The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-03-08
THE WRANGLE STILL ON.
BLAND CAPTURES A QUORUM ONLY
TOLOSE

hu1 frofpSc Scts OF an early EhufDg oil the
Dead Lsck arc IsrIghter-He GATED Colo
guy Between Reed and Crisp Gre stes
Excitement.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.-After the
call Of committees for their reports,
ktlgore offered a resolution, which he
said ought to be matter of privilege,
II 1t were not. 1t was read for infOr-
nation. 1t recited the law requiring
the sergeant-at-arm to withhold the
salary of a Representative who was
absent, except On account of sickness
or himself or member OF his family.
That at this session of Congress many
members had been absent, and ,ho call
ed upon the sergeant-at-arms to report
whether or not tho law in this respect
had been obeyed by him, and If he had
been derelict therein to report why. He
Mas also asked If in his opinion the
law could not be enforced, to inform
the House the reason thereof.
Reed made the point that the resolu-
tion did not present a matter of privi-
lege the way 1t was drawn. 1t was
simply a resolution, asking an officer
OF the House his opinion upon ques-
tion Of law.
. Speaker Crisp called the attention of
ktlgore to the fact that the resolution
contained no allegiance that an officer
OF the House had failed to do his duty
under the rules or under the law, which
was neces ssary to make it q privileged
matter. 1t was simply q resolution of
inquiry directed to an officer Of the
House. Kilgore thereupon Withdrew
the resolution.
Bland moved that the House 20 into
committee OF the whole upon his seign-
forage bill and that general debate be
closed at 3 o'clock on Thursday. On
this motion, the vote by division was
III to 10. Tracey made the point Of no
quorum and the yeas and nays were
called. Before the result Of the vote
was announced, Livingston (Dem.) of
Georgia said he desired TO submit a
motion. Rule 8, he said, required mem.
bers present, unless excused, to vote
upon every proposition presented to
the House. The gentleman from New
\ ork (Eracey) had refused to vote and
no demanded that he be brought be-
fore the bar Of the House and explain
his refusal to vote. Johnson (Dem } of
Ohio said he had a list Of twenty-five
members who had violated the rule,
which he offered to send to the desk.
The chair stated that the rule was
we'll known. The chair could not en-
force the rule otherwise than by ap-
peallng to members to observe it. The
chalr was but the organ of the House
and would never make a rule unless
authorized and directed 80 to do by the
House. [Applause.]
Boatner (Dem.) OF Louisiana argued
IN support of Mr.. Livingston's motion.
1t was, he said, an effort to bring a
member to answer to w1lful contemp pit
and violation of the rules. The House
ought to determine here and now
whether or not member can defy its
rules.
The chair stated that under the rules
it was his duty to announce the result
OF vote. The result was: Yeas 1G9,
nays 5; S short Of a quorum. It was
said that five supporters Of Bland fail
ed to get their votes in, because they
were not in the hall of the House
when called. These, in addition to
those recorded, would have made a
quorum. CLANCY and Magner Of the
New York delegation, who had hereto
fore retralned from voting, voted in
favor Of the proposition.
The proceedings had been watched
with the keenest interest by members,
and especially Republicans, as having
within them the possibility Of history
making. When the chair announced
the vote, however, and the incident was
over, the humdrum Of routine was re-
sumed, and the members who had been
eagerly crowding into the pit in front
OF the clerks desk, faded rapidly away
Mr.. Bland moved a call of the House.
On this motion there was first viva
voce vote, then vote by division,
lr1 n k>xy foil RI
Reed olliciating-and finally a vote by
Yeas 189. nays 4. So the call was or.
dered. 1t showed 265 members present
and responding to their names. On
the motion to dispense with further
proceedings under the calendar, the
same procedure was folloWed-four
separate votes being taken, ending
With the yeas and nays. The call re.
suited: Yeas 1873, nays 3; thus dispens-
Ing with further proceedings.
Bland renewed his motion and the
yeas and nays were called. AS the roll
call proceeded, it became apparent to
many that a quorum would be obtain
ed and members keeping tally crowded
about the clerks desk. Tracey (Dem.) J
OF New York occupied the seat, which
for two weeks past, he bas kept tally
Will Glo Clefk OH Toll CallS, CLOSELY fOl-
lowing the responses to the call. When
it was determined that a quorum had
been obtained on the second call of the
roll, Tracey voted aye, amid slight ap-
plause from the Democratic side, his
purpose being, as afterward appeared,
to move a reconsideration. The an
nouDcemenG Of the vote by the Speak
or, 1T yeas to nays, evoked a round of
hearty applause from Democrats and
Populists.
OuthWaite (Dem.) Of Ohio and Ira
cey Dem.) Of New York were on their
feet demanding recognition, the form
er to present an order from the com
mittee on rules limiting debate on the
pending bill and amendments to two
hours and the latter to move recon
sideration Of the vote just taken.
Cultivate was given the floor and the
Speaker stated, after putting the ques.
ton, that Tracey had interposed a mo-
tion to reconsider.
OuthWaite demanded the previous
question on his motion, but the yeas
and nays were ordered without di.
vision. After a name or two had been
1Inl i,If III