The San Francisco call., 1896-06-06
Vacant Seats Do Not Prevent the
Speaker Pro Tenn. Count
ing a Quorum.
PROTESTS ARE NOT HEEDED.
So the Democratic Strength in the
House Is Reduced TO Nine
ty.Five.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 5.-The
record made by the Republicans in the
Fifty-frst Congress was equaled to-day in
one regard, and in another Speaker pro
tenn. Payne (R.) OF New York established
an entirely new one AS on the famous
occasion in that Congress when two Dem
ocrats-Venable and Elliott-were un-
seated at one session, so to-day two Demo-
Gratis were voted out of their seats and
their places filled by their opponents at
the Congressional election in 1894. As on
that occasion also the Democrats sought
to prevent action, abandoning their
places on the floor so as to break a
quorum. This was in the case of Martin
(Pop.) vs.. Lockhart Cd from the Sixth
District of North Carolina, which was dis
cussed yesterday. Upon preliminary
vote the Democrats, after voting, left
their seats, only halfta dozen remaining.
Subsequently when Bailey CD of Texas,
who was in charge of the minority inter
ests. made point of no quorum, pointing
to the vacant seats as evidence OF the fact,
Speaker pro tenn. Payne overruled the
point, holding that on the last recorded
vote more than quorum had answered to
their names, and declined to entertain an
appeal from his decision. He declared
that the resolution of the committee that
Martin was entitled to his seat had been
adopted by vote of 113 ayes to 5 noes,
and Martin was sworn in.
This was followed by the consideration
of the report of Elections Committee No.
upon the contest of Rinaker VS.. Downing
from the Sixteenth Illinois District, which
had been sent back to the committee for q
recount of the ballots. This recount was
completed yesterday, and to-day Moody
(R.) of Massachusetts, in charge of the
case, reported resolution declaring Ri
maker entitled to the seat by plurality of
five. Upon the face of the returns Down
ing had plurality of forty and received
the certificate of election. Moody stated
that in his opinion Downing was entitled
to retain his seat but his view of the law
was not accepted by the other Republican
members of the committee, and he frankly
confessed that he did not expect the
House to adopt his opinion.
Mcmillan CD of Tennessee endeav-
vored to secure a postponement, but
failed. He did succeed, however, in con-
sequence of colloquy between himself
and General Grosvenor (R.) of Ohio, in
bringing about the most violent and dis
orderly scene of this Congress, being de-
clared out of order and compelled to take
his seat by the Speaker pro tem., and GER
tain remarks which could not be under
stood at the desk in the confusion being
ordered stricken from the record. General
Rinakers right to the seat was affirmed by
vote of 1877 to 81. This wiped out the
Democratic membership in the Illinois
delegation and reduced the Democratic
strength in the House to 95.
The day began with a two hours struggle
over the adoption of a resolution intro
duced by Grosvenor calling upon the
heads Of the several executive depart
ments for statement in detail of all the
removals and changes in their depart
ments since March 4, 1898. The Demo-
Gratis endeavored to have the scope of the
resolution enlarged SO as to include the
changes made under the Harrison admin
istration, but failed.
At 4:55 o'clock the House adjourned
until tomorrow, the evening pension ses-
sion being dispensed with.
Grosvenor (R) of Ohio called up the
resolution reported from the Committee
on Civil Service directing the heads of the
several executive depar TIM ents to report to
Congress the number and personnel of
the changes in the clerical force since
March 4, 1893 Much amusement was
created by colloquy between Grosvenor
and Dockery over the effort of the latter
have the resolution amended so as to
textend the scope of the resolution over
the Harrison administration.
''In its present shape" said Dockery,
"the resolution of the gentleman is open