.
A quorum was procured on the confi-ma.
tlon OF the vote on demand for the previous
question, ISL. The vote then came ON
the main question, the approval of the
journal " 'iie
The quorum failed on this yote-171--o
MT springer, in order to avoid the telio,1S
proceedings under a call of the Housa
moved 10 adjourn, in the hope of deyelon.
ing quorum on that motion