Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-18
RULES ENDORSED.
Democrats Driven to Adoption
of the Reed Rules.
Republicans Greatly Amused Over
fiction Of Democrats.
General Debate en- Tarin In Senate viii Close
April "a.

WAsulNGroN, April 1.-THE House was
precipit.ted al ouce upon the opening of
the session today, into an animated contro-
versy on the proposition TO count quorum.
Immediately after the chaplain concluded
his prayer Catchipgs stated that by direction
of the committee OH rules he would with
draw the report of the committee made last
week, proposing TO fine members for unex-
cused absences and failures to vote. That
having been done he offered a resolution
| agreed upon by the committee as n subst-
tute for the De Almond resolution, referred
| 10 the committee by the Democratic caucus,
| Friday.
| When il had been read Catchings asked
unanimous consent that the previous ques-
ton on the passage of the resolution be
considered ordered and debate be closed in
an hour and half. Opposition was mani
Tested on the Democratic side. Much con-
fusion existed Several Democratic meni-
bars appealed to Catchings for two hours
debate on each side Finally Cstchiugs
changed the request for unanimous conseLt
to fix the vote at ,.
| Grow said he had a substitute that he
would like to offer and have read for in
formation and be voted on which could not
be done If the previous que stion was then
ordered. 1t provided that one of the clerks
at the desk should keep correct list of the
names of members present and not answer
| ing when their names were called and such
names should be counted as part of the
members necessary for a quorum
Burrows asked to be alored to offer az
substitute for the rule reported, the rule
in force in The 5lst Congress, as presenting
the views of the minorty. This Was agreed
| to ana the rule was read "On demand of
any member, or at the suggestion of the
speakers, names sufficient TO make a quo
] ram on the hail of the House of members
who don't vote, shall be noted by the clerk
and recorded il the ] .urnal and reported to
the speaker " ith the natnes of the members
voting. and shall be counted and announced
in determining the presence of a quorum TO
DO business
/ CstchinQ's riquest for unanimous con-
sent was submitted, and Wells objected.
lie then NOV I'd that the previous question
be ordered on the passage of the resolu-
tion. On division the vVte was ayes, 1928
uoes, 9S. Republicans generally voted
against ordering the previous question,
The yeas and nays were demanded and
ordered, resulting yeas, 40; nays, 100,
| by the previous question was ordered
bate was opened by Catching, in brief
explanation of u Q rule. Spiinger said the
proposed rule cont, mplsted no change of
the constitution II wss only a proposition
whereby the House could DO business for
which the members were sent here. Re-
publican applause The House has sat
here for the two months past, and has done
scarcely two days work. He said he hailed
the a1uutjoD n he rule nj the dawn of n
better era in American legislation. More
of Springer's remarks were accompanied
BY almost continuous ssppls use from the
Republican benches.
Klgore expressed unalterable opposition
to the adoption of the rule. which the
gentleman from Maine (Reed) was the
parent. The rule, he thought unnece ssary.
Reed said IL don't desire to address the
House sgain upon the general subject.
This scene here today Is more effective
ADDRESS than any ! could make. The
House is about to adopt a principal for
which we contended in the 5l,t Congress,
[ and is about to adopt il under circumstances
which show conclusively to the country, its
value. No words | can utter can add to
the importance of the occasion. congratu-
late the 53rd Congress ppon the wise de-
oi'ion it is about to mske." Republican
applause
! After jurther debate the vote on the pas
sage Of the re solution wps announced at 2
to have been yeas, 2l2 nays, ~. The
resJluii m was agreed to.
| This announcement was received with
/ loud applause on the Republican side.
NJ my m .mber, surrou1ded Mr.. Reed and
Continued on I'd page.