The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-04
CzAR REEDS new RULE.
The New England Statesman Raverses Him
self on His Famous Quorum Ruling.
PLEADS sUDDEnNESS AND CONFUSION.
BIcmbers Twit the Speaker Abous HIS
Action In the Matter Being I'm Con.
niet with n Former Decision-Thc-
Cuban Resolution Argued at
LenEth-Bontclle Has His Say.

Washington. April 3.-The House en-
tered to-day upon the consideration of
the report Of the conference, committee
recommending the adoption of the SEN
ate resolutions relative to Cuba, which
Mr.. Hitt CRep). OF Illinois, chairman of
the Foreign Affairs Committee. has been
endeavoring to bring to the attention of
the House for some time. Mr. Hit was
desirous of securing action on the report
to-day, but the hour for recess interven-
ed before the conclusson of the discus
sion, and 1t went over until Tomorrow.
The time this afternoon waa occupied by
MT Hit In favor of agreeing t. the re-
port, and by Mr. Boutelle (Rep), OF
Maine. who opposed the passage OF the
resolutions.
Before the Cuban matter came up the
House passed thirty eight private pen
sion bills, which mad been favorably act
ed up2n at previous Friday nigh; ses-
sions. In the course OF this part of the
proceedings, Speaker Reed reversed H.;
famous ruling dn the Fifty-first Con-
sress. which has been the subject of
muca controversy, and declared that n
majority OF the actual membership OF
me House constituted O quorum. In the
f9lty-trSt Congress he held that it re-
quired a majority of all the members
elected to the House to make q quorum,
irrespective of vacancies
Mr. Hooker CRep). of New York, re-
ported the nver and harb2r appropria-
tfon bill for the year ending June 80 1887
which Will be called up Monday
n'ii was passed authorizing the con-
Struction or u bridge across the Missis-
sipp river at st. Louis.
al BIO O'Clock the House took a recess
uhtil o'clock. the evening session to be
bills.
The question of quorum came I'm on
the first pension bill taken up. When
IL was read Mr.. Pickler. moved the
previous question. Mr.. Erdnan Dem1
Oh pennsylvania. made the p9in, of no
quorum on the vote 127 10 G. "A quorum
was counted, ana tie previous question
was ordered. On tho passage of the bin
MIR. Erdman demanded n vote by vens
ana nays. but only iwenty-two member.
joined him in the reQuest-an insuuicen,
number, 50 the I'LL was passed. on
the next bill Mr.. iIrdman again made
sne p"I.t OF no quorum. but the speake,
Saiu. Ine chair ovcr-rules the objection
stating to the House that evidently n
Quorum Is present"
Ine announcement was received ,yit,,
applause. and the passage of the re-
maining bills on dhe calendar proceeded
",tnou' sefuous delay or interruption.
opoii ahotner vote. Mr.. Erdman again
III. 10
speaker' se after counting. said: There are
AiS present, quorum
ih1s was a reversal of his famous do
cis'on In the Fifty-first Congress abSnt
which there ha been much contnoversv
anu "hich was followed in later Con.
eanta,I, ne entire number of repre-
SentallFes in n fun House woula ~,
So', or which 179 would be a mainr,,',
Du. 'herc are two Vacancies-Alr Grain
the eleventh Louisiana DISTRICT ha,,
sns aied, and Mr. Boatner. of tbs JTif,h
t1ouHiana District having been mn
90 90 ieaving the actual membership
0oo, OF which IT'S is majority '''p
Ihe ruling caught the attcntio, os ,,,
a.icmardson (Dem.). of Tennessee n kaa,,
sdu iia ialeHtarian, and he questioned ,t,n
opeaker regarding 1t, saying ,nat II vn 9
eohlilct with ruling made bv ht,' H.,
me flity-frst Congress, and asi.ing a.
mas the intention to reverse that
epeaker Reed responded that n w,s
his intention to make the ruiinn was
bounced. at the close Of the Fiftv.firs,
congress he had put in the rernrd t,Is
views upon the question Of the comnos,1
ZION OF a quorum.
When the question presented ,,ss,s -
'ha chalr for decision there wac r,,nt
CONFUSION and 1t same up suddenly Ont
"Dunuant caution The chair then de-
clded that 166 members constitn,aa
quorum, majority of the full n,,r,har
or members, instead of 1854. a ma ioritv of
me actual membership In the express
sion or views. which the Speaker nmt
IN Inc Record at the end of thar Con.
gress. he adopted the practice of several
bodies. notably that of the Senate undar
the late Reverdy Johnson. whose renu-
tatioh as a lawyer had always stood
hlSh and stated his belief. which was his
present belief. that 164 members and NOT
l66, constituted quorum Of the House
In other words, majority of the actual
membership. The decsonl referred to
by the gentleman from Tennessee. said
The Speaker. was one against himself
and his side OF the House.
AIR. Richardson assured the Sneaker
1hat he had no criticism to make of the
present ruling; 1t was only because OF its
reversing the former ruling that he had
called attention TO II.
= Before the bills were disposed of. Mr.
Iaibert (Dem.). of South Carolina. was
neard from. Rising to parliamentary
inquiry he asked If under the existing
condition =
The Speaker-The gentleman will con-
quiry.
MT. Talbert-I win try to do SO. but
was Just laying down my premise
The Speaker--The chair will answer n