New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

/ Z
Of silver: but he warned Congress that 4
coinage at the present ratio OF ~ to vosx
disastrous and discredltable.
| The President favored good coast desss
the new Navy. Improvement OF important IN.
and harbors. better protection for PED
| Judges and officers. the restraint OF trust
international copyright law. better naturA
ton laws. and a bankruptcy law. He rese-s
to the recent trip Of the Dolphin around 4
world and the reports OF the officers "
that this ship. which Democratic secreta5 4
the Navy had discredited. was really frstt
vessel The President favored dependent n
sions. protection to life and limb OF railroad 4
ployes, detachment OF the Weather Service IN
| the War Department better election Laws 4
aid to American ocean steamship lines.
THE SPEAKER AND THE RULES
One of the first subjects to engage s,tes.
| in the House was the rules. Thomas B. Re-
Rep, Maine) and other Republican leaders \
for years advocated such changes In the IA
| as would enable the majority TO legislate. ~
allowing a reasonable opportunity for debate |
spite of factious and rebellious filibusterins
orenly made. that no business should be Dc
Republicans felt that the time had come 4
| amendment Of the old Code of Rules.
In the first part of the session The Denocn>
preferred to go along without rules, and Speasz
Reed conducted the business Of the House une1
general parliamentary law. His interpresan's
Of that law We're. however exceedingly unsa;s
fscfory IN tho fa ctiouS uinoritv Rland Qexx
suave In bearing and utterance Mr.. Reed p
sessed. nevertheless. an iron will and undsunis
courage, and he was resolved to aid In faciliu
ing the business of the House. Intimately .
quainted with parliamentary law he mad
number Of rulings founded on precedent (
new to the House, which threw the DemoeEss
minority into paroxysms Of anger. In SyEs
cases. where reasonable opposition finally u
the form OF obstruction and dilatory mo.irl
sure that obstruction was factious and vnrs
sorable, refused to entertain or put any =
dilatory motions. An exciting scene occurre I
January u. when he refused TO order tellen
certain proceeding becauce the call for ID;
was a dilatory motion.
Matters came to a crisis in January, whes :
case of Jackson Oem.). who contested the sea-
Representative Smith (Rep.), OF the WITH Diss1
or West Virginia, came up for vote. The a
had been fully argued in the House. On JAZZ
airy %, t. prevent vote the Democrats rssc'd
to dilatory motions. BY the vote on these sevs.
motions the desire Of the House TO dispose
the case soon became manifest, and speA'
Reed then refused to entertain further mot'7
OF dilatory nature. A vote was called for {
taking up the case for consideration and ressss
In l6l yeas (all Republicans to nays. not
quorum. More than 100 Democrats sat in Tn;
seats, refusing to answer to their names hopl'
by that special plan to break a quorum and p's
vent vote. Thereupon Speaker Reed directs
the clerk to count and record as present. but ~
voting" all members then in the House whom
could recognize. The clerk counted enough
them to make quorum. and the Speaker "
clared the resolution passed. Thereupon y
Democrats sprang to their feet with angry sn~
and violent yells: uproar and confusion reshe
Members rushed down the aisle toward
Speaker shaking their fists at him. and sns''
ing at the top Of their voices words that eo''
not be understood. owing to the general cis"'
They protested vehemeptly against being coul"
as present. although there they were VEINS
shouting and gesticulating. Speaker Reed ms'
tanned genial composure. and, finally resloa'
order, defended his action as in obedience 70 v.
Constitution OF the United States and In acc"s
ance with precedents The Speaker quoted esF'
cially the ruling OF David Il. Hill (Dern) w.
President OF the New-York Senate Nj. -.
having on one occasion counted a quorum
present and having at the time denouncso ~
minority as "rebellious and revolutionary. -
uproar continued In the House. ard In the 90 81.
fusion no further business could be transss"'
that day. a,
Upon the following day. January 80. over "
question OF approving the Journal. the COW. =.
was repeated Three times a question was "a
to vote. upon which the Democrats aps'sS
from voting. and the Speaker counted enout =.
them actually present as not voting 10 "s"'
quorum.
THE REED RULES"
Unable to obstruct the progress OF pus''.I