The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-15
FUCKERS COUNTING RULE
One Agreed Upon by The Caucus Origin
ated With a Virginia Member.
II IS FAVORED BY OUR COEGRESSMEN
Hr wiso's Committee Fully Oocupisd-Mr
Cleveland Promises TO be Present at
the Unwilling Next Month.
TINS BUREAU. RAPLEY BUILDING.
WASHINGTON. April IA. 1894.

The adoption by the Democratic caucus
Of o rule for counting "a quorum is gen
orally conceded 50 be one of the wisest
acts Of the majority. the only comment
icing upon the length of time which it
took them 10 realize into what pitiabie
state OF inactivity they were constantly
ltng placed by a few dsanected Demo-
Gratis. and the willy leaders among the
Republicans.
There were quite a number OF Demo-
Gratis who have always favored such a
rule. but who hesitated about its adop-
ton for the fear that it would seem 20
be- an endorsement of the Reed methods.
but the cases are entirely different and
even further. the matter of counting a
quorum did not originate with MI. Reed
but was first offered i'm the Forty-hith
Congress- by Hon. j. Randolph Tucker
a. virginia, and was Afterwards put Ah.o
execution by Lieuterant-Governor DaVlu
T. HW i'm the State Senate OF New YORK,
when he was It's presiding officer. The TACT
that Mr.. Tucker first introduced this rule
m Congress is now a matter OF record,
and although the present rule IS onered
b. Concressman Springer. OF ILLINOIS, II
Be- already known. and Will be recognized
I'm The House as the Tucker rule.
OUR MKMBFRs FAVOR 1T.
Tho VIRGINIA. congressman were unit
,n favor OF the rule. except the represen-
tatlve of the Fourth district, and Messrs.
Grady and Crawford were the only oppo-
nents III found in the North Carolina
delegation.
CONGRESSMAN Harry Tucker says Of il:
This rule proposes the method, not Of
counting, but OF ascertalning quorum.
Zach House under the Constitution has
the power to make the rules for its
own government.
'This rule has been found necessary
hy the fnbustering Of the Republicans
II was suppested by Hon. j. Randolph
Tucker in the Forty-fifth Congress, and
g. exactly the rule as suggested by
him.
III the Republicans propose to defeat
Democratic legislation by obstructive
measures we have the right under the
Constitution, and it is our duty, 10 pre-
vent it. Mr.. Reed arbitrarily counted a
quorum when there was no rule for IT,
though the House had the power TO make
fl. and he had the audacity In Justitying
his position to refer to this proposed
rule in the Forty-hfth Congress. In
short he sought 10 justify his action Tor
counting quorum without rule by
citing a precedent that required a rule
20 do what ne dld without the rule
Congressman Jones heartily approves
Of the rule. and had prepared resolu-
ton embracing a similar proposition for
presentation TO the caucus. which even
went further than the one adopted IN
its provisions for compelling the mem
bers OF the majority party TO be present
and participate in the proceedings OF the
House. He not only believes that the law
providing for the imposition OF fine upon
members absent without leave should
he Y4eldlv enforced, but believes that
recalccrant members should be arraisn-
"a al the bar of public opinion, and
that by an edict of the caucus their
names should be reported 10 their con-
sutuencles This latter would seem
harsh measure but would certainly have
the effect Of compelling the presence OF
members who have so stubbOnly resisted
the patriotic appeals OF the Speaker ana
those OF their colleagues. who are max
ing every sacrifice Of their private In
trests 70 advance the legislation which
was so solemnly pledged by the Demo-
cratic party in its Chicago platform, and
afterwards from the stump during the
last presidential campaign.
CAPTAIN wIsx's coMMITTFE.
The Committee on Interstate ana For
eign Commerce IS overwhelmed with work,
and Captain Wise. its chairman, has his
time fully occupied in presiding over it's
deliberations.
An important meeting OF It's subcom-
inlttoe was held this morning, which pre-
vented Captain Wise from making his
customary departmental visits.
Congressman Meredith to-day introduced
T. BIN i'm the House authorizing the Secre-
tary ~ the Treasury TO reimburse Mr..
H. b. Miller. surviving partner OF h. -
Miller x Co., In the sum or s00oU Tor
property destroyed by Union troops dur
Ing the late war.
MARY WASHINGTON MONUMENT
congressnae Meredith also called on the
President "a Secretaries Gresham ana
Herbert this morning and delivered Tor
the committee the Invitations 10 the dedi-
cation OF the Mary Washington monu-
gnent, which viii take place IN Fredericks-
burg. Va. on May the 10th. The Presi-
dent accepted. and for himself promised
70 be present Whether Mrs. Cleveland
viii honor herself and the occasion by
her presence depends on circumstances,
but as the White Houses family will
probably se domiciled 1t Woodley, their