Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-08

y
tering had been increasing. and several no.
table examples of the power of the minor
ity to completely deadf9ek the House and
81 mo wass fresh
in the memory of most lof the members of
the Fifty-first Congress- Many people re-
call the famous exploM Of Mr.. Oates Of AL
ALBANIA. who held the House at standstill
for that length Of time, and a similar feat
by Mr.. Weaver, in resentment for the fail
ure of the House to adopt some Of his
IDEAS
The democrats started in promptly to ex-
ercise the power Of obstruction which the
lax rules gave them Their leaders justified
hlibustering, as a stratagem of parliament
airy war, to accomplish an end. The two
favorfte methods Of obstruction were to
break the quorum and to put dilatory mo-
tons BY refusing to vote on question
the minority compelled the majority to keep
its full membership in; the House constantly,
In order to transact business. This was
almost tmpracticabe, as the majority was
100 close. II the republicans succeeded in
producing the necessary ajority, the oppo
sition caused long roll calls on motions to
adjourn to an hour fixed, or to take a re-
cess.
one democrat would move that when the
House adjourned it would adjourn to meet
the following day; an amendment would be
made TO adjourn until the second day; an
other democrat would come in with a mo-
t1on TO adjourn until the fourth day and
separate roll call, occupying nearly an hour,
would be demanded on each motion That
would wear out the majority, usually, and
evening would come before the House per-
haps had transacted a; stroke of business.
Such was the situation in the first ses-
sion Of the Fffty-first Congress, and at the
time that Mr. Reed determined to take the
initiative step to break up the system which
falr-minded men on both sides of the
chamber denounced as pernicious. 1t was
evident to his mind that stern measures
must be adopted to bring about a change.
rule of the House contemplating it would
be met with the same dilatory tactics that
were used with legislation.
Counting a Quorum.
The writer of this article was in the press
gallery Of the House when Mr.. Reed made
his famous count of a quorum and forever
broke the back of filibustering. 1t was
January %, 1890. The contested election
case of Smith against Jackson was brought
in by Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania, and Mr.
crisp or Georgia, the democratic leader
raised the question of consideration. On
division 1t was shown there were 260 men,
bers present, but upon the yeas and nays
being demanded the democrats refused to
vote and the roll call showed 165 men an
swering to their names.
MI Crisp 1nterposed the familiar and Oft
used hlibustering objection of mo quorum
In voice raised to a pitch that could
be heard throughout the hall, Speaker
Reed said:
The chair directs the clerk to record
the following names Of members present
ana refusing to vote.
There was pause of amaZement for a
few seconds, and then as the meaning of
the Speakers words dawned upon the
members of the House great shout of
approval was heard on the republican
to their feet in excitement.
On the democratic side pandemonium
seemed to have broken loose. A whirl-
wind of expressions Of anger and disap-
prevail swept over that side Of the cham
Der. Democrats stepped into the aisle and
shouted denunciation at the Speaker, shak-
ing their fists at him in anger. Loud
above the tumult. however, was heard the
voice OF Speaker Reed calmly naming the
men present and not voting. Mr.. Blanch-
ard, Mr.. Bland, Mr.. Blount. Mr.. Breckin-
ridge Of Arkansas. Mr.. Breckenridge of
Kentucky" he continued.
Down the right-hand aisle rushed Mr..
Breck1nridge Of Kentucky, his face GRIM
son with anger hts white hair tumbled
in disorder. He advanced close to the ros-
trum and. raising both hands with clench-
ed fists. shook them at Mr.. Reed he
cried: Il deny the power Of the Speaker
and denounce it as revolutionary" An
other storm of applause swept over the
democratic side Of the House and was re-
newed several times.
1.-The House will besin ORDER command
ed the Speaker, pounding vigorously with
his gavel.
Mr. Bland of Missouri advancing also
to the open space in front of the Speaker.
his voice thick with passion shouted: Mr..
Speaker, l am responsible to my constitu-
ents for the way IN which I vote and not
to the Speaker of this House
Without appearing To notice him. Mr..
Reed continued his count: Mr. Brookshire,
Mr.. Buloch. Mr.. Bynum, Mr.. Carlisle, Mr..
Chapman. Mr.. Clements, Mr.. Clunie, Mr..
Compton,.
Protest Of Democrats.
II protest against the conduct of the
chair in calling my name cried Mr.. Comp
ton. But the Speaker proceeded. looking
over Mr.. Comptons head and picking DEM
ocrats as he saw them. Mr.. Covert, Mr.
Crisp. Mr.. Culberson Of Texas, Mr.. Hol-
man. Mr. McCreary"--
II deny your right, Mr.. Speaker" said
Mr. McCreary, Ito count me as present,
and desire to read from the parliamentary
law on that subject
fact that the gentleman from Kentucky is
present." said the Speaker. Does he deny
it," he added, In his most sarcastic tone
This was greeted by burst of laughter
and applause on the republican side the
first that had been heard there since the
original great shout with which the Speak
er's ruling was received. For five minutes
the proceedings continued in this vein. The
Speaker persevered, naming gentlemen who
were visibly and physically present, and
as he did SO the clerk took down their
names and included them in the number
necessary to make up quorum.
The Speaker appealed for order and final
ly succeeded in quelling the outbreak
Democrats resumed their seats. When he
was finally able to make himself heard, Mr.
Reed proceeded to justify his action. The
first thing he did was to cite the fact that
the then governor of New York Mr.. David
B. Hill, when presiding over the senate in
the New York legislature in $780, had found
devolving upon him a duty similar to that
which confronted Mr.. Reed. He met that
duty in precisely the same manner" said
Mr. Reed He also cited a similar proceed
ing in the Tennessee legislature In 1885,
where a democratic speaker had counted
quorum Of republicans who were present,
but who refused to vote. Mr.. Reed caused
to be read the decision of Mr.. Hill In the
New York legislature. Concluding his
gument the Speaker announced:
THE chair thcreupon rules that there is a
quorum present within the meaning of the
Constitution.
Mr.. Crisp of Georgia appealed from the
decision Of the chair. Ths appeal was de-
bated for a long time that afternoon. Mr..
McMillin of Tennessee, Mr.. Crisp. Mr..
Hooker Of Mississippi. Mr.. Springer. Mr..
Rogers Of Arkansas and other democrats Of
Importance urged the democratic conten-
ton against the ruling. Mr.. Cannon of
Illinois made one of the strongest arsu-
ments for the republicans in support of the
ruling, followed by Mr.. Carlisle Of Ken
lucky for the democrats. No decision was
reached that day. and at o'clock the
odi