The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-08-19

E#%Y s#V& was more like a
palm leaf fan, he
having felt its ear; and the third SAID
it did not resemble either but was a
big flat object something like II stone
wall covered with a leathery skin
with some hair on it. Each was speak
ing from his own point of view ana
telling only of what he had seen-o
rather felt.
1t Is that way with many things in
life. We see only a very small part,
yet having seen that, we think that we
are competent to judge, describe ana
criticise.
An our or two in the gallery
would certainly give one a very lop-
sided view of congress. Yet many
come, look on for a few moments and
go away to tell of congress as they
have seen it, a good deal as the blind
men told of the elephant and with
fully as much accuracy.
If you were u casual caller in the
gallery you might find the house full
of members. or only half full, or even
with only a few dozen present. You
might find 1t doing routine business
and as quiet and placid as a summer
calm; or excited to fever heat by a
partisan discussion between party
leaders, or in a storm of agitation over
a question of personal privilege or the
exercise of personal rights. The house
has its varying moods, as human be-
innS houn SnnnntipnnS n u,nt1-c n1anu
doing business rapidly and as smooth
ly as clock work. And sometimes
everything seems to be on edge and
everybody on his nerves, when one
could hardly get an amendment
through to dot an 81" or cross a ~
without a fight and a roll call.
Cannot Always Be on the Floor.
Members need o sit on the floor
all the time. They have much to do
besides. Much of the business of con-
gress Is transacted in the committees,
The major committees are composed
of from 81 to 80 members each. Some
of the committee meetings are as i'm
portant and formal as the meeting of q
state senate and with about equal
membership. Committees are fire.
quently meeting while the house Is In
session. There is also much office
work to be done and members take ad-
vantage of every lull in proceedings
to catch up with their office work.
There is always departmental work
a rule do not go down town in the
afternoon when the house is In SEES
sion. Most members stay within reach
of the roll call signals.
Whether your member is on the
floor or not, you may depend upon II
that he knows pretty well what is 60
ing on and can easily be reached
when his presence is required.
The greatest safeguard is thrown
about legislation to keep anyone from
putting something over. Much is done
by unanimous consent when a single
member can object and stop or stay
proceedings. A member may at any
time question the presence of a quo.
rum and if the speaker does not find g
quorum present by actual count the
roll is called. Signal bells ring in the
corridors, restaurant and house Office
building so that members may appear
and answer to their When
ever a member Is fearful that some
thing will be done which he doesn't
want done except by consideration OF
the whole house, he can raise the Ques
ton of a quorum and a quorum must
be secured before business is further
considered. s
A quorum in the house consists OF
a majority of its membership. There
are 435 members when all are alive
and there are no vacancies-althougf
there are often two or three vacancies
on account of death or resignation. Sc
it usually requires 217 or 218 members
to make a quorum. When the house
is doing business as the committee OF
the whole 100 members make d quo
rum.
Reasons for Demanding a Quorum.
The point of no quorum is raised
often because a member wants a full
attendance when the question before
the house is considered. 1t is raised
sometimes because some one present
wants a good audience for IN import
ant speech. 1t is raised occasionally
merely in order to delay the game anG
is resorted to by the minority to use
up the time and postpone or defeal
legislation that cannot be defeated By
a majority vote. 1t is frequently USED
when a flibuster is in progress, ant
sometimes the roll is called six OF
eight times a day. AS it requires 81
or 40 minutes to call the roll 1t cur
he seen how a few roll calls will bloch
the business of the day.
Occasionally the point Of nc quorum
viii be raised out OF spite. A member
may desire some time to speak and
There Is mora Catarrh In this sectinn q