New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-04
THE QUORUM OF THE HOUSE,
SPEAKER REED REvERsEs HIS FAMOUS
RULING.
lie NOW DECIDES THAT A MAJORITY OF l"r'
Actual. MEMBERSHIP CONSTITUTES
4 QUORUM.


A QUORUM.
Washington April 3.-Before the Cuban matter
o,na nm to-day the House passed thirty-eiSht pr
vats pensiop bills which had been favorapiy a'.eu
upon at Friday night sessions. In the course VI 'n'
mart Of tie proceedings Speaker heed fe'c''. "
famous ruling In the LIST Congress- which hau 'e
the subject OF much controversy. ana d'c'a'eu '"'
a majority of the actual membership OF 'ne ''o"Se
constituted a quorum. In the List Congress ne
s,, ,ha, I, reoulred n majority OF all the members
.o,oI % tho House 10 make quorum, ,rrespec-
tive OF vacancies. ~ IT.,
Mr. Murphy Rep. I'D called up the Bill au'hor-
,znp the construction of bridge over 'he Niss's-
sppl River at st. Louis. Mr.. Barthoidt moVeu 10
amend bv inserting provision requiring me tr'dge
TO be located not less than one ana ohe-h"'i ~
more than two and one-half miles from the FANS
bridge I'm, II was rejected The bill was then passed
Mr. Picker (Rep $. D. demanded the regular
order which was this being Friday. the conSld'ra-
ton OF bills reported from the committee Vi '"e
Who'e at Friday night sessions.
The first bill was read. and Ny. Picker HioVeu
the previous question Mr.. Erdman uem fern)
made the point OF no quorum the vote-iT TO D.
. ouorun was counted and the previous question
was ordered on the passage OF the bill MT Fra
man demanded a vote by yeas and nays. hut cniy
twenty-five members Joined him In the r"aaes,-a"
insufficient number. So the bill was passed
O., tho next bill Mr. Erdman again made ne point
oyerrules the objection stating 20 the Iio"'c "''
evidently a quorum Is present.
Tho announcement received with appN'use'
and the passage OF the remaining bills on the oa'c"
DIR proceeded without serious delay or interruption
r,p,n another vote Mr.. Erlman made the point OF
NJ quorum and the Speaker. after COUNTING S''''
There l7s present, quorum ,,,.,s :, full
TIL entire number OF kepresen'a'v,,s h ~, a ma
iorliv but there are two vacanc!es-Mr; ram, VI
The XIth Texas District. having aisl. am M, been
ner OF the Nih Louisiana District havlns 'ecis
unseated leaving II" actual membership 800 Oh
Tba rny caught the attention OF Mr.. Richardson
Dem Tenn. keen plrlamentariah ana ne 'ur -
toned the speaker resara!ns It, sa{ KIM ma ,s Ist
Congress. and asking II II was the Intention 10 re-
speaker Reed responded that II was his intention
to make the ruling announced AZ ne elpsr , 0s
m List Congress he had pa, IN cdnnasiton OF
quorum When the question presented Itself To- ne
chair FOR decision there was much confusion ana II
came w sudden:y out % abundant caution the
chair then decided that 1875 membeTs cons,itmted
Instead OF IG a majority OF the actual membership
In tho expression Of Views which the Speaker put IN
siontot the practice OF several bodies notably that
OF he senate under the lead Of the late Rryefly
',G byh and Intel his belief which his
present BELIEF. that 10, members. and not les con,
majority of the actual Membership The decision
referred to by tho gentleman rom i"nno n, al, -
' II. f lIca!S was one against "'.'' s
Mr. richardson assured ne Sp'ihri mat
no criticism TO make OF the present ruIlng, IL Was
only because Of It's reversing the former ruling mat
ne had called attention TO II. 80, NTH.
BEFORE the bills were disposed OF. MI laIpert
Diem = O. was heard from. Rising to parla-
m-niary inquiry he asked II under the existing con-
dtion--- ,, .a,. h,,,s.,,
The Speak-r-The gentleman VIII confne himseit
to the parliamentary inquiry: - H.. L.,
Mr. Talbert-I viii try TO do so. but was just lay
ing down my premise go - .,,.,,.r
The speaker-rhe Chair Will answer parliament
tary inquiry but not premise. . -,
Mr. Tnlbert-Wi II not be In order TO ask 10 lay
aside a bill on the ground that II Is an outrage
The Speakcr-It Will not - - -,
MIR Taibcrt was continuing TO denounce some OF
the bills but the Speaker sharply raped MIN 10 or
der ana sternly directed him TO take his seat wheh
declared tc be out OF order ~, IN A., ru,
Upon the passage OF the pending bin Mr IaiG per
asked II IL vas In order to move 10 amend the ttle
II was and he moved that It be made to read
"A bin not 10 pension Mollie Crandall .,
''Can / be heard tina. motion, Mr. Speaker
he asked. A., ,,s., as -. -.
spouse. G.aughter)
The amendment was rejected . !,
Mr. ErdmIn Dem PENN finally succeeded in
heading on one bill by demanding an engrossed
COPY II could not he furnished OF course. anu mad
to be laid aside. - - -
hers present who. In Committee OF the Whole. rec
ommendel favorable action upon ten private pension
bis and that three others lie on the table Before
adiourning until tomorrow. at 1880 o'clock. two
OF the bills were paced In the House.