The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-18
And Members and Spectators Join in
a Tribute to the "Czar."
ONLY FORTY. SEVEN VOTES WERE
THROWN IN OPPOSITION.

DSAAAOSAtsocs -->O~N-N-
ing "Buck" Kilgore and Col. W. G. P.
Breckinridge-The New Rule Provides
that the Quorum Shall Be Counted by
Tcllers, Representing Both Sides
The Popu1ists Refrained from Voting
on the Question-App1ause and Flowers
for Mr.. Reed.
Washington, April 1.-THE House
was precipitated at once, upon the open
ing of the session today, lnJo an animat-
ed controversy over the proposition to
count quorum. Immediately after
the chaplain concluded his prayer, Mr..
Catchings, Democrat, of Mississippi,
stated that by direction of the commit
tee on rules, he would withdraw the re-
port of the committee made last week
proposing to fine members for unex-
cused absences and failures to vote.
That having been done. the offered
the resolution agreed upon by the
committee as a substitute TOR the De-
Almond resolution referred to the COM
mittee by the Democratic caucus of fri
day. When it had been read, Mr.. Catch
ings asked unanimous consent that the
previous question on the passage of the
resolution be considered ordered and
debate closed in an hour and half.
Opposition was manifested on the
Democratic side, and much confusion
existed. Several Dem cratic mem hers.
appealed to Mr.. Catchings for two hours
debate on side. Finally, Mr.. Catchings
changed the request to one for unani
nous consent to fix the vote at 4.
Mr. Grow, Republican, of Pennsylvan
ia. said he had a substitute he would
like to offer and have read for inform
alton and to be voted on, which could not
be done if the previous question was
the clerks at the desk should keep
correct list of the names of mem bers
present and not answering when their
names were called and such names
should be counted as part of the mem
bers necessary for quorum.
Mr.. Burrows, Repu blican, OF Michigan,
asked to be allowed to offer as sub
stitute for the rule reported the rule in
force in the 51st Congress as represent
ing the views of the minority. This
was agreed to and the rule read as fol
lows:
On demand of any member or at the sug-
gestion of the Speaker, names sufficient to
the House who do not vote shall be noted
by the clerk and recorded in the Journal
and reported to the Speaker with the names
of the members voting, and be- counted and
announced in determining the pbresence
of quorum to do business.
Mr. Catchings's request for unanimous
consent was then su ubmitted, but Mr..
Wells, Democrat, of Wisconsin, object
ed and Mr.. Latchings then moved that
the previous question be ordered on the
of A
ion the vote was: Ayes, 1873; noes. IS.
The Republicans generally voted against
ordering the previous question. The
yeas and nays were demanded and or
dered, resulting: Yeas, 140; nays. 120,
and the previous question was ordered.
Mr.. Burrows thereupon Withdrew his
substitute.
Debate was opened by Mr.. Catchings
in brief explanation of the rule. Mr..
Springer, Democrat, OF Illinois. said
the proposed rule contemplated no
change OF the Constitution. 1t was only
proposition whereby the House could
do the business for which the members
The House had sat for month past
and done scarcely two days work. He
said he should hail the adoption of the
rule as the dawn of a better era in
A merican legislation. Mr.. Springer's
remarks were accompanied by almost
continuous applause from the Republi-
can benches.
Mr.. Kilgore, Democrat, of Texas, ex-
pressed his opposition to the adoption
of the rule of which the gentleman from
Maine (Mr. Reed) was the parent The
rule he thought unnecessary.
Mr. Reed said:
1 don't desire to address the House again
upon the general subject. This scene here
today is more effective address than any
[ could make. The Hous is about to adopt
the principle for which we contended in the
51st Congress and is about to adopt it un-
der circumstances which show conclusively
to the country its value. No words can
utter can add to the Importance of the oc-
casion 1 congratulate the 53rd Congress