The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-17
REED INDICATED.
After Reviling "the Gar" for
Two Years,
Democrats Are Forced to Adopt
His Plan
TO COUNT A QUORUM.
The Rule Was Adopted by a
Vote of 212-47.
The Republicans ALI Voted
For It.

WAsHIN GToN, April 17.-There was a
large attendance on both sides and in
the gallery when the house met today in
anticipation of the fight. over the new
quorum counting rule.
Mr.. Catchings, from the committee on
rules, secured recognition before the
journal was read, and after Withdrawing
the rule reported last Thursday, present
ed the report agreed upon just before
the house convened, as follows:
''Amend rule 10, by inserting between
clauses 1 and the following as clause 2
and change the number of clause to
clause 81
4" Upon every roll call and before the
beginning thereof, the speaker shall
name two members, one from each side
of the pending question if practicable,
who shall take their places at the clerks
desk to tell the names of at least enough
members who are in the hall Ofthe house
during the roll call, who do not respond
when added to those responding to make
a quorum.
"sIf quorum does not respond on the
roll call, then the names of those so not
ed as present shall be reported to the
speaker, who shall cause the list to be
called from the clerks desk
and recorded in the journal and
to do business, those who voted, those
who answered present and those re-
ported present, shall be considered.
Members noted may when their names
are called, record their votes notwith-
standing the provision of clause 1 of this
rule
"Amend clause 1 of rule 8, by adding
this to the following words: And ON
roll call should he not vote, he shall
answer present. SO as to read: Every
member shall be present within
the hall of the house during
1nIn or
necessarily prevented and shall vote on
each question put unless he has direct
personal or pecuniary interest in the
event of such question and on a roll call
shall he not vote, he shall answer pres
emit"
Catchings suggested an hour and
half as limit for the debate, but Wells
of Wisconsin, Democratic opponent of
the rule, objected strenuously to such
brief debate.
hours on side, and Milliken Dem,
Tenn.) opposed rushing new rules
through with undue haste.
The Republican minority of the rules
committee, Reed and Burrows, did not
put in but watched every point vigi-
lantly.
Finally Catchings agreed to two hours
debate on side with vote at o'clock.
Burrows Offers a Substitute.
Burrows, on behalf of himself and
Reed, offered as a substitute the quorum
counting rule of the Fifty-fir congress,
as follows:
sOn the demand of a member, or at
the suggestion of the speaker, the names
of member sufficient to make quorum
in the hall of the house who do
not vote, shall be noted by the
clerk and recorded in the journal and
reported to the speaker with the names
of the members voting and be counted
and announced in determining the pres
ence of quorum to do business"
The speaker then submitted the re-
quest for unanimous consent to close de-
bate at o'clock.
To the great surprise, Wells objected.
This ended the attempt at a peaceful
agreement.
LATER.-The quorum counting rule
has been adopted by the house by vote
of 212to At, the Republicans voting for it.