The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-24

The speaker Defended
Air. Compton Dem. Md followed
insisting that the attention OF the
House should be confined 10 the question
before II. viz. the discharge OF the
gentlemen from Pennsylvania. Discuss
ing the suflclency OF the warrant, Mr.
Compton said that 90 pass the motion of
Mt. Reed would be 20 reflect upon the
fairesf and most competent Speaker who
ever occupied The chair, and upon faith
ful and efficient officer who executed the
order OF the House. he declared that no
warrant ever issued by "A Speaker con-
tained The names OF the members TO be
arrested.
Mr. Burrows interrupted TO say that
he held In his hand a warrant, issued
in the Twenty-second Congress- when
"they did things in order wh ch con-
tanned the name OF the member. tRepub-
lican iaughter)
Nr. Compton asked if the member
named I'm the warrant had not been ar
rested for assault.
Nr. Burrows answered that he did not
know, be had happened to have in his
hands the warrant when the gentleman
had asserted that no warrant had ever
been issued with the name of the mem
hcr 10 be arrested in il. and he felt
called upon TO present il as evidence to
the contrary.
Air. Turner Dem Gao argued the legal
aspects of the case. contending that the
warrant was valid ana competent under
the practice Of the House. and % a ques-
tiJn Ly Mr.. Dunn Dem, y JD ne as
serted that the agent Of the House had
the right 10 arrest a member for delin-
quency wherever he was found, whether
he Was at his desk on the floor or else
whore. He paid some attention 20 the
matter OF counting q quorum by the
Speaker and stated that the Supreme
Court had never decided that the Speaker
could count a quorum. but had said the
House had the power TO make a rule
authorizing the Speaker 10 do so. by no
vote OF his would he agree by a rule TO
place the power in the hands Of a Speaker
TO count a quorum as he may see lit.
IT was dangerous power to put in any
one hand.
a conoquy between Messrs. Reed and
Turner ensued in which the formers
counting Of quorum i'm the Fifty-hrst
Congress ana the decision Of the Supreme
Court as 10 what constituted a quorum
were reviewed Mr. Reed reiterating that
the court had decided that a present quo
rum was the constitutional quorum.
Ar. Dunn Dem, y. JD was given five
minutes by Mr. Reed. and returned thanks
for the courtesy, saying he had tried TO
beg, borrow, or steal FIVE minutes from
his own side. but had been unable TO get
10. lie was one Of those under arrest,
and he claimed that it was by unau-
thorized and unconstitutional process. II
others We're I'm the same position as him
self they could not afford TO accept
discharge until their ri shts had been de-
cided. He was not absent from the House
Monday, and could not properly be in-
cluded within the list OF those subject TO
arrest. Mr. Dunn asked that a resolution
be offered be accepted by Mr.. Bland as
am amendment 10 his motion, 10 erase
from the warrant the names OF those
who were appsehonded by the sergeant
at-Arms while on the floor of the House.
where according 20 the resolution. he had
no power over them.
Mr.. Bartlett dem. ~ " said the
question before the House was one Of far
more Importance than one merely affect
ing the few individuals before the bar. IT
was the question of established precedent
authorizing the arrest of members by
warrant which no one with the slightest
fundamental knowledge Of the law would
say was valid or competent.
MIR Biand Solves she Problem.
Mr.. Bland AT this point sprung a sur
easy and rapid disposal of the question.
lie said that. unedr the rules he believed
bee had the right TO withdraw the pending
motion and 10 move in its stead that all
proceedings under the call of the House OF
the 18th under which the arrests were
made be dispensed with.
This motion. if adopted, would have the
effect of vacating the arrests and dis
charging the members.
H.. h.. f4f # ff.lt. hot
10 was too late to make the motion, as
adjournment had interVened several days
proceodings. Besides the terms OF the
order precluded suspension of proceed
inps. because il was made continuing
until revoked by the House
Mr.. Bynum gave other reasons for sup
porting Mr.. Reeds point of order but
the Chair overruled the point of order,
put Mr. Band's motion. declared II car
ried. and the members under arrest were
discharged without taking division and
almost in the same breath
Mr. Johnson Qnd) introduced a resolu-
lion directing the Sorgeant-at-Ar 10
amend his return by striking out his name
as one of the members arrested, which
after a statement from him that In fact
he had not been arrested, was agreed TO-
After the committees had been called
for reports. Mr.. Bland moved that the
House 60 into committee Of the whole
on his seigniorage bill-general debate TO
close at o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The usual routine Of hlibnsiering was
then gone through with until 400, when.
hv unanimous consent. a recess was taken
until T.. NJ, under the regular order Of
the House.
About fifty members We're present at
to-nlehts session. Ar, Dockery lDem.,
MOI being in the chair After two or
three bills had been considered without
action. the point OF no quorum was made
by several members and after division
was had and vote 10y tellers was taken,
showing the presence OF elghty-iive MEM
bers the House, az $780, adjourned with
out transacting any business
los hangr III" House Rules.
WASHINGTON. Feb. $.-One hundred
and sixteen Democrats have signed the
call for a House caucus 10 consider the
nroprlctv Of changing the rules OF the
House with reference 10 the course that
should be pursued by the House when
members fail TO vote.
The call has been circulated by Mr..
pa,nter. of Kentucky. The caucus will
lac held after the Bland seigniorage bill
has been DISPOSED OF, so that no mem
bor nresent at the caucus may be inhu-
cnced bv the pending business.
AR Pavnter declines 10 give any in
formation showing the sentiments Of the
members who have signed the call but