The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-18
The RepG blioans. by Using 0bsiruo-
tive Tactics. Accomplished
This Bad Result
The Heroic Method OF Counting a
Quorum Adopted by the
House.
Aud the Republicans Can Now lie Forced
to Participate In the Work of
Legisiation.


attendance In the galleries Of the honse to-
day. Mr.. Catehinga secured recognition
and PRESENTED the quorum counting rule
agreed NJ on by the democratic cAuous last
week. After amendmsats offered By Mr..
Burrows and Mr. Reed the speaker sub
mittsd q request for unanimous consent 20
close debate AZ four o'clock. Mr.. Wells
objected. lie demanded the previous
question. The vote was taken by yeas and
nays. The republicans made no effort to
nlibuster. but voted in the negative, besides
many democrats, who we're opposed to the
proposed role. or 60 driving 10 through
under the lash. The demand for the previ-
Gus question was sustained. l4O TO 100
Under the rule fifteen minutes was allowed
on each side for debate.
In the course OF the controversy, Mr..
Reed stated that 30 far as the republican
minority was concerned the rule reported
from the committee on rulss embodied the
principle for which they had been contend
ing. There might perhaps be some obieo-
tion to details of the rule, bat the principle
was co rect one.
Mr.. Burrows. after stating that the pro-
posed rule was substantially the rule Of the
Fifty. frat congress. withdrew the substi-
tute he had offered. Debate was even tenn
psTed and wholly unlike what had been
anticipated.
Mr.. Reed, who controlled the fifteen
minutes for the republicans, at this juno
ture yielded hve minutes TO Bryan. bryan
wna earliest in his opposition TO the rule.
THIS was matter OF great importance. he
said. Over half the states in the union,
including New York. Pennsylvania, llli-
nois. Indiana and Ohio. required an affirm
ative vote OF q ma iOrity of their legislative
assemblies to enact laws. IL might be In
convenient at times, but 10 was essentially
a safe plan. II was the safeguard of the
minority. IL gave the minority power TO
compel the concurrence of a majority on
any measure, nnd while the power could be
used for hlibustering uroosss, after ell Is
was better to be safe than TO be sorry.
Mr.. Springer followed NJ. Bryan and
supported the proposed rule. because he
said IL would enuble the members OF the
house TO transact the business which their
constituents aent them there 60 transact.
A buTst of republican applause greeted this
statement, which was renewed when he
saio she house had, IN a month, done but
two days business.
Mr.. KtlRofe argued that the proposed
rule wea unnecessary in legislative body
in which the controlling party had ninety
four majority and thirty more than a quo
rum. kX-spsaker Grow upheld the princi-
pie incorporated in the proposed rule. but
objected to the details as cumberous.
hr. Russell democrat OF Gsorgia, 20
whom Roed yielded one minute, declared
that no one would have the temerity to
affirm that the Fifty hrst congress woul1
have adolted quorum counting device
had the republicans in that house not bssn
so hard pressed for a quorum. With the
enormous majority held BY ths democrats
OF the house it wes humiliatinQ spectacle
to see them forced 20 the adoption OF a
revolutionary expedient. round OF re-
publican applause answered this. and M.
Heed arose and With a display OF feTVsnt
generosity and good humor consented to
let him proceod for hve inmates.
Il don't want 10 use il myself" said he.
II would like TO distribute IL among my
democratic friends."
MIR Reeds words seemed 20 Rosd Mr..
Bvnum particularly. and ho objected, in a
loud voice. 1hereupon M. Reed said he
would only consume one minute OF the re-
naming time. lie thought 10 unnecessary
to say anything. The acene here to day Is
more Ell tctivs than any address he would
make. The house was about 20 adopt
principle for which the republicans had
contended since the Fifty fret congress-
Il congratulate the TIfty-third con
Rress." said he. imprsssvelY. ''on the wise
decree ID 10 about to make"
Mr. OuthvRite, democratic member OF
the committee on rules. then hurriedly
explained She difficulty under which tho
house had been laborin2. and the impera-
tive demand for q remedy, and the rule
proposed. Mr.. CaichinGa, in concluding
the debate, declared that II the Tro soaed
proceedings wero revolutionary, IL had been
forced By the republicans, who insisted on
the policy OF obstruction on The most tfiv .
ial and unimportant legislation. lie re-
Gented the idea that such obstruction could
lie considered statesmRnlike. Yet, having
become the settled policy of the opposition,
heroic measures we're necessary in order TO
trsnsacs business.
vots was then taken on The adoption OF
the new rule. The republicans all voted in
favor OF II, and IL was adopted, 2l2 10
forty-one.
The parliamentary wheels then began
moving aRain ia the house. and then came
the approval OF the journal Of the last
thres legislative days. which had mp TO this
time remained stumbling block TO
progress. Then came the question of dis
charging the sergsapt-at-hTms from the
continuous order to ar est memserG On a
motlon To discharge ths ssrQehut-At-ATms
yea and nav vote Was secured. and this
gave the hrst practical illustration of the
operation Of the new rule. The speaker
ap ointed te!lefs 60 watch the count, aud II
necessary count members present. but not
voting. In order 60 force the recording Of
members a. y esent but not voting tine e
publieans declined 90 vote on the frst roll
call.
Finding that quorum had voted on Abe
frst call. the republicans changed their
tactics on tho second call aud answered 20
their names. As result the vote showed
that O quorum was present and the tsllers
made no report.
A regular go.ga Of eommittss reports.
blocked by the hibustering OF week. wero
:. aented under u call OF committtes The
10. tfsfa snF
whole on the consular and diplomatic ap
pTopriAiion bill.
la tha senate to-day Mitchell asked that
ths resolution 10 consider tho Chinese
tEentv Ia olon session be laid Asids until
May when Senator Morgan wonld retu n.
his was agreed o.. tenator hcLAurln. OF
Mississippi. then began his maiden speech,
sapportiug the tarid bul. senator Smith.
OF new 10 sey. followed him tn an EARNEST
tsech which Was devoted entirely 20 an at
tack on tue income tax. A. the conclusion
OF Hr. Smiths speech the senate adjourned.