The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-03

ihlature IL the fundamental. Therefore,
II the state constitution requires the
presence Of two-thirds OF the members
Of the house to be a quorum for all
acting. under Article v OF the federal
Constitution, on an amendment until
the required quorum Is present.
But this does not decide the question
as to the adoption OF the resolution.
The resolution passed both houses with
constitutional quorums present. The
question of reconsideration and OF GER
tifcate Is merely a matter Of rules. BY
a viva vooe vote the house directed the
officers of the house to certify to the
senate that the house had passed the
resolution. The record does not disclose
whether at this vote n quorum was
present or not. The presumption is that
II was. Even IL in so doing the house
was breaking its own rules as to re-
consic Grafton and a certificate. II does
not destroy the validity OF the certifi-
cate.
Those who attack the record cannot
deny the truth of the certificate that
the resolution did pass the house and
the senate with constitutional quorums
and constitutional majorities. Their
complaint Is that after a constitutional
adoption of the ratification resolution.
there being a motion to reconsider and
! the rules OF the house requiring a vote
on IL before its passage could be certi-
fed to the senate, no valid vote was
had on its reconsideration.
But these. are merely rules OF pro-
cedure that the house may suspend or
ignore without violating any constitu-
tional duty or limitation. Moreover, the
certificate OF the officers appointed by
law to make such certificates, especially
the governor and the presiding officers
Of tho two houses, is likely to be given
conclusive weight ly the supreme court
OF the United States.
II has refused to permit the Journals
of Congress. which showed clearly that
the Mckinley tariff bill did not pass
tradict and inval'date the certificate OF
the presiding officers OF both houses
and the signature of the president. 1t
has made the same ruling as to ter
ritorial statute. 1t gave similar effect
to such a certificate when II was con-
tended that there was no quorum pres,
ent to pass bill because the roll call
did not disclose by the answers OF the
members tfat quorum was present.
Thirty-six legislators went out of the
state to avoid being brought into the
house to make a quorum for the vote
| on reconsideration. This was dis
graceful and an anarchical method OF
opposing iesltiInate action' livery pre-
! sumption which can be safely INDUCED
should be used to defeat such a con-
, spiracy. The curious provision that a
quorum must be two-thirds OF all the
members of a house, although major
ity may pass bill, lends itself to such
abuse.
The history OF the state shows that
INSCRIPTIONS minorities of both parties
have done just what these antisuffra-
gists have done. 1t should be flaming
lesson as to the demoralizing effect, as
a precedent. of every fragrant defiance
OF lawful authority and every refusal
TO play the game" of government ac-
cording to rule. The legislative refugees
in Decatur, Ala, are poor losers. In
their desperation they are willing by a
scaly trick to- involve the whole country
in the throes of dangerous uncertainty
as to the result OF presidential cleo
ton. Fortunately they are likely to be
entirely blocked in their scheme.