Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-12
ARREST OF 137
HOUSE MEMBERS
IS DIRECTED
Speaker Spangler Resorts to
Drastic Measure to Sc
cure Quorum
MANY HAD SLIPPED HOME
Every Effort to Save Situation
by Adjournment Is
Voted Down

One hundred and thirty
seven members of the
House of Representatives
of PENNSYLVANIA were ordered
arrested by Speaker Spangler
for being absent without leave
from the session of the House
to-day and sergeants-at-arms
were sent out all over the State
to bring them in. This situation
developed for the first time
since the session of 1918, when
a call of the House made after
objections were entered to con-
sidering bills because OF no
quorum. The call showed only 81
of the 206 men at present consti-
tuting the House in their seats Two
men were absent on leave.
The absentees are technically in
contempt of the House and must
purge themselves at the bar of the
lower branch of the Legislature.
The constitution gives wide powers
in case of absence without leave.
Probabilities are that the House VIII
not only meet tomorrow out may
even sit Saturday. Considerable in
dignation at the largo absentee list
was manifested. Speaker Spangler
said he proposed to have every ao-
sentee called to the bar. This was
done in the session of 1909.
Roll Called
Speaker Spangler also directed
Sergeant -at-Arms Daniel E. Huni-
han to call his own list and find out
if any employees were absent. we
will take that up. too" said he.
The two members absent on leave
are Messrs. Davis, Cambria, and
Lathenberger. Berks.
In the absentee list were thirty
two Philadelphians and twenty Allie
gheny county men, and number OF
prominent members of the House,
Including Floor Leader W. T. Ram
sey, Chairman W. j. McCalg, OF tne
appropriations committee John X.
K. Scott, b. +. Bungard, w. j..
Brady, W. H. Dithrich, A. B. Hess,
H. H Hepburn. John w. Wicker
man, Joseph L. Philips, W. F. Stadt-
lander, S. ]. Cans and many of the
men most active in the House.
Messrs. Patterson, Philadelphia;
Smith. Bedford. and Bidelspacher.
Lycoming. who were in the building
but not in the hall at the time the
roll was called, came in when the
doors were opened.
This telegram was sent to each
absentee: The sergeant-at arms
being directed on call of the House
to bring in absent members, you are
ordered to be here tomorrow, Fri
day. June 13 at 10 a. m. Report
to the sergeant-at-arms at the bar
of the House upon arrival" 1t was
signed by the speaker and the SER
geant-
Vote Down Adjournment
The call of the House was or
dered by the speaker after two at
tempts 10 adjourn had been voted
down.
When routine business had been
disposed of and appropriation bills
on the third reading calendar were
in order. Mr.. Glass. Philadelphia,
raised the point that no quorum was
present. Speaker Spansler said he
had warned members Tuesday and
Wednesday to be present on Thurs
day and denounced those absent
without leave as derelict in their
duty ''If this goes on we will not
be able TO advance the calendar and
it means We must have Friday ses-
sions.
II don't care if we have to sit
Saturdays and Sundays. 1 have
been here every session and if I can
stay. others can. too" said Mr.
Glass, Philadelphia.
Mr. Dunn. Philadelphia. then at
tackled members for being absent
when bills were on the calendar
saying but little progress was being
made.
Mr.. Wallace. Lawrence. said he re-
GREETED the State being put to the
expense of bringing in absent mem
bers and moved adjournment, which
was voted down.
Mr.. Dunn declared that members
in charge of factional bills were
making them special orders and then
leaving Harrisburg. This is un-
fair" said he. II know of two fac
tional bills which are intended to
disrupt the Republican organization
which have been made special orders.
One would amend a law of twenty
four years and another passed four
teen years ago. And now they
bring them up, make special orders
and go home. This is a move of in
dependents to disrupt the Republican
organization. Now the majority OF
the members are not here and l OBJ
ject to passage of any bill"
Mr.. Glass declared he resented alb
sence of members who should be
Ahere. saying it was an imposition.
Messrs. Wallace and Showalter
then renewed motions to adjourn
and they were voted down.
Two-thirds Vote Needed
Mr.. Dunn called attention to the
fact that a two-thirds vote was
needed to pass appropriation bills
and Mr.. Fowler, Lackawanna, de-
clared the House should not ad-
journ, but stay here and work.
That's what 1 think" shouted
Messrs. Powell, Luzerne. and Daw-
son. Lackawanna.
Speaker Spangler then ordered a
poll Of the House to ascertain
whether quorum was present. The
doors were locked and the rollcall