The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-20
HOW REED BECAME CAR
1HE EXCITING SCENES ~ THE
FIFTT-FIEsT CONGRisS,
when the Republican speaker First Starts
ed His "Count!ng "a Quorum Tactics.
MI. trisp'S Fight.


Tho spicy events that transprcd in the
sprlng days OF the Ffty-nrst Congress.
n which Mr.. Reed was the moving spirit.
and which brought down upon him the
MILO Of GEAR Reed
Cameron. Burrows and Mckinley were
n nomination against Reed Tor the
3pcakership. but the latter gentleman
Arried everything before him. This was
4 1879. Since then Burrows has been
Acc,cd 10 the Senate and Mckinley 10
Lo Presidency. bat Reed stu holds forth
D. the samo old stand. Reed was. prac-
ideally. master OF all he surN eyed, and he
sill doubtless continue 10 Dc the same
Surfing tho present Congress.
The first signs Of excitement showed
conspiCuously upon the rcasscmhling OF
Congress on January 9. $780, after the
holidays w1cn Mr.. McComas. OF Mary
land. offered a resolution 10 80 into the
Committee Of tho Whole ON an appro-
priation bill.
BRECK1NRIDGE APPEALS
Mr. Breckenridge. of kentucky. raised
The question of consideration, but the
Speaker ruled that this could not he
raised Mr.. Brecklnridgo appealed.
Messrs Carlisle Crisp. Bland. Rogers and
others spoke against the ruling The
Scapkcr ncld his position, however ana
for two weeks the discussion on the tarin
bill was proceeded I'm a comparatively
orderly and regular manner.
ON January 10th, however the storm
broke loose.
Mr. Dazcn Of Pennsylvania, called up
a contested election case and asked for
immediate consideration.
Mr.. crisp raised the question or con-
sidcraton. 4 viva vocc vote was taken
and the Speaker decided the ayes had H.
a division was called for and upon
rising vote the Speaker announced 15C
ayes and 12 nays. The yeas and nays
were ordered and the Speaker at the
end Of the roll-call announced lC2 yeas.
nays. 163 not voting
Then came the proceeding which IN a
moment revoutionized the parliamentary
government Of the House of Representa-
lives. As the confusion following the
announcement OF the vote subsidized.
Speaker Reed calmly said
''The Chair directs the clerk TO read
the following names of members pres
cnt apd refusing 10 vote
Mr. Crisp sprang 10 his feet and shout
,d amid a roar Of applause from the
Democratic side:
Il appeal l appeal from the decision
OF the Chair"
COUNTS A QUORUM.
Amid iudescrilable confusion threats.
denunci itions ana excited consultations
among the Democratic leaders, the un-
wavoring. raspins. penetrating voice of
the Speaker slowly announced the names.
MIR. Blanchard. Mr.. Bland. Mr.. Blouut,
Mr.. Breckenridge. OF Arkansas Mr.
Breckenridge OF Kentucky purposciy
4 /. cd 90
lead those not voting.
The elder Brecknridse sprang 20 his
feet, shouting in rather TAD English
Il deny the power CT the Speaker and
teuounce II as revolutionary
Again the shouts of tXccratiOn and de-
nunciatiCn broke loose. and the prospects
were good for an immediate riot accom-
panied by an onslaught on the Speaker.
Republicans quietly gathered about the
Speakers desk. Officers and employees
of the House. all Republicans, of course,
assembled about the doors and Hobbies.
The Sergeant-at. Arms and his assistant
were close at the right nand of the
Speaker. One motion toward the exercise
Of physical force, one little scrapping
match between some two superhcatcd
members would have provoked "a riot
such as woxld have made the recent one
in the House of Commons an insignih-
cant affair indeed. But that one blow was
not struck. The Speaker amid the up
roar. banged continuously on the desk
with his gavel
ORDER DEMANDED.
"rhe House will be in order" he said
in his sarcastic way, beamiIg kindly
upon the Democrats.
Bland was on his feet shouting for the
attention OF the Speaker. and was heard
10 say that he was responsible 10 his
constituents and not TO the Speaker of
the House Again bediam broke loose, the
Speaker surveying the scene with an OK
preston OF mingled amusement, grief and
pity. which was 70 the Democrats a very
exasperating admiXture of emotions
When the uprOar had again somewhat
subsidized, Reed calmly went on with the
reading of his list of names, the clerk
taking then down. members occasionally
cNclaiming against "the outrage Reach
ing the name Of Mr.. McCreary, of Ken
lucky. that solemn gentleman eXcleim-
ed:
II deny your right. Mr.. Speaker. 20
count me as present. and 1 desire TO read
from parliamentary Law on that sub
.ect"
"The Chair" said Mr.. Reed. "is max
ing a statement Of fact that the gentle
deny it,"
AT this there was great laughter and
applause on the Republican side. Nc
Creary tried TO read. but was interrupt
ed by cries OF order and shouts Of APP
plause. The uproar continuing for q
long time the Speaker raped continu-
ously. and finally made himself heard
10 say bcnignantly:
THE gentlemen will he in order The
Chair is proceeding IN an orderly man
ner." at which there were renewed shouts
of laughter and applause from the Re
publicans. and groans and hiases from
the Democrats.
COOPER "DISORDERLY."
Cooper q Indiana. persistently insist
cd on u reply TO q parliamentary ques-
lion" propounded by him. The CHAIR
answered him kindly at nrst and then
firmly informed him that he must not be !
dsordcrly, and finally that ne must not |
undertake to compel the Char TO DO |
anything. Again. 1t looked as -nOuen |
a riot was imminent 50 great aud /
WAS the excitement but 10y |
,almucss, good humCr and nnessc which /
no other man ever Ia the Speakers !
chair or in Congress could have eX- !
trcised 30 well. Speaker Reed WAS nnaly |
enabled 90 announce the members voting |
in the affirmative as 16l. In the negative. |
3. and that he had taken the names OF !
certain gentlemen present and not Not- |
ing ~ ind whether Il quorum OF the |
House Was present 10 90 business ac- |
cOrdiny 1, the Constitution OF the United !
States. from which an appeal can |
be taIcL by any gentleman dissatisfied |