The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-04
THE CUBAN RESOLUTION
T4EEN UP AND DISCUSSED IN THE
HOUSE YEsTERD1Y.
Sneaker Reed Acknowledges the Error OF
His Ways and Reverses His
Famous Ruling.

Of the report Of the conference commit
tee recommending the adoption Of the
Senate resolutions, relating TO CuDa'
| which Mr.. Hit Republican), Of Illinois,
chairman Of the Committee on Foreign Ar
| fairs, has been endeavorinS 10 bring 10
! the attention Of the House for sor e time.
Mr.. Hit was desirous of securing ac-
| ton on the report to-day, but the House
| resolution intervened before the cOnclu-
| sion Of the discussion, and 1t went over
| till tomorrow.
The time this afternoon was occupied
| by Mr. HIT in favor Of agreeing 10 the
report, and by Mr.. Boutelle Qepubhcam.
| Of Maine. who opposedsthe passage Of
the resolution.
PASSED PENSION BILLS.
Before the Cuban matter came up the
! House passed thirty-eight private pension
bills which had been favorably acted
/ upon at the previous Fliday-night session.
In the course OF this part Of the pro-
ceedings. Speaker Reed reversed his IA
nous ruling I'm the Fifty-hrst Congress.
! which has been the subject Of much con-
trOyersy. and declared that a majority
/ OF the actual membership OF the House
! constituted a quorum. In the Fifty-hrst
/ Congress, he held that it required "A ma
| iority OF all the members elected to the
| House 10 make a quorum, irrespective
/ Of the vacancies.
Mr.. Hooper Of New York. reported the
river and harbor appropriation bin for
the year ending June 80, 1897. which will
be called up Monday.
A bin was passed authorizing the con-
| slruction OF bridge across tho Mississip-
| n river at ST. Louis
AT 3lO the House took q recess until
O'Clock. the evening session 10 be for the
consideration Of private pension bills.
The question Of quorum came up on
/ the first pension bin taken up. When IL
was recommended, Mr.. Picklcr moved the
| previous question.
REED REVERSES HIMSELF.
Mr.. Erdman DemocraD Of Pennsyl-
vania- made the point OF no quorum on
/ the vOte-1E TO G.
A quorum was counted and the previous
| question was ordered.
! on the passage OF the bill Mr.. Frdman
| demanded a vote, 10y yeas and navs. but
| only twenty-five members Joined him in
/ the request-an insufficient number. So
! the bill was passed
on the next bill Mr. Erdman again
made the point OF no quorum. but the
| Speaker said "The Chair overrules the
objection, stating to the House that eyi-
| IDENTIFY quorum IS present"
The announcement was received with
| applause and the passage of the remain
| ing bills on the calendar proceeded with
ont serious delay or interruption.
Upon another vote Mr. Erdman again
made the point Of no quorum. and the
Speaker. after counting. said. There are
liS present, a quorum"
This was a reversal Of his famous decf-
sion i'm the Fifty-hrst Congress. about
which there Las been much controversy
and which was followed I'm later con-
| crosses. The entire number Of represen-
tatives IN a full House would be 357, Of
which 119 would be a majority: but there
are two vacancies-Mr. Grain, of the
Eleventh Texas district. and MIR. Boatner.
of the Fifth Louisiana, leaving the actual
membership $50, Of which rs IS ma
jority.
The ruling caused Mr.. Richardson. OF
! Tennessee. 10 question the Speaker re-
eardlng 1t. saying that it was I'm conflict
with O ruling made by him I'm the Fifty
first Congress. and asking If il was the
intention TO reverse that.
REEDS EXPLANATION.
Speaker Reed responded that it was
his intention 10 make the ruling as an
nounced.
At the close Of the Fifty-nrst Congress
he had put in the Record his views upon
the question of the composition Of a
quorum When the question presented
Itself TO the Chair for decision there was
much confusion. and it came up suddenly.
out of abundant caution. the Chair then
decided that 1G6 members constituted
quorum, "A majority Of the fun number or
members. instead Of l6i, majority OF
the actual membership.
lion Of
Speaker. IN the Record at the end Of that
Congress he had adopted the practice Of
several bodies notably that OF the Sen
ate. under the lead Of the late Reverdy
Johnson. whose reputation as lawyer
had always stood high. and stated his
belief which was his present that l6i
members. and not lGG, constituted
quorum Of the House; In other words, a
majority Of the actual membership.
The decision referred 10 by the gen
tlcman from Tennessee. said the Speaker
was one against himself. and his side
of the House Mr.. Richardson assured
the Speaker that he had no criticism 10
make of the present ruling. it was only
because Of fits reversing the former ruling
that he had called attention TO IT,
MIR. TALBERT REBUKED.
Before the bills were disposed Of Mr..
10 a parliamentary inquiry the South
Carolina representative asked il under
the existing conditions
The Speaker: The gentleman will con-
fine himself to the parliamentary in
quiry.'
Mr. Talbert: II will try 10 do so. but
was Just laying down my premise
The Speaker: "The Chair will answer
parliamentary inquiry. but not pre-
mise"
Mr. Talbert: "Will IT not be In order
10 ask 70 lay aside bill on the ground
that IL is an outrage
The Speaker: 1T will not
Mr. Talbert was continuing 10 denounce
some of the bills. but the Speaker sharp
lv raped him TO order and sternly no
tilted him to take his seat when de-
clafed 10 be out of order.
Upon the passage Of the pending bill
Mr. Talbert asked ii II was in order to
move to amend the title.
II was and he moved that 1t be made
TO read:
- bin NOT TO pension Mollie Gran
dali"
can I be heard on that motion Mr..
Speaker" he asked.
Not under the rules OF the House"
was the response. daughter.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. Erdman DEM, OF Pennsylvania.
succeeded in heading OF one bill by de-
mandlne an engrossed copy. II could
not be furnished Of course, and had 10
be laid aside.
THE CUBAN RESOLUTIONS.
Thirty-eight bills were passed in an