The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
MUST HAVE A QUORUM
NO PENSION LEGISLATION AT EVEN
ING SESSIONS OF HOUSE.
UItimatum by Representative Talbert,
of south Observation-Disclosures shut
or i'm the senate.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-The House to-
day devoted its attention TO the Indian APP
preparation bill 1t got no further, how
ever than the appropriations for Indian
schools, where an effort was inaugurated
by Mr.. Fitzgerald. of New York TO permit
the secretary of the interior to contract
with schools for the education of Indian
children where the government lacks ia
cilities. No appropriation is made for COLI
tract schools in this bill. 1t is claimed
that present Indian facilities are made
quate. A bill giving to Cuban vessels the
most favored nation treatment in Amer
lean ports was passed.
Representative Talbert. of South Caro-
lima, who gave notice during the considcra--
ton of the pension appropriation bin last
week that he proposed TO block all special
pension legislation at Friday night sessions
unless a Quorum of members was present,
carried out his threat at Tonight session.
AS soon as the House was called 10 ofder
he sent to the clerks desk and mad read
several editorials from different papers
warning Congress of "A scheme 10 put
through a bill To place every soldier who
had served sixty days in the civil war ON
the rolls, thereby increasing pension eA-
penditures $70,00O,0O0 year. There WAS 10
be return, one of the editorials said. to
the halcyon days when pension attorneys
made 600 day.
Now and henceforth. Mr.. Speaker" an
nounced Mr.. Talbert, II shall insist on
quorum of the House when pension bills
under consideration at the special Fri
day evening sessions. SO long as may be
able TO drag myself to the Capitol no pen
sion bill land there is qualification in
this ultimatum) shall pass the House with
out quorum of its members present. The
abuse must stop. Innocent people will be
hurt possibly, but that will only accentuaty
the responsibility. / demand a quorum. Ii
the House is without a quorum L shall ask
immediate adjournment. IL that is re-
fused L shall insist that the House exhaust
its powers to secure quorum. i believe
the pension laws sufficiently liberal TO
pension every deserving soldier and widow,
and L am opposed to sitting here every Fri
day night as court OF appeals TO pass
special cases which have been refused by
the Pension Bureau. IL it's TO be done
there must be a quorum Members cry
aloud their love for the old soldier, but
they will not give up their pink teas and
poker parties and that sort OF thing 10 vote
pensions.
When Mr.. Sulloway OF New Hampshire.
chairman of the committee on Invalid PEN
sions, moved 10 go into committee Of the
whole 10 consider pension legislation, only
eighty-nine members were present and
Mr.. Talbert made the point of no quorum
therefore, call of the House was ordered.
but only 10S members responded There
was a general desire TO adjourn as II was
manifestly impossible to secure a quorum
but some of the members contended that
absentees should be arrested and brought
TO the House. Finally Mr.. Sulloway moved
to adjourn.
Vote ii down. vote II down. cried
Mr.. Norton (Dem., o. and other members
Inc motion was defeated-25 TO S.
The sergeant-at-arms. motion of Mr.
Norton, was ordered to arrest absentees
Several roll calls on motion 10 adjourn fol-
lowed. On rising vote the yeas each
time had an overwhelming majority but
on roll calls where members went on rec
ord the nays always had an equally large
majority.
AT 1880. without breaking the deadlock.
the House was adjourned under the rule.