The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-19

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| after slccpless night wearyjng them
selves out fruitlessly. while tho men they
| were lighting were getting a good night S
| sleep.
Mr., James OF Kentucky made an elo-
| Quent protest against any concession To
| personal comfort, which would tend TO de-
| tract from the impresSivcness OF tho OBJ
iect lesson which they were giving TO the
| public, OF devotion to tho public business
| while the Republican regulars were de-
| liberately absent In the pursuance of a
| conspiracy to prevent a quorum.
| About $3.50 a, M, there was a hot debate
| about the possibility OF appointing O new
sergeant~a t~arms or other officers neces-
| sary to bring in the absent members. II
was the general opinion that the sergeant
alarms and his deputies were making no
sincere efforts to ind the missing Republi-
| cans, Mr. Dalzell, in the chair, ruled that
| the minority there present was helpless to
| appoint any additional officers OF the
| house.
| The Democrats contcndcd that the ap-
] to secure n quorum was an essential part
| of the powers conferred upon less than a
quorum" by the constitution OF the
United States and the rules OF tho house.
There was long wrangle about this
and finally Representative Hardwick
| UDcmocraD OF Georgia moved the ap-
pointment OF a temporary assistant Scr
| seant- arms. with authority to employ
additional assistance TO bring In the miss
| ing representatives.
| The chair ruled the motion out OF order,
but on appeal WAS overruled with a shout,
| The same procedure was gone through
with on a motion that the newly appoint
ed officers be equipped with new war
rants,
Cannon Gets Busy.
Then the new officers went out to look
for the missing Republicans.
This affair took on "A somewhat different
aspect, however. when Speaker Cannon
himself came on the scene. This was
Mr. Burleson of Texas demanded OF
the speaker whether lie had signed the
new warrants. 'as ordered by this
house,
Uncle Joos" voice quivered with sup
pressed rage as he replied with bang
Of The gavel.
The chair declines to be catechised by
the gentleman from Texas
This defiance by the speaker struck
sparks all over the room. Mr.. Burlesons
face was very red and his voice. too.
shook with passion as he said.
With all respect 10 the speaker of this
mouse am / to understand that the
speaker declines 10 obey the mandate Of
this house? Have not these warrants
been issued?'
Warrants were issued" shouted the
speaker. under the rules for summoning
OF each of the abscntees,"
l mean The warrants ordered by this
house to be given to Joe Slnnott. who
was appointed by this house u special
assistant sergeant at arms" persisted
Mr.. Burleson.
The chair has no knowledge of any
Joe Snnott. whoever he may be- re-
torted the speaker. with scornful delib-
Grafton.
Il submit the speaker is as much
bound shouted the Texan. TO carry
out the will Of this house when there is
not a quorum as when there is quo
rum"
Then followed a lively Interchange. par
ticipatcd in by Messrs. Underwood OF
Alabama. olmstead Of Pennsylvania,
James OF Kentucky, and the speaker, the
Gri6PnIlN
with much difficulty
The end OF it was the speaker refused
TO recognize the authority OF less than a
quorum to issue any warrants for any
body.
Roast for Texan.
LESS than quorum has no powers in
this respect save those conferred upon IL
by the rules. Such a warrant as that
phaslzed the word "requested"-''b the
gentleman from Texas and the members
less than quorum would be null and
void and would be no protection to Joe
Sinnolt-whoever he may be, The speak
er VIII hesitate long before performing
a ministerial duty under the rules other
wise than prescribed by the rules"
The speaker then modified his aggres-
sive tone. and continued. remarlSing that
the long night vigil had evidently led
certain members to be somewhat careless
in the use Of language and to cast sus-
piclon upon faithful employees
Il have never known quorum to be
obtained in the early morning hours or
BY this time the heat noticeably cooled.
before daybreak.' he said.
there was some desultory argument but
everybody appeared TO lose interest there
after in the new assistant sergeant at
arms and his unsigned warrants.
The hands OF the big round clock in
the back OF the hall indicated clock
when the rollcall was concluded. 1t was
evident to the most casual observer that
the Olmstead motion had been lost but
there was no hurry In announcing the
result II required some time for the
clerks TO make their tally and the speaker
dite, matters: AT last he stated that the
motion had been defeated. "a to 90, with
twenty present but not voting.
a weary yawning from the Democrats
the chamber constituted the
most animated demonstration that greet
ed the announcement
AT this hour Uncle joe was still at
the helm He appeared slightly worried |
but the carnatlon which had graced his
lapel yesterday was still fresh and his
voice was not the least bit husky.
Mr.. Mann raised the point of no quo
rum, but apparently tie speaker was not |
certain of the footing of even as close a |
friend as the Chicago member whose
hair had not been combed for twenty |
four hours. and he refused to entertain |
the point He held that as the house was |
not even then undergoing the process OF |
a call. the point could not be enter |
tanned.
Asleep in Their Seats.
There is quorum OF record" he said, |
but II does not materlalze."
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 practice. I'm |
the house thnned out. Prob |
ably not fifty members were left in their |
seats and some of them were asleep |
some read the morning papers, others |
gathered In groups wearlly discussing the |
situation. The speaker held his post, |
Idly toying with his gavel with the same
fondness often manifested by an old |
hunter toward a gun with which he has
brought down much game, Some Of his |
Democratic friends took advantage of |
the opportunity and going to his side |
Joined In jovial conversation.
Admittedly It was the lulI before the |
storm. All sorts of things were predict
ed before the close OF the day and mem |
bers generally were preparing for a |
strenuous time.
There VIII be some snake killing be- |
fore the day is over" said Champ Clark |
as he sat In his seat rubbing his tired |
eyes.
Many, including the speaker. went to |
breakfast. Even Republican Whip Dwight |
wandered out for a brief rest and was |