Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-04

When the House rea sso mblel. after the
holiday recess, not more than IS members
were present. 1t had boon arranged be
fore the House met that the considera-
ton of the rcapportionment bin was TO
he entered UpOn. today Immediately
after the reading of the journal. Ohm
stead. Pa. sprung Il surprise by offering
as a matter of privilege resolution re-
citing the alleged ahridgcment of the
right to vote in Louisiana. Mississippi.
South Carolina and North Carolina, and
instructinS the committee on census to
inquire into the subject and report the
facts to the House.
The reading of the resolution caused z
furry on the Democratic side. Before it
had proceeded far Richardson. Tenn.
the, minority leader; jlmpcd TO his feet fee,
whether the resolution required unani-
nous consent.
1T does not replied the Speaker. at
is offered as q matter of privilege.
II make the point that the resolution
does not constitute 4 matter Of privilege,
said Richardson.
The reading has not projected lar
enough to determine that point, respon l.
cd The Sneaker.
iticha roison took his seat hut before tho
clerk could proceed, ndcrwood. Ma.
was on his feet. n make the point that
there is II" quorum present. nc said. IN
Speaker glanced about tho House. Eyi-
IDENTIFY There WAS no quorum I resent, ne
was counted and when the Speaker an
noInccd III IrCSrnt-not quorum n
dcrwoud Immediately moved IN adjourn
mcnt The ayes ana noes and demanded
ana obtained upon this motion.
Durins; the RON call there were hurre |
consultations on both sides Of the House
Many of the Republicans were taken as
much by surprise as the Democrats. The
latter were greatly acitatod and decided
to fIihustcr against the resolution to the
The motion TO adjourn was lost: Ayes,
G.: noes %: answering bui not voting, II;
noted present. >; total. 1I9 The Speaker
included himself in order To make up the
quorum.
The Speaker thereupon directed The
clerk to proceed with the reading of the
resolution When il, was concluded Rich,
ardson again brought forward his point
Of order tnat the resolution was not
privileged. Dlmstrad. in reply, argued
that under the constitution matters at
recting the reapportionment OF represent :
'atives were Of the highest constitutional
privilege and cited an elaborate. opinion
&c Sneaker Keif"r, in the nth Congress.
in support of his position.
Sneaker Randall. he said, had also he'll
that an apportionment bill was a matte"
he contended, seeking as it did to deter
mine the constitutional basis of repre-
sentation. was equally privilesed, me
House. he argued, could not act intelli-
gently unless il was advised i'll what
states and to what extent the suffrage Of
citizens of the United States had been
abridged Olmstead said the resolution
touched the dignity of the House itself.
If the suffrage had been abridged in Ger
tain states, then members were unJustiy
and unconstitutionaly holding seats on
this floor and this constituted an invd-
sion of the dignity Of the place
Richardson made 4 brief response to
Oimstead.
nc Speaker then announced that the
question was clearly settled by Section :
Of Article II Of the Constitution, which
ia directed the clerk to read. II related
10 the reduction of representation in
states where the suffrage was abridged.
The resolution and its preamble, said the
Speaker. alleged that certain condition ;
existed which the constitution expressly
nroribited and it must be passed upon
by a higher rule than those of the Hous
the constitution of the United State :.
Tic said he never expected TO pass upon
a question more simple. He oyerruled the
point of order.
! Underwood Immediately raised the
ouestion of considera ton gainst the res
oIution. On rising vote il stood: Ayes
q: noes, 70. The ayes and noes We're de-
manded and ordered. The Speaker an
nounced the vote-Sl to consider TIE res
olution. 20 against. and five present bui
not Voting-not Il quorum. lie directed q
call of the House, pending which ndcr'
wood again moved IN adjournment.
The rising vote resulted: Ayes, -; noes