Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-09-08

palm leaf fan. he
having felt its ear; and the third said
II did not resemble either but was Il
big flat object something like Il stone
wall covered with leathcry skin
with some hair on it. Each was speak
Ing from his own point of view ana
telling only Of what he had senior
rather felt
1t Is that way with many things In
life. We see only u very small part,
yet having seen that. we think that we
are competent to Judge. describe and
crltIcise.
An hour or two In the gallery
would certainly give one very lop-
sided view Of congress. Yet many
come. look on for few moments and
go away to tell Of congress as they
have seen 1t. a good deal as the blind
men told Of the elephant and with
fully as much accuracy.
II you were casual caller In the
gallery YOU might find the house full
OF members. or only half full, or even
with only few dozen present. You
might find 1t doing routine business
ana as quiet and placid as a summer
calm; or excited to fever heat by Il
partisan discussion between party
leaders. or in storm Of agitation over
question OF personal privilege or the
exercise OF personal rights. The house
mas It's varying moods, as human be-
inES have. Sometimes II works along
doing business rapidly and AS smooth
~
everything seems to be on edge and
everybody on his nerves. when one
could hardly get an amendment
through 10 dot an So or cross n ~"
without fight and roll call.
Cannot Always Be on tho Floor.
Members need not 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
or from II to 35 members each. Some
or the committee meetings are as i'm
pOrtant and formal rs the meeting Of a
state senate and with about equal
membership. Committees are fire.
quently meeting while the house is in
session. There IL 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
to be taken care Of. but members as
rule do not 80 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 ID on the
moor or not. you may depend upon 1t
that he knows pretty we'll what is 60
Ing on and can easily be reached
when his presence Is required.
The greatest safeguard Ia thrown
about legislation to keep anyone from
putting something over. Much Is done
by unanimous consent when single
member can object and stop or stay
proceedings. A member may at any
time question the presence Of QUO
rum and If the speaker does not find
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
ana answer to their names. 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 quorum and quorum must
be secured before business Is further
considered
quorum in the house consists of
majority of its membership. There
and there are no vacancies-although
there are often two or three vacancies
on account Of death or resignation. So
1t usually requires 217 or 2lS members
10 make quorum. When the house
~ doing business as the committee or
the whole 100 members make n quo
rum.
Reasons for Demanding a Quorum.
The point OF no quorum Is raised
OFTEN because n member wants q full
attendance when the question before
the house Is considered. 1t Is raised
sometimes because some one present
wants good audience for an import.
ant speech. 1t Is raised occasionally
merely in order to delay the game and
Is rcsorted to by the minority To use
UP the time and postpone or defeat
legislation that cannot be defeated by
a majority vote. 1t Is frequently used
when filihustcr Is in progress. and
sometimes the roll Is called six or
eight times day. AS 1t requires 81
or 40 minutes to call the roll 1t can
be seen how few roll calls will block
the business Of the day.
Occasionally the point Of no quorum
VIII be raised out Of spite. A member
may aesire some time to speak and