The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-02-18
WHEN REED RULED
And Raised a Row In Congress
by Counting a Quorum.
HOW THE QUESTION AROSE.

House In an Uprosr.
In his Life OF Thomas Bracket
Reed popularity known AZ Car
Reed. Samuel w. Mccall relates how
the great question Of the quorum
that was counted arose. The famous
issue came up shortly after Reeds re-
election as speaker in December. 1888.
The Republicans had so narrow a ma
jority that business would have been
difficult even without the filbustering
of the opposition.
On Jan. 20, 1890, Dalzell reported
| from the committee on elections an
award Of contested seat to a Repub-
lican
"Crisp raised the question OF consid-
Grafton. and only 163 members respond
ed, or two less than quorum. Not
merely was it beyond the power OF the
Republicans to produce a quorum at
that time, but it appeared equally GER
tain that they would not be able to
produce one mt any time during that
congress.
reed had carefully planned to meet
the emergency which had long seemed
TO him inevitable and had determined
upon his course But the element of
doubt was whether his party associ-
ates in the house would sanction the
radical course which he meditated. He
was intending to overturn not merely
H. hut loo
precedents as well.
Times almost without number the
leaders of his own party had main
tanned that the constitutional quorum
was to be determined by the roll call
and not by the bodily presence Of
members. The position had never Sc
riously been questioned that il ma
jority OF the representatives failed TO
answer TO their names on the calling
of the roll there was no quorum pres.
ent for the transaction of business,
even il every member might actually be
present in the hall of the house.
INSTEAD of ordering the roll TO be
called again Reed calmly said, The
names of the following members pres
ent and refusing to vote He then
proceeded TO name a number OF Dem.
ocrats and among them Carlisle and
other Democratic leaders who were
present when their names were called
and who refrained from voting.
AT once the house was in an up
roar. There was an explosion as vio-
lent as was ever witnessed in a legis-
lative body. The speakers recital OF
the names was interrupted by passion
ate remonstrancc. His course was de-
nounced as revolutionary. For con-
siderable time the tumult stopped the
business of the house. Reed remain
ed unruffied. and when the noise would
for moment subsde he would add
10 his count of Democrats present and
not voting.
"One member OF much dignity, but
not conspicuous for sense Of humor,
gra vely arose with a book in his hand
and said. Il deny your right Mr..
Speaker. to count me rs present. and
desire to read from the parlia-
mentary law on that subject. Reed
raised hearty laugh by coolly saying
in reply and with his customary
drawl. The chair is making a state
ment OF fact that the gentleman from
Kentucky is present. Does he deny
it?'
After the noise had subsidized suti-
GENTLY for the speaker 10 make con
nected statement he proceeded TO state
the question to the house: The chair
treats this subject in orderly fasnloh
and will submit his opinion TO the
house, which, il not acquiesced In by
the house, can be overruled on an APP
peal taken from the decision
HE then proceeded to state his opln-
ion in Il few words. Referring to the
constitutional power of the house to
compel the attendance of absent mem
bers, he said: If members can be pres
ent and refuse to exercise their rune
tion-to wit. not be counted as quo
rum-that provision would seem to be
entirely nugatory. lnasmuch as the
constitution only provides for their at
tendance, that attendance is enough.
If more was needed the constitution
would have provided for more.
Disorder was renewed, but after
hot debate the ruling was sustained.
Reeds party standing by him TO
man, aud the supreme court subse-
quently confirmed the point.