The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-30
STORM IN THE HOUSE
It Was Caused by the Attempt to
Capture a Quorum.
MESSRS. REED AND BOUTELLE
NAMED BY THE SPEAKER.

InrOuSn IfOFlOADS AOi "'AD -0~~ -
Absent Members But Even Then the
Fight Was Not oyer-Finally, How
ever, tho Opposing Leaders Met and
Peace Was Declared.
Washington, March 29. 9.-Filibustering
was renewed in the House today over
the O'Neill-Joy election case and gave
rise to stormy scenes.
Mr.. Patterson, Democrat of Tennessee,
offered a resolution directing the SER
geant-at-arms to arrest and bring to the
bar of the House all thesmem bers alb
sent without leave and that he be or
dered to employ a sufficient number OF
deputies to execute the order which
should be a contin uing order after the
adjournment. Mr.. Patterson demanded
the previous question on the. motion and
the demand was sustained on division
104 to 8.
Mr.. Reed made the point that no quo
rum voted.
The Speaker stated that the vote of a
quorum was not necessary on a motion
of this kind. Mr.. Reed said the resolu-
tion contained four separate PROPOSE
tions, one OF which looked to the contin-
uing of the order beyond the adjourn
ment. This, he claimed. required the
vote of quorum.
The Speaker said the question was
not new and had been repeatedly held
to be within the power of less than a
quorum to decide. 1t was a petition
looking to the presence of quorum.
If all action expired with adjournment,
the House might kbe compelled to re-
main in continuous session night and
day for possibly two weeks while the
sergeant-at-arms was bringing to the
capitol men from Texas or California.
No such absurd rule could be or ought
to be enforced. applause on the DEM
ocratic side).
Scenes of confusion recalling some of
the incidents of the 51st Congress, fol-
lowed. Speaker Crisp took the floor
and both he and ex-Speaker Reed spoke
on hesparliamentary questions involved.
Then followed parliamentary tangle
of the most involved kind, sintelligible
only to, the most expertsparliamentar
and far from being entirely clear to
them. All sorts OF motions and appeals
were made and scene of stormy confu-
sion ensued.
Mr.. Lacey, Republican OF Iowa ap-
pealed for the ruling of the Chair.
The Chair declined to entertain the
appeal. :,
tMen swarmed to the center of the hall,
many shouting for recognition.
Mr.. Reed desired to ask the Speaker
for an explanation of his rufusal to en-
tertain Mr.. Lacey's appeal.
The sound of the Speakers geavel was
the only response. Finally the SER
geant-at- arms was directed to
Request Mr. Reed to Take His Seat.
Mr.. Reed sank into chair on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Boutelle cried "Oh, would not
call upon the sergeant-at-arms EVERY
few minutes.
The Speaker replied: "The sergeant
alarms will force the other gentleman
from Maine. to take his seat"
While this was progressing, Mr.. Payne,
in stentorian tones, shouted for recogn1-
iton on point of-order.
TIE Speaker: 1.-The Chair declines to
recognize the gentleman from New York
for any purpose. The question is Shall
the resolution of the gentleman from
Tennessee pass?"
Amid intense excitement the vote
was taken, viva voce. The Speaker said
the yeas had it.
On division the vote was yeas, I19;
nays, is. Mr.. Patterson called for the
yeas and nays and the demand was Sec
onded by 1873 memb bers. Mr.. Payne de-
manded telIers on the count and Mr..
Patterson and Mr.. Payne were appointed
tellers
Mr.. Payne made a motion to adjourn
and insisted on recognition to present
point of order. The confusion was in
tensified and as Mr.. Payne indicated no
&-, ,of FOL ho S,ano otrsorr q m
pointed Mr.. Reed. Mr.. Freed declined to
act and the Speaker directed Mr.. Patter-
son to act alone. The Democratic mem
bers passed nsfront of Mr.. Patterson, the
Republicans declining to be recorded.
Mr. Patterson reported that 1913 mem
bers had seconded the demand for the
yeas and nays.
Messrs. Reed and Payne both made
points of order that but one teller had
reported and the rules of the House re-
quired two The Speaker responded
that Messrs. Reed and Payne had de-
clined to act and, as he did not desire
to have his appointments hung PACK IN
his teeth, the vote was ordered taken
in the manner indicated.
Messrs. Reed and Payne still protest
ed amid shouts from the Democratic
side of @Sit down" and Regular
order.n The Speaker responding to a
statement by Mr.. Reed, said: "The
House understands the situation and
1be Sneaker Takes ALI the Consequences
Mr.. Payne and Mr.. Cultivate got into
heated coIloquy, in the midst OF
which the Speaker named them and
Mr.. Reed in efforts Ito secure sorder.
Finally he said if a mo tion was made
respecting Mr.. Payne it would be enter
tanned and Mr.. Wise, Democrat of Virgil
MIA, moved THAT Mr.. Payne be. brought
before the bar of the House to. answer to
the charge of contumacious conduct.
He was asked by the Chair to reduce
the motion to writing. The Speaker said
there must be some way i'll which the
Hose cold compel members who persis-
tently defied the requests of the Chair
to observe the rules, or take their seats.
Mr.. Boutelle declared that the Speaker
himself was violating the rules by re-
ceiving the report of one teller when the
rules required two. Mr.. Cultivate de-
manded that Mr.. Boutelle be brought be-
fore the bar of the House for contumacy
The motion of Mr.. Wise having been
written was sent to the Speakers desk
but was not then received, the Speaker
deciding not to interrupt the roll call
begun on Mr.. Patterson's resolution