Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-18

essary to secure a, quorum was an es-
sentiai part of the powers conferred
upon LESS. than a quorum" by the con
stitution Of the United States and rules
of the House. Representative Hard
wick (Dem.) of Georgia moved the APP
pointment of a temporary assistant
sergeant-at-arms, with authority tc
employ additional assistants to bring
in the missing representatives.
The chair ruled the motion out OF
order, but on appeal las overruled
with a shout. The same procedure was
gone through with upon a motion thai
the newly appointed officers be
equipped with new warrants. Then the
new officers went out to look for the
missing Republicans.
This affair took on a somewhat diff
ferent aspect, however. when Speaker
Cannon himself came on the scene,
This was about 6 a. m.
Mr.. Burleson, of Texas, demanded OF
the speaker whether he had signed the
new warrants las ordered by this
House
Uncle Joe's" voice ~quivered with
suppressed rage as he replied with a
bang of the gavel:
THE chair declines to be eatechised
by the gentleman from Texas
with all respect to the speaker. am
I to understand hat he declines to
obey the mandate of this House? Have
not these warrants been issued?' re-
torted Burleson.
Warrants were issued. shouted
the speaker. under the rules for sum
moning OF each of the absentees.'
u mean the warrants ordered by this
HOUSE to be given to Joe sinnott, who
was appointed by this House a special
assistant sergeant-at-arms." persisted
Mr.. Burleson.
Then followed a lively interchange.
participated in by Messrs. Underwood.
Of Alabama: Olmstead. of Pennsyl-
vania: James, of Kentucky, and the
speaker. The end of it was that the
speaker refused to recognize the au-
thority of less than a quorum to issue
any warrants for anybody and said:
Less than a quorum has no powers
in this respect, save those conferred
upon it by the rules. Such a warrant
as hat requested (the Speaker care
fully emphasized the word 'requested')
by the gentleman from Texas and the
members less than quorum would be
null and void and would be no protec-
ton to Mr. Joe Sinnott-whoever he
may be-"
The hands of the big round clock in
the back of the hall indicated s o'clock
when the roll call was concluded. 1t
was evident to the most casual OBJ
server that the Hardwick motion had
been lost. The speaker at last stated
that the motion had been defeated, "a to
SO, with % present but not voting.
He then stated that no business could
be transacted so long as there was not
a sufficient number to meet the require
ments of parliamentary practise. I'm
mediately the House thinend out, the
speaker held his post and some
of his Democratic friends took adj
vantage of the opportunity for a social
visit with him, and the conversation
was jovial in character.
Admittedly, it was the lull before the
storm. All sorts of things were pre-
dicted before the close of the day and
members generally were preparing as
best they could for a strenuous time.
There will be some snake-kiiling be-
fore the day is over" said Champ
Clark. as he sat in his scat plucking
cinders from his tired eyes.
Representative Norris, of Nebraska,
likewise asserted his confidence of a
majority of from ten to fifteen for his
resolution. I'VE will beat them" he
said. There is no doubt of the result,
unless there is some legerdemain."
IT'S too early yet to talk" was Re-
publican Whip Dwight's view.