The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-08
MIR. BOUTELLE'S DEFEATED
Only Ninety-One Votes Cast for
the Maine Mans Resolution.
Eastern Democrats FilibuSter Against
Mr.. BANDS Bill for Coinage of the
Silver SeigniOrage.

CIeNeland 1he ttepuDHcanS InDuStereu
against it to the end. On the first vote the
resolution was carried-174 to sand an in
teresting parliamentary question was raised
as to whether III instead of 179 was not a
quorum, four seats being vacant on ac-
count of deaths. The Speaker held that
a majority OF the members chosen and liv-
ing constituted a quorum, quoting in sup
port of his position a review of the subject
made by the ex-Speaker of the Fifty-first
Congress. His position, however, was warm
ly assailed by some of the Democratic
members, and it was finally agreed to take
the vote over again, so that the ruling was
eventually withdrawn. The Boutelle reSo-
luton was defeated by strict party vote.
After the voting these resolutions had
been completed Mr. Bland made an attempt
to get up his bill for the coinage of the sill
yer seigniorage in the treasury. The East
ern Democrats, led by Messrs. Tracey and
Cochran, inaugurated a filibuster, in which
they were joined by the majority of the
Republicans, although a few of the latter
indicated by their votes that they favored
consideration OF the bill. and for four
hours Mr. Bland and the remainder of the
Democrats were held at bay. Finding that
il was impossible TO secure a quorum TO
proceed with consideration of the bill. and
definitely on the proposition, Mr.. Bland di-
rected his efforts toward securing the
adoption of a resolution TO revoke all leaves
OF absence and to instruct the Sergeant-at-
arms to arrest absentees. After a per-
silent Struggle, which lasted until o clock,
Mr.. Bland was successful, and the resolu-
tion was passed In order to make it still
more effective the order was made con-
tinuing one till vacated by the House
Immediately after the reading of the
journal this morning Mr.. Breckenridge,
from the committee on appropriations, re-
ported an urgent deficiency bill, and gave
notice that he would call it up tomorrow.
Mr. Patterson, of the committee on cleo
tions, gave notice that he would call UP
the O'Neill-Joy contested election case on
Monday next.
REED FfLIRUSTERS.
Mr. McCreary then called up his Ha-
waiian resolution. Mr.. Reed pursuing the
flibustering tactics inaugurated yesterday,
made the point of order that when the
| House adjourned last night it adjourned
| pending proceedings to enforce the attend
ance of absentees He contended that the
proceedings under the call did not terminate
| with adjournment, and that the only thing
1 in order was the report of the Sergeant-at-
| arms or if the Chair held that all pro-
| ceedings were terminated, it also vacated
the order reVoking the leaves of those alb
| sent and instructing the Sergeant-at-arms
to telegraph for absentees. If the latter or
| der were carried out, then the Sergeant-at-
| arms had exceeded his authority in ex-
| ecuting the order and his action should
| be examined into. He offered the Speaker
| either horn OF the dilemma
| The Speaker overruled the point of order.
4 l,.l,l th,f on
| the call terminated with adjournment, the
| order revoking leaves of absence executed
| itself.
| The roll was then called on the adoption
| Of the McCreary resolution. The Repub-
| licans sat silent in their seats. If the reso-
| own quorum. The vote on the first roll call
| was ia to S-no quorum. As on yester-
| day, Mr.. Cummings and Mr.. Geary, Dem
ocrats, declined to vote. Mr. Sickies, who
| voted against the resolution yesterday, was
fused to vote yesterday, voted for the res
Just before the vote was announced Mr.
| Cummings, of New York, standing in the
| area i'm front of the Speakers chair. stated
| that he desired to vote TO make a quorum
| WAS the gentleman in the hall of the
| House and failed To hear his name called"'
| asked the Speaker.
Il was" replied Mr.. Cummings.
| The Speaker directed the clerk to call
Mr.: Cunlmings's name. and he did
| II vote no. answered Mr.. Cummings
with great emphasis
| Mr. Adams asked the privilege of with
| drawing his vote on the ground that he
had voted under misapprehension.
| II object" shouted Mr. McCreary.
| The Speaker held that the vote could not
| be withdrawn save by unanimous consent.
Mr. Reed challenged the ruling, claiming
"The rule is clear said the Speaker.
Elf the gentleman from Maine will reflect
| for a moment
on the rules several minutes" retorted Mr..
| Reed, sarcaStically
| then, VIII give their attention. continued
| the Speaker, with some vigor, 1.-THE Chair
will state that the rule requires that each
| member shall vote unless excused, and
! when a gentleman has voted The Chair
| does not think it competent for a member
rule TO withdraw that vote save by unan-
| And il has always been so held" added
| Mr. Bland of Missouri, hotly. when the
gentleman from Maine was in the chair
| he counted members as voting whether they
| voted or not
| The Speaker then announced the vote as
| la to 3-no quorum.
AN IMPORT Ant Point.
Mr.. Springer raised the point OF order that
although 179 members ordinarily would con-
stitute a quorum, as there were four vacan-
cies III was a quorum. This was a most
important parliamentary question, said Mr.
Springer who called the attention of the
House to the fact that in the Thirty
seventh Congress, when some of the South
ern States failed 10 send Members. it was
held that majority of the members elected
constituted quorum to do business.
Mr.. Breckinridge, OF Kentucky, MAIN
tanned that the correct settlement of the
question before the House was of far
s,raver importance than the passage OF any
resolution expressing the sense of the House
on the Hawaiian matter.
I Mr.. Reed, during the course of Mr.. Breck-
inridge's remarks. called attention 10 the
fact that majority OF the members OF the
! Senate constituted a quorum in that body
Mr.. Bailey then came TO the rescue of the
Speaker, and made a strong argument i'm
support Of the principle involved in the rul-
ing mo immediate party advantage" said
ne, 'can justify an improper decision on a
point so vital as this" He proceeded II
argue that the practice of the ruling turned
on what constituted the House of Repre-
sentatives Ee maintained that the mem
bsrs, not the membership of the House,
constituted the House. one of the most
important matters that could be submit ID
10 vote OF the House was that of passing
a bill over the Presidents veto. The Con-
l stitution required that two thirds OF the