Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-07
HOUSE RESEMBLES
RUDDERLESS SHIP
Without Quorum, Speaker and
Other Officers, 1t FIoun-
ders About.
MANN REFUSES TO HEED
PLEAS OF DEMOCRATS
Republicans Insist ON Clubbing Ma.
jority While It's Members
Are Out Of City.

Without a quorum, without a Speak
err. without a clerk, without a sergeant
alarms. and without an assistant SER
geant-at-arms, the House of Represent
atives foundered around this afternoon
absolutely unable to adjourn or to do any
business. and with teh absence of the Of
ficials mentioned the republicans claim
ed that there was no one present to issue
warrants for absentees or to make ar
rests OF members not present.
For the first time in many days Speak
err Clark was not in the House, as he
was fulfilling an old engagement ito be
present at the opening of industrial
exposition in Knoxville, Tenn. Repre-
sentative, SherIey of Kentucky was act
ing Speaker.
AS soon as the journal was read today
Representative Mann of Illinois made a
point of no quorum. Only twenty-seven
republicans were in their seats at that
moment and only sixty-five democrats.
Representative Fitzgerald. chairman of
the appropriation committee, wanted to
take some immediate action on the de-
1iciency bill with its 100000 of appro-
priations, a big part of which affects the
District of Columbia in various ways. He
endeavored to make some compromise
with MIR. Mann, but the republican lead
er refused.
Musters Only 1872 Members.
The House could muster only about 162
members, needing fifty-three more to
make q quorum. Representative Sherley
then signed a warrant under which the
sergeant-at-arms must act in order to
bring members, either to telegraph for
them. telephone to them or actually ar
rest them, no matter where they are.
But here is the startling situation: The
republicans claimed that Mr.. Sherley has
no right to sign the warrant, and that in
the absence OF Clark. South Trimble. and
in the absence Of Sergeant at Arms Cor
don, there is no one authorized to make
an arrest. Minority Leader Mann said
this afternoon that no republicans would
recognize the warrants signed by Mr..
Sheriey. and that if arrested they would
sue.
Prepare for Situation.
The democrats would not take the re-
publican threat seriously. Anticipating
just such a situation as arose today in
the House, South Trinble. clerk Of the
House. signed a warrant before he left
for Knoxville, and Robert Bonham took
an oath. it is understood. to act as SER
geant-at-arms, and these two facts may
operate TO invalidate the republican claim.
Representative Humphreys of Mis-
sissippi endeayored to have Mr.. Mann
withhold his point OF order on mo
leader refused. Representative FftZger-
AID chairman Of the appropriations COM
ulittee, anxious 70 get TO work on the de-
70 the House from the Senate. also asked
Mr. Mann IL he would consent to appoint
ing conferees on the bill:
There is no quorum here" returned
A. fe~r-> 49, ID.
anything even If i did consent"
Adjournment Baked.
Representative Levy offered motion
TO adjourn. 1t was voted down. The
members did not want to have the oppor-
tunity pass by without getting their
names I'm the Record as being present at
this crucial moment
Therefore a call of the House was
ordered, following Representative Fitz-
gerald's motion
Half an hour after the roll call only
ffty-nine members remained in the House
of Representatives and an effort was
made to adjourn. The House refused
10 adjourn by a vote of 81 TO g.
Trouble for Democrats.
Trouble. sore and vexatious, faces the
democrats of the House, according to the
ship. The despised minority finds at this
stage of the proceedings that II has the
whip hand and proposes to use 1t vigor-
ously.
The minority refuses to allow the de-
nciency appropriation bill to go to con-
ference In the absence OF a quorum unless
President Wilson will agree to recess
of Congress pending the reporting to the
Senate of the currency BILL now begged
down In committee. with several demo-
cratic senators refusing to inspan-
There was wholesale exodus of states
men last week, after the announcement
In the House that no business of impor-
lance would be presented for the next
thirty days, and frantic recall messages
were wired out last night.
Republicans Position.
Tho republicans say they do not feel
required to remain here and assist in
furnishing the quorum. They contend that
they are not responsible for legislation
II is not their OK which is being gored.
Consequently, the benches on the left
will be conspicuously empty for the next
few weeks.
Gathering gayly forth to their districts
to repair their political fences, they will
let the majority walk the fioor'' to pro-
huce the quorum. And when the roster
of absentee democrats is announced they
intend to be just mean enough to call at
tention to the absenteeism and make
some caustic inquiry as to why the demo-
Gratis are not at their posts
Fostering, the Program.
1t looks to the republicans to be fine
program, full OF possibilities of all kinds
of annoyances to the top-heavy majority.
At any rate, they intend to try IL on and
- see what determined and well organized
nnionrity can do in the way of making
life miserable for their opponents. The
deficiency bin is an important measure
and its provisions are In clamorous de-
mand by many branches of the govern
ment service. But the administration
a1ll have to produce a quorum to get the
sili through the Anal stages.
1t 10 not thought that President Wilson
Viii be ooerced into agreeing to n recess,
program which would Illustrate his de-
.ermination 10 put the currency bill
through at once, so there will be moth
ss for 1t hat to hale back the absentee
democrats from farm, field and hreside
.s.wiSe from chautauqua circuit and
fEpy vacation land.
dayton Credentials Must Wait.
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