The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-04-19
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS,
THE QUoRUM-CoUNTING RULE
FINALLY ADOPTED,
The Gag Was Applied and the Rule
Rushed neutrality-suspicious. Hila-
rious Over the Adoption of the
Measure-How 1t Works.
THE HOUSE,

WASHINGTON, April 17-There wa
very large attendance. on both side
OF the house when the house met to
day, in anticipation of the fight ovel
the adoption OF the new quorum,
counting rule. and the galleries were
also we'll filled.
Without single preliminary the
house plunged into the contest. In
order to prevent parliamentary com
plications Mr.. Catching, from the com.
mittee on rules, secured recognition
before the journal was read, and after
withdrawing the rule reported from
that committee last Thursday he i'm.
mediately presented the report agreed
upon just before the house convened.
The report was read from the clerk
desk as follows:
~. Amend rule Is by inserting be-
tween clauses l and the following as
clause 2, and change the numbers of
clause 2 to clause 8.
Upon every roll call and before the
beginning thereof, the speaker shall
name two members one from each of
the sides 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 of the house dur
ing the roll call who do not respond.
when added to those responding, to
make a quorum. If a quorum does
not respond on the roll CAL, then the
names OF those denoted 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 in determining the pres
ence of quorum to do business those
who voted, those who answered and
those so reported present shall be con-
sidered. Members noted may, when
their names are called, record their
votes Notwithstanding the provisions
of clause of this rule"
Amend clause 1 of rule 8, by adding
this to the following words:
"And on a 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
its sittings unless excused or neces
sarily prevented and shall vote on
each question put unless he has di"
rect personal or pecuniary interest in
the event of such question, and Oh a
roll call should he not vote he shall
answer present"
Mr.. Catchings then attempted to ar.
rive at an agreement about the limit
to be set upon the proposed rule. In
terest on the floor was intense, al
though there was neither confusion
nor excitement. Mr.. Catchings sug-
gested an hour and a half as limit
for debate, but Mr.. Wells of Wlscon-
sin, one of the Democratic opponents
of any quorum counting rule, OBJ
iected strenuously to such brief oppor.
tunity for debate. He thought. con-
sidering the great Importance OF the
question, that at least day should
be given. When Mr.. Catchings shook
his head at this he appealed to the
committee on rules not to gag Demo
Gratis who did not agree with them.
Mr.. Bynum, Democrat, Indiana,
proposed Two hours on IL side, and
Mr.. McMillip. Democrat, Tennessee,
expressed himself in opposition to
rushing the new rule through with
undue haste. He was quite vehement
in tone ard gesture, The Republican
leaders, Reed and Burrows, did not
attempt to pnt in their oars. They
watched every point, however, vigil
antly. Finally Mr. Catchings con-
cluded and agreed to allow two hours
debate on a side, IL vote TO be taken at
A o'clock. Everything seemed to be IN
process of peaceful adjustment be-
fore the request for unanimous con-
sent, by which agreements are made
binding on the house, were submitted.
Mr.. Burrows. one of the Republican
members of the rules committee, Of
fered on behalf of himself and Mr..
Reed as a substitute for the proposed
rule the quorum-counting rule of the
fifty.first congrese The rule was as
follows:
"On the demand of any member, or
at the suggestion of the speaker, the