Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-23
TWAS LAUGHABLE.
The Democrats Tried to Make
Ex-Speaker Reed Vote,
But They Had Made a Slight Mistake
HE Didn't Vote.


WAsmryGTos, March 22-Ip the House
Brown reported from the committee on
elections that it, report upon the contest Of
English ". UiIb5rn. in the third California
district, recommending The seating Of Eng
fish. Waugh presented the views Of the
minority. ordered printed and PLACID on
the calender.
On motion Of Reilly the committee on
Pacific railroads WAS su,l,prized to cit dur
ing the sessions Of the House.
Patterson called up the ONeill-Joy con-
tested election gaze from the HID district
Of Missouri, = which Waugh raised thu
anestion Of consideration.
On division OF the Ifoase the vote to
con.idxr III. resolution as 100 ayes snd
nsy. No quorum, said Waugh, and call
Of the yess and nays WAS ordered. The
vote resulted Ayes l53, nays 90 less
than quorum. A call Of the House was
ordered on motion of Patterson. The roll
call disclosed the presence Of 257 members.
The filibusterirg continued for feveral
hours without result.
After one roll-cAh was completed, aud
before the result was announced. Living
ston said: "Mr. Speaker, desire to SUD
nit = point of order, thai, under rule 3,
unless member 10 excused or necessarily
prevented, or pc rscnally interested, he must
vote. make tie point of order that the
sentlemsn from Maine (Rsed) was present
sni failed to vote"
Speaker pro TEN. Bai!ey-There is NO
rule of the House which requires him to
vote and prescribes . way of forcing himto
do it.
Livingston--I make the point OF order
that II IL his duty to vote, and ask that he
he brought before the bar Of the House to
state his reasons for not voting.
Speaker pro tem.--The Chair 0verru!es
the point Of order.
LiviDg.ton rosa to a privileged question
and said: Under rule o, whenever the
dignity Of the House is involved, it IL
qut stion Of the highest privilege. l make
the point that the dignity of this House IL
at stake, and badly and seriously involved,
from the fact that these gentlemen are sit
ting on this floor and not voting. there !.
fore ask that they be brought to the bar OF
the House and be made to VOTE"
Speaker pro ,tem-Tbe dignity OF the
House is in the keeping af the House, and
the House has not prescribed any rule
other than that which the Chair is attempt
ing to enforce.
Reed-And it is not very large dignity
either.
Livingston-Thcn desire to say that
this rule stands on the same footing as the
rule In reference to disorder on the floor OF
the House. II the gentleman from Maine
(Reed) was out Of order on the floor, aud
the Chair should order him to sit down, and
he did fail to do it, there is no rule. of the
House by which You could make him cit
down, and vet you know you would do it.
Il 10 often done, it is always done. There
is no necessity for any further rule to make
n man vote than you have already IN thi,
code Of rules adopted BY the House.
Speaker pro tem-Tf the House adopted
a rule which prescribes that member vote
when his name il called, and the membsr
refuses to do it, the Chair has no power TO
compel the member.
After some additional talk the matter
was dropped. 1t being evident thatno fur
Their progress could be made today the
House adjourned until tomorrow.