The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-03
NO ACTION ON pensions
The House Holds a Lively But
Fruitless Night Session.
RePre-fntative TaIbert of south
Carolina Demands the Presence Of
Quoruns-He Gives His Opinion ms
to the Whereabouts of the Alb
scntecs-Nany Notions to adjourn.

scntecs-Nany Motions to Adjourn
The first Friday night session of tn
House since the opening of Congress wa
held last night. 1t was very interesting
for it gave members present an upportu
nifty 10 show their loyalty to the old sol
diers. and incidentally make campaign ma
teriai. The galleries had quite number
OF occupants. who seemed to take interes
in the parliamentary proceedings
Mr.. Talbert of South Carolina was rec.
ognized to make a statement. He repeated
what he said on previous occasion. tina
he would insist on the presence of
quorum at the Friday night sessions Ii
pension bills we're meritorious. then the
members who favored them should attend
the sessions He knew the position he had
taken was not popular with the House. but
he was only exercising his right to insist
on the presence NJ a quorum. and. he would
I demand quorum on every Friday night
He said that members instead of attend
ing to the night session. were OF playing
! cards drinking rum. and attending pink
teas. If they would come to the House. the
pension bills could be considered. because
| then there would be quorum.
| As a result of Mr.. Talbert's demand a
( call Of the House was ordered. which was
followed by several roll-calls. on motions
to adjourn. made hy Mr.. sulloway of New
Hampshire and Mr. Mahon of Peunsyi-
vania.
The presence of eighty-six members was
disclosed on Mr.. sideways motion to go
into committee of the whole for the pur-
pose OF considering pension bills on the
private calendar
Mr.. Talbert made the point of no quo
rum. Mr.. Miers of Indiana said az it was
evident that no business could be done he
suggested that the members make
speeches. He spoke of the amount Of
time he spent in the Committee on Invalid
Pensions and he had no hesitancy what
ever in saying that of the forty bills on
the private calendar every one OF them
was meritorious and ought to be passed.
He did not feel like 1uarreling with the
gentleman from South Carolina for exer-
cising his right in demanding the pres
ence OF quorum. The men who we're
present, he said. were the friends of the
old soldier and he hoped they would be
here next Friday night. because unless
they were there could be no business, for
the gentleman from South Carolina had
given fair warning that he would insist
on constitutional quorum.
No Quorum Present.
The Speaker pro tem. counted the House
and announced that no quorum was pres
ent. a call OF the House was ordered.
At the conclusion of the reIlcaIl, los mem-
bers answering 10 their name. Mr.. De-
Graffenried of Texas asked unanimous
consent that Mr.. TaIbeft be allowed to
withdraw the point of no quorum.
The Chair said it could not be done. for
the rollcall had declared the absence of
q quorum.
MIR. Sulloway then moved to adjourn.
1t was carried, on division, by vote of
As to 46.
Mr.. Norton of Ohio. demanded the yeas
and nays which were ordered, and the
House refused to adjourn by a vote OF %
to SO.
Mr. Norton then offered q resolution,
which was adopted. directing the Sergeant
alarms to arrest absent members and
bring them to the bar of the House.
At this point Mr. Mahon of Pennsylvania
moved that the House adjourn.
II was carried on a standing vote OF &C
TO 35.
yeas and nays, Mr.. Speaker" demanded
Mr.. Norton.
A rollcall was ordered. during which
number Of parliamentary questions w,re
asked.
Mr. Clark of Missouri said ii seemed tllat
the House had two sets of rules-one for
day proceedings aud one for the night ses-
sions.
pafnra tba raerft os fI,a ,-ogo ,ra- an
nounced Mr.. Norton asked what had be-
come OF his resolution directing the Ser
geant-at-Arms TO arrest absent members.
The Chair has just signed the warrant
of arrest" replied the Speaker pro TEN.
By vote of 2s to 81 the House again re-
fused to adjourn.
Mr.. Talbert at this point stated that he |
had been informed by mant members that
IL had not been generally understood that |
he would insist on a quorum He did not |
want TO work any hardship on absent |
and Was willing to withdraw the |
point.
The Chair said ii was too late.
On motion OF Mr.. Norton all pr, seedings |
under the call We're dispensed with.
Another motion to adjourn was then
made and carried on a standing vote of
62 to 50.
The yeas and nays were again demanded
and ordered.
During the rollcall Mr.. AIahon asked
how it happened that on division the
House favored the motion 10 adjourn. but
woul defea: g. on rolleall.
This caused laugh
The hour Of 1890 having arrived under
he rule, the fruitless session came to an
End.
The Morning Session.
AZ the morning session OF the House a
bill was passed authorizing the New Or
cans leyee beard to move without cost
o the United States, the leyee in front
If the Marine Hospital. the vacated terri
ory TO be used as a street Also bill
o authorize the Natchtoches Railway
md Construction Company to build
ridge across Red River at Grand Ecove.
louisiana
Mr.. Crumpacker of Indiana for the
committee on Insular Affairs, asked unan-
nous consent for-the consideration of the
ill recently reported to place Cuban ves-
els upon the same basis as the vessels
II nations having regular trade treaties
nd regulations with the United States
Under the peculiar conditions existing
Iow Cuban vessels are subject TO pay ,
ncnt of tonnage and light dues which /