The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-04-18


provisions OF clause ono OF this rule. ;"
Almond clause ono OF rule s by add.
ing this to tho following words: And
on a roll call should he not vote he shall
answer present. 80 as 10 read, Every
member shall bo present within tho
hall OF tho house during its sittipgs un.
less excused or necessarily prevented,
and shall vote on each question put,
unless he has direct, personal or pc
cuniary interest In tho event OF such
question, and on roll call should no
not vote he shall answer present."
MIR. Catchiugs then attempted to mr.
rive at an agreement for time to be do
batod upon the rule. The interest on
the floor was intense, although there
was neither confusion nor excitement.
Mr.. Ca.chings insisted on IN hour and
q half rs o limit for the dobate, but Mr..
Wells, OF Wisconsin. one OF the Demo-
cratic opponents OF any quorum count
ing rule, objected strcnuously to such
brief opportunity for debate. He
thought, considering tho great import.
anCe Of tho question. that at least a day
should be given. When Mr.. CatchinEs
shook his head at this he appealed to
the committee on rules not TO gag Dom
ocrats who did not agree with them.
Mr. Bynum (Dem., Ind.,) proposed
two hours on q side. and Mr.. McAlillin
Dem., Tenn.,) expressed himse,t in op :
position to rushing the new rule
through with uudue haste. He was
quite vehement in tone and gesture.
The Republican leaders, Reed and
Burrows, did not attempt to put in
their oars. They watched every point,
however, vigilantly. Finally MIR. Catch
ings yielded, and agreed to allow two
hours' debate on each side; vote to bo
taken at 4 o'clock.
Everything seemed to be in process of
peaceful adjustment before tho request
for unanimous consent, by which such
agreements arc made binding on the
house, were submitted.
THE SAME IN EXPECT, but MUCH SIMPLER.
Mr.. Burrows, ono OF the Republican
members OF tho rules committee, OF.
iered on behalf of himself and Mr.. Reed
as substitute for tho proposed rule
the quorum counting rule OF the Fifty
first Congress. The rule was as follows:
"On the demand OF any member or
at the suggestion OF the speaker, the
names of members sufficient to make a
quorum in the hall OF the house who do
not vote shall be noted by theclerk and
recorded in the journal and reported TO
the speaker, with tho names OF tho
members voting, and be counted and
announced in determining tho presence
OF quorum to do business"
The speaker then submitted the re.
quest for unanimous consent to close
the debate at 4 o'clock.
To the great surprise OF all Mr.. Wells.
OF Wisconsin, objected. This ended
the, ,attempt to reach peaceful agree
ment p '7isr--
Mr.. Catchings appealed to the house
to witness the fact that he had made an
honest attempt to afford q reasonable
opportunity for debate.
THE GAG APPLIED.
Nothing was left but to apply tho
gag. He demanded the previous ques-
tion. The vote was taken by yeas and
nays.
Tho Republicans madc no effort to
tilibuster, but voted in the negative, as
did many Democrats who were opposed
either to the proposed rule or to driv-
ing it through under the lash.
The demand for the previous question
was sustained, 40 to 120.
Under the rule fifteen minutes were
allowed on a side for debate.
Mr.. Hatch attempted to ask unau-
imous consent for further time, but Mr..
Bynum Qndiaua) objected.
Some question followed as to tho
manner i'll which the time should be
divided. In tho course OF this con-
troversy Mr.. Reed stated that 80 far as
the Republican minority was concerned,
the rule reported from the committee
on rules embodied the principle for
which they had been contendinc,
There might, perhaps, be some objec.
ton to the details OF the rule, but the
principle was the correct one.
Mr.. Burrows, after stating that The
proposed rule was substantially the
rulo OF the fiity-frst Congress, with
drew the substitute he had offered.
Before the debate began Mr.. Catchings
asked unanimous consent that those
who 80 desired should have an opper-
tunity to print their remarks in tho
record. "Oh, l object" shouted Mr..
Boutelle, OF Maine, with smile. "Such
remarks would make but melancholy
contribution to Congressional litera.
,ure."
REPUBLICANS IN GOOD HUMoR.
The debate then began. 1t was calm,
even tempered and wholly unlike what
had been anticipated. Tho Republi.
cans were bubbling over with good
humor over the consummation OF their
long legislative struggle and applauded
every Democratic convert TO the rule
put in practice in tho Fifty-firat Con.
sress. Mr.. Catchinss was first recog.
nized and made two-minute speech.
Mr.. Catchings yielded one minute to
General Wheeler (Alabama), who had
just enough time to protest. against it
as antagouistic to the delibera,iou
which ought to obtain in legislative
body like tho house OF representatives.
when the gavel dropped, and he was
summarily taken of the floor. Mr..
Reed, who controlled fifteen minutes
for the Republicans, at this juucture,
yielded five minutes to Mr.. Bryan
(Dem., Nebraska.
Mr.. Bryan was very earnest in his
opposition to the proposed rule. This
was a matter OF great importance, he
said Over half the statos in tho Union,
including New York, Pennsylvania, ILL
nois, Indiana. Ohio and Nebraska, re-.
quired tho. affirmative vote Of major
ity OF their legislative assemblies to en-
act laws. It might be incouveniens at
times, but it was essentially safe plan.
It was the safeguard OF the minority.
Il cayn tho minority tho power 70 com.