The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-18
QUORUMS TO BE COUNTED.
The House Adopts The Resolution Of
the Committee on Rules.

Rule 212 to 47-The Galleries Give
ex-Speaker Reed an Ovation on the
Triumph of the Principle for Which
He Has Long Contended-Four Mem
bers Of the Georgia Delegation Vote
Against the Innovation, Lester
Among Them.
Washington, April 1.-THE House has
authorized a count Of quorum by vote
of 212 to AZ The new rule passed during
scenes as exciting as those which at
tended the close Of the debate on the
Wilson bill. Every seat on the floor was
taken, and the galleries were crowded.
After the rule was reported, an attempt
was made TO extend the debate. Mr.
Reed wanted time to advertise his vanity
in the matter, and those democrats who
opposed the rule desired plenty of time to
explain away their opposition. Mr.
Catchings moved the previous question,
which limits the debate to half an hour.
There was great opposition to this, but it
was finally carried.
VOTE OF THE GEoRGI ANS.
Many of the delegations who were split
in the caucus united in the House, but
the Georgia delegation could not get to-
gether. Representative Turner was VIC
lently opposed to the rule, and made that
opposition known. He had three other
Georgians with him, Messrs Black, Les
ter and Russell.
Mr. Russell made his opposition known
in violent two-minute speech, Ele was
the only member of the delegation who
was able to get slice out Of the half
hour allowed He said that the republi-
cans, under Speaker Reed, had been
forced to adopt arbitrary methods on ac-
count of the small majority they had In
the Fifty-first Congress. This House
needed no arbitrary methods, he said, if
all the democrats would do their duty.
INDoRsED THE OLD THEORY.
He then proceeded to indorse the old
theory that a member had a right to re-
main silent aud not vote, and further, he
said that member not only had the
right, but that 1t was his duty to assist to
break quorum whenever he thought the
question at issue was detrimental to his
constituents. II could hardly be said
that the other membe of the delegation
who voted against the rule, hold exactly
this same sentiment, but they thought
it was indorsing republican policy, not
remembering that such IA rule has been
enforced for years in number of demo-
cratic states, and that Speaker Reed
based his ruling on that of Senator Hill,
when the latter was speaker Of the New
York House. When the vote was finally
taken Messrs. Cabaniss, Lawson, Living
ston, Moses and Tate voted for the rule,
and Messrs. Black, Lester, Russell and
Turner voted against it,
UNJUST CRITICISM.
Col. Lester, with the other Georgians
who voeed against the rule, has been
criticised for not adherlng to the decision
of the caucus. Col. Lester says he did
not understand that those who entered
the caucus were to ba bound by it,
Representa- tive Catchings, a member Of
the committee on rules, and the leader in
the fight, said to the MORNING NEWS
correspondent to-day that he did not
understand either that the action of
the caucus was TO be binding, as it had
not been stipulated in the call for the
caucus This was the general under
standing accompanying the call.
DETAILS OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
By the Southern Associated Press.
Washington, April 1.-THE House was
preoipitated at once upon the opening of
the session to-day. into an animated, not
to say bitter, controversy over the propo-
sition TO count a quorum. Immediately
after the chaplain had concluded the
Lords prayer, Mr.. Catchings got the
floor and stated that by direction of the
committee on rules he would
withdraw the report of the COM
mittee made last week, propos-
ing to fine members for unexcused alb
sences and failures to vote. That having
been done, he offered the resolution
agreed upon by the committee as a substi-
tuJe for the DeArmond resolution, re-
ferred to the committee by the demo-
cratic cuacus last Friday. Following is
the resolution;
At end OF rule IS by inserting between
clauses l. and 2 The following as clause 2, and
change the number Of clause to clause 3:
Upon every rOll-call and before the begin
ming Thereafter the speaker shall name two
memters. one from each side Of the pending
question. If practicable, who shall take their
place, at the clerk desk TO tell the names OF
at least enough members who are in
the hall of the House during the roll
call who do not respond, when added TO those
responding TO make quorum. II quorum
does not respond on the rollcall. then the
names OF those so noted, or present, shall be
reported to the speaker, who shall cause the
list to be called from the clerks desk and
recorded on the journal; and in determining
the presence of a quorum to do business
those who voted and those who answered
present and those 80 reported present shall
lie considered. Members noted may when
their names are called, record their votes
Notwithstanding the provisions Of clause on
the rule"
Amend clause Of rule by adding the fol
lowing words: And. on foll-call, should
he not vote. he shall answer present. so as
to read: Every member shall be present in
tho hall Of the House during its sttings IN.
leAs excused or necessarily prevented; and
shall vote on each question put, unless he has
direct personal and pecuniary interest in
the event OF such question, and on a roll-call
should he not vote, he shall answer pres
ent.'
cATCHINGs WANTS RI PUT THROUGH O.
When it had been read, Mr.. CatchinQs
asked unanimous consent that the pre-
vious question on the passage of the
resolution be considered ordered and
that debate be closed in an hour and a
half, the time to be controlled by the
speaker of the House.
At once there was opposition mani
infested on the democratic side, and so
much confusion existed that the proceed
ings could not be distinguished at the
speakers desk
Mr.. Wells, dem, of Wisconsin, OBJ
so,taI - ,a.trfotfnar dof.~fa 20 av.r ot,,l,