The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-09-08

8KMA VI was more Ike
7 palm leaf fan, be
having felt its ear; and the third said
IL did not resemble either but was o
big fat object something like stone
wall covered with a leathery skin
with some hair on 1t. Each was speak
ing from his own point Of view and
telling only of what he had seen-oI
rather felt.
II Is that way with many things in
life. We see only very small part
yet having seen that, we think that we
are competent to judge, describe and
craticise.
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
60 away to tell of congress as they
have seen 1t, good deal as the blind
men told Of the elephant and with
fully as much accuracy.
II you were q 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 q
partisan discussion between party
leaders, or In storm of agitation over
a question of personal privilege or the
exercise Of personal rights, The house
ho 20 o.
ings have. Sometimes 1t works along
doing business rapidly and as smooth
Iy 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 Il" or. cross "t''
without fight and roll call.
Cannot Always Be on the Floor.
Members need not sit on the floor
all the time. They have much to do
besides Much of the business of con-
igress Is transacted in the committees.
The major committees are composed
of from q to 35 members each. Some
of the committee meetings are as i'm
portant and formal as the meeting Of a
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
10 be taken care of, but members as
a rule do not go down town In the
afternoon when the house is 10 SEES
sion. Most members stay within reach
OF the roll call signals.
r Whether your member Is on the
floor or not, you may depend upon 1t
that he knows pretty well what is go
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 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 a
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 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 a quorum and quorum mus'
be secured before business Is further
considered.
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 vacancie:
on account of death or resignation. 81
1t usually requires PIT or 21S members
to make a quorum When the hous'
Is doing business as the committee
the whole 100 members make a quo
rum.
Rcaoons for Demanding Quorum
The point of no quorum Is ralse'
often because a member wants a 1ul
attendance when the question befor
the house is considered. 1t is raise'
sometimes because some one presen
wants good audience for an import
ant speech. 1t is raised OCCASIONAL
merely in order 10 delay the game an
Ia resorted to by the minority to US
up the time and postpone or defea
legislation that cannot be defeated b
a majority vote. 1t is frequently use
when a filibuster is in progress, an
sometimes the roll is called six
eight times day. AS it requires 3
or 40 minutes to call the roll 1t ca
be seen how a few roll calls will bloc
the business of the day.
Occasionally the point of no quoruI
will be raised out of spite. A membe
~ooy daSira some time TO sneak an