New-York tribune., 1896-05-14
MR.. REED COUNTS A QUORUM.
REMARKABLE PARLIAMENTARY STRUG-
GLE IN THE HOUSE
1T WAS OVER THE Contested ELECTION CASE
OF RINAKER AGAINST DOWNING. WHICH
WAS FINALLY SENT BACK TO COM
MITTEE-Twc PERSONAL TEN

WAS FINALLY SENT BACK TO COM
MITTEE-Twc PERSONAL TEN
PESTS IN TEAPOT
Washington May 13.-There long and
IN some respects unparalleled parliamentary
struggle in tie House to-day. over the contested
election case Of Rinakar against Downing. from
the XvIth Illinois District. 1t ended at $40
o'clock to-right wi n the adoption of a resolu-
tlon sending the case back to Elections Com
mttee No. 1 with instructions TO recount such
parts Of the vote as It deemed proper.
An effort was made then to secure an agree
ment to close debate a. 5.15 o'clock. but II failed
and the debate was resumed with the end not in
sight by Mr. ShIfroth Rep., Col), in favor OF
Downing the sitting member
He followed by Mr. Dalzell Pep, Penn)
who explained his reasons for refusing to give
his assent to the conclusions reached by the ma
jorlty of the Committee on Elections. recon-
mending that Downing be unseated in favor Of
Rnaker.
At the close Of Mr.. Dalzes remarks an at
tempt made to limit debate and fix time
for taking vote but Il availed nothing. and
Mr.. Moody Rep., Mass.J. moved the previous
question. This was strenuously objected to by
Messrs. Cannon and Hopkins Reps., Ill) the
former insisting that It was within the province
or the gentleman IN Oh Il lHedSuIe ~ Ciooc
the debate and move the previous question.
practice which, he said, was unbroken within his
recollection.
Speaker Reed responded that ne recollected no
instance in which the right to move the previous
question had been denied TO a member
REFUSING TO ADJOURN.
Mr. Hopkins moved TO adjourn. and on a dvi-
sion the motion was lost-yeas. 96; nays. 1874.
TT Nd q
and the vote was announced-yeas 96 nays 139
Appause)
The previous question was then ordered-yeas,
145 nays. CO. vote by yeas a3d nays was also
ordered on this question, retsilting-yeas, 143;
nays. 70.
Mr. Cannon (Rep. Tl) moved TO reconsider the
vote by which the previous question was ordered.
Mr. Moody Rep.. Mass) moved to lay the mo-
ton on the table
Mr. Richardson Dem. Tenn)-I make the point
Of order Mr. Speaker. that the motion is clearly
dilatory.
Speaker Reed-The Chair hopes the gentleman
will withdraw the point.
Mr. Cannon. speaking to the point Of order. eaid
ne believed he had right TO make the motion.
In view Of the extraordinary departure from es-
tabIshed parliamentary usage made by the gen
tleman from Massachus IT'S (Mr. Moody In NOV
Ing the previous question. he said ne felt he was
bound 10 challenge the attention Of the House ana
OF the country by the motion
The speaker-The Chair will entertain the mo-
tion.
The vote by division OF the House on the motion
10 lay the motion TO reconsider on the table was
yeas. 127: naye. g. a rollcall on the motion was
ordered on demand OF Mr. Hopkins Rep, lid, re-
sultlng yeas 14G; nays 90. So the motion to re-
consider was laid on the table.
Mr. Hopkins asked for a recapitulation OF the
vote before 1t was announced
Mr. Powers (Rep., VT made the point that that
was dilatOry.
Mr. Hopk,ns-Oh. no, Mr.. Speaker that Is a
members right.
The spcaker--The Chair intends that the House
shall be convinced.
Mr. Hopkins (sarcastcally)-I thank the Chair
for his candor.
Mr. Cannon Rep. I'D asked unanimous con-
sent to suggest that the House then adjourn dt
being o'clock) the vote TO be taken Immediately
after the reading OF the Journal tomorrow
Mr. Moody responded that to do that would
take possibly an hour from the time Set apart
for the consideration Of private pension bills.
Mr. Cannon-Well. let it &c over until Friday.
Mr. Moody-If may suggest to the gentleman
from Illinois. the House has been ready to vote
on this question at any time this afternoon, and
II was only the obstructive tactics or the other
hour ago.
Objection being made to Mr.. Cannons request
Mr. Hopkins moved 10 adjourn. On this motion
the yeas and nays were demanded. When the
rollcal! was finished Mr. Hopkins. Of Illinois. de-
manded q reca pituation Of the vote. The Chair
denied IT, Mr. Hopkins insisted that he made
this request not as matter OF prveS ont as
Mr. Hopkins inquired how he was recorded as
voting.
The Speaker responded that the gentleman
ed N
That's tho way | voted" exclaimed Mr. Hop
kns. as he sank back into his sea-:
The Cha. then annourccd the vote on ADJOURN
ment-yeas, 60: nays, l33.
THE CASE RECOMMITTED.
Mr.. Moody then moved the adoption OF the
substitute resolution prepared by the minority
members of the Elections Committee. remitting
the case to that committee.
On this the vote was announced: Yeas. l3o
nays. 35: answering present. . present and not
voting, II.
The yea vote was made up Of sixty mine Demo-
Gratis, sIxty-seven Republicans and three Popu-
lists The resolution Of the committee as
amended by the minoritys substitute was theh
Mir. Moody made the usual pro forma motion
to reconsider the vote last taken and to lay that
motion the table
Mr.. Hopkins objected and the suggestion was
made by Mr.. Richardson (Dem, Tenn). whlch
was concurred in by Mr. Dalzell. that the last
vote was really a vote TO reconsider and TO lay
that motion on the table. But she Speaker held
otherwise under the conditions then prevailing.
and a vote taken on Mr. Moodys motion. 1t
resulted-yeas 13O; nays 4.
Mr.. Hopkins raised the point OF no quorum.
and a count was made by the Speaker, who an
nounced that $50 members were present. and
that the yeas had It.
Mr. Hoplins-Mr. Speaker. challenge the cor
rectness of the count. and demand tellers
The Speaker-The Chair disregards the chal-
lenge of the gentleman from Illinois. and refuses
tellers.
This ended the struggle, and at $40 o'clock on
motion of Mr. Moody. the House adjourned until
tomorrow.
PERSONAL DIFFICULTY.