Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-01-24
THE NEW RULES
Adopted by House With the
Quorum Counting Section.
Democrats Congratulated on Advance
Stree Fighting Same Rule.
The Bond Bill Discussed in the Senate. But
No Action Taken.

Washington, Jan. 23.-In the House.
Henderson explained the force of the
changes made hy the committee in the
rule Tor quorum counting. 1t provided,
he SAID, for an adjournment pending a
call Cf the House, the adjournment to
have the elect OF a vacation of all proceed
ings Hereunder, but it did not apply to
Friday night sessions, when the attend
ancc, usually, is not equal to that of a
quorum.
Henderson stated that the proposition
was originally advanced in the 47th Con
gress hy lion. J. Randolph Tucker for
some time chairman of the committee On
Judiciary, aud recognized by all as an able
lawyer, and later advocated in the SD
Congress by Hon. Thomas b. Reed also a
member of the committee on judiciary.
IL was desirable that the rule should be
adopted now. when it could be considered
without invoking any partisan feeling
either in support or opposition.
Dearmond, Dem, Of Missouri, argued
that the reScuce of quorum having
been ascertsined, lie believed IL perfectly
competent for the House, under the con-
stitution, by a rule, 10 say, in SO many
words, that members who do not vote upon
the pending question shall be counted
with the prevailing side 1t was fair, Just,
sensible and constitutional, said Dear
moEd, thus TO vote them.
Bailey. Dem. OF Texas, asserted that It
was not competent for the House 10 pass
a rule whereby any measure could be de
clared legally passed unless il received the
affirmative votes of at least majority of
a quorum of the House. He fortified his
position by copious quotations from lead
ing text writers and decisions Of Judicial
tribunals upon this subject.
Miles, Dem, of Marsland, offeerd an
amendment providing that the result of Il
pending proposition shall be decided by
the votes of a majority of those members
present The amendment was agreed To
after Miles amendment had been rejected.
Walker, Rep, Of Massachusetts, pro
posed an amendment giving the members
Oldest in service the first right to draw for
seats at the beginning of the session so
that members upon whose assistance the
Speaker must rely for conducting the
affairs Of the House. like Mr.. DiDgley Of
Maine whose voices are in inverse ratio to
their ability and expert 2ncc, should not
be relegated to the Cherokee strip,
where they could not be heard The
amendment was lost
Crisp, Dem Of Georgia, moved to sub
stitute for the code Of rules, the rules Of
the SD Congress
Dolivcr, Rep, of Iowa. made humor-
ous speech, congratulating the Democrats
upon their advance since the famous scenes
in the 3lst Congress, in which they pro
tested against the counting of a quorum
by Speaker Reed. as evidenced by their
willingness TO vote for the rule reported,
today.
EXSpeaker Crisp made an earnest de-
fence Of the action Of the Democrats at
that time against what they deemed
revolutionary proceeding on the part Of
Speaker Reed. Mr., Crisp said that these
troubles occurred before the rule WAS
adopted. While the House was without
rules other than those of general parlia-
meutary practice, the Speaker, without
any except his own arbitrary will, pro-
posed to count quorum. Ii was against
this that the Democrats protested.
The substitute of Crisp was rejected and
the rules as reported were declared At
4.30, the House took a recess until Friday
night, at the conclusion of that session to
stand adjourned until Monday