Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-30
Mr.. REED DEFIANT
The Speaker and Ex-Speaker Have
a Wordy War.
EXCITEMENT In The HOUSE
Republicans Refuse to Act as Tel
Iers to Count Vote.
MR.. Girls P'S RU LIN G

After The Stars report of the House pro-
ceedings closed yesterday afternoon tur-
bulent scene ensued and for nearly three
hours the House was in turmoil of ex-
citeme1t. The trouble commenced during
the thirty minutes debate over the pre-
vious question upon adopting a resolution
providing for the arrest of absent members
in order to make quorum. Mr.. Patterson
had made a short speech, to which Mr..
Reed replied briefly.
He scored the democratic side, dwelling
particularly upon the absurdity OF pro-
ceeding which aimed at procuring a quo
rum by duress and after one was secured
left the House powerless to record its
presence.
Speaker Crisp was on the floor at the
time, and when Mr. Reed sat down Speaker
Crisp arose. 1t is very unusual thing for
the Speaker TO address the House, and as
soon as he got on his feet the members
crowded up the alsles and about the rails,
applauding him IS he arose.
The Speaker said ii was not his purpose
to enter into discussion Of the merits OF
the question. He only wanted TO call at
tention to the persistence with which the
leader of the minority (AIr. Reed had call
ed attention to the absolute iniquity Of the
practice Of members in refusing to vote
when their names were cdlIeO we nave
been denounced time and again." said he,
"for refusing to vote.
II counted you." interjected MIR. Reed,
amid laughter.
placed his party in a position when he
made his quOrum-counting ruling where 1t
either had to sustain that ruling or re-
Eounce him. 1t was on open secret, he
said. that Mr.. Reed had been unable to get
the republican caucus to authorize such
ruling.
Il never tried" said Mr.. Reed.
But, continued Mr.. Crisp, when Mr.. Reed
had once made the ruling his party was
forced TO sustain him. The Speaker pro-
ceeded to picture the absolute power OF the
ex-Speaker over his side of the House. He
described how an agreement entered into
by the minority and majority Of the cleo
tons committee had been broken at Mr.
Reeds dictation. He was the chief super
visor Of his side.
Chief Supervisor.
TT looks as If you needed chief super
visor on your own side," shouted Mr..
Boutelle.
What we possess and what you need"
replied the Speaker. deliberately, lis in
dependence Of thought. (Applause) There
never was and never will be a chief super
visor on this side" Democratic cheers)
Mr.. Reeds whole purpose. continued Mr.
Crisp. was to force the democratic side TO
count a quorum All other questions paled
into insignificance before this overshadow-
ing one of Standardization with Mr.. Reed.
This being the case. the Speaker warned
his democratic colleagues that reliance
could never be placed on the other side if
public business were to be transacted
They would embarrasS the democrats at
every opportunity.
He should Vote.
A mistaken notion existed in the public
mind The country seemed to believe that
because the democrats had eighty-five
majority they had a margin OF eighty
five over quorum. As matter of fact.
they had but thirty-fve more than a quo
rum. Seven Of these were now absent on
account of sickness; six were absent by
leave Of the House attending funeral.
With the republicans refusing to discharge
their duty at Mr. Reeds suggestion, 1T
was therefore necessary that the fun demo-
cratic attendance should be present If pub
lie business was TO go on, and he suggested
that 1t was important hat every democrat
should atterd the seSsi JnS of the House.
lApplause). Every member should feel his
responsibility. He should vote whether he
approved a proposition or not If he OPP
tosed II, he should exercise the time-hon-
cred democratic privilege of voting against
it He should not join hands with the
enemy across the aisle. Great applause).
During the course Of the Speakers re-
marks, by slip Of the tongue ne spoke
of counting instead Of voting" quorum.
FiIibustering Begun.
The republicans saw the error and smiled
broadly The Speaker noticed 1t and turned
the laugh BY saying. "Ah, still harping on
my daughter" Mr.. Reed expressed a desire
to reply to the Speaker, but his time, under
the thirty minutes allowed for debate, had
expired. and he was not permitted to do so.
He then asked for a division of the resolu-
ton, but Mr.. Stone (ky.), in the chair, ruled
that the proposition was not Invisible.
Party feeling had been aroused by the
remarks of Mr.. Reed and Speaker Crisp
he hAQan flfhlISt2rinag
with redoubled vigor. An appeal was taken
from the decision Of the chair BY Mr..
Payne. Mr.. Springer moved TO lay that mo-
Mr.. Payne, pending that, moved to ad-
journ. This latter motion lost 12-l75.
The appeal was laid on the table. HTS.
Mr.. Lacey Qowa) moved to reconsider. and
Me-. Payne moved to adjourn
Everybody Excited.
The motion to adjourn was lost The
Speaker then stated that the motion made
by Mr.. Lacey, to reconsider the vote by
which the appeal was laid on the table. was
not in order. Mr.. Lacey appealed from the
decision Of the chair. The Speaker refused
to entertain the appeal Mr.. Reed, who
was standing in the center aisle, insisted
on knowing the grounds upon which the
Speaker declined TO entertain the appeal,
but the Speaker only raped with his gavel
and declined emphaUcally to state the
grounds OF his refusal Mr.. Payne moved
10 au1Ourn, anu the speaker declined TO en-
terrain this motion also. BY this time
members on both sides were wildly excited.
Partisan blood was at fever heat. and for
several minutes pandemonium reigned.
From all parts of the door members were
shouting their defiances, AMI several per-
sonal collisions were narrowly averted.
shut up" yelled some one across the
floor, while the Speaker banged his gavel
and ordered all members to be seated The
Speaker was evidently determined to crush
the hlbustering tactics of the minority.
Il rise to question OF order" shouted
Mr.. Payne.
And the chair refuses to recognize the
gentleman for that purpose" returned the
Speaker. The question is on the adoption
OF the resolution instructing the sergeant
alarms TO arrest absenIeeS; as many as
favor II will say aye. contrary no." In the
midst Of the chorus of voices that followed
Messrs. Payne, BOutelle and Reed were on
their feet clamorIng for recognition. The
Speaker refused TO recognize them
Only One Teller.
'Tellers." shouted Mr.. Payne, and pend
ing that motion he moved to adjourn The
Speaker declined to entertain the motion.
Mr.. Reed loudly insisted on his right to