The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-19
ABsENrEEs To DE DocKEp.
Revival OF an Old Law That WIZ Re-
suit I'm N Euu House.

WASHINGTON, April 1s.-An era OF
business is rapidly being inaugurated in
the House Of Representatives. The quo
rum-counting rule has been the first step
In that direction. Further steps are now
contemplated by which absenteeism will be
brought 10 an end. The House will then
have system by which members can be
compelled 10 attend. and when. in attend
ance. be counted to make a quorum. II
VIII be the most stringent system for en-
forced attendance and enforced voting that
Congress has ever had, the system unds~
Mr.. Reed having lacked the plan OF witkr
holding the pay Of absent members IL is
believed by parliamentary authorities that
the new system viii make IT almost out OF
the question to break quorum. and that
the House. from this time forward. will
always be ready to do business.
The judiciary committee. made up Of the
leading lawyers of the House, has pre-
scented a report to the effect that il Is the
imperative duty of the sergeant-at-arms TO
execute the old law for the deduction or
pay of absent members. This report sup
plements the recent action of the Demo-
cratic caucus instructing the sergeant-at-
arms to execute the law. 1t is in line with
the general movement TO enforce attend
ance with every law and rule which viii
aid in the transaction of business The
report Of the judiciary committee, after
reciting the old law law. says: Under
the provisions OF this law there can be no
question but that a member OF Congress
is not entitled To receive pay for any day
when he is absent from the House, unless
he can assign, as the reason for his alb
sence, his own sickness or the sickness or
some member OF his family. and IL ik pure
ly a question for him to consider whistler.
IL he desires TO attend TO his personal biiSi-
ness IL will be worth more TO him than
his daily pay or salary as n member or
Congress, or If he chooses To absent him
self on a trip for pleasure. whether he pre-
fers that or to draw his per diem salary
or the amount of salary he would have
been entitled 10 receive IL he had been IN
attendance at the House.
The report shows how the failure 10
dock salaries grew up during the war.
when many members were offlcerS IN inc
army and were necessarily absent III pro-
ceeds: This law has never been repeater,
either directly or by implication. and Is IN
force to-day and in the opinion or your
committee, IL is the duty OF the sergeant,
alarms TO make the deduction required
by this act from the salary or eacn men-
Der at the time he draws MS pay II may.
in many cases, work hardship. but II is
the law, and as long as II remains on lhe
statute books should be enforced.
The substitute resolution reported by me
committee recites the law for witnhonins
Therefore, be il resolved, that the ST
peant-at-arms strictly observe ana eniorce
the provisions of said law ana report 10
the House monthly his proceedings tnerS
under, and each month pay INTO uie $3.50, ties
urv Of the United States the sum deduciel
in the due observance and enforcement or
the law as declared in Said sectloh. 81
peant-at-arms Snow is back AFTER an so.
sence of some time, and Is IN consui Ittt.a
with members OF the judiciary commlttee
ae to the method in which the law VIII De
Executed and the docking system re-
inaugurated.