Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-08-10

+ &%Y 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 a 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-or
| rather felt.
1t is that way with many things in
lie. We see only a very small part,
yet having seen that, we think that we
are competent to judge, describe ana
/ Cliticise.
An hour or two in the gallery
would certainly give one a 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 it, good deal as the blind
men told Of the elephant and with
fully as much accuracy.
! If you We're 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 it doing routine business
and as quiet and placid as summer
calm; or excited to fever heat by
! partisan discussion between party
! leaders, or in a storm of agitation over
question of personal privilege or the
exercise of personal rights. The house
has its varying moods, as human be-
iLgS have. Sometimes 1t works along
doing business rapidly and as smooth
| ly is 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 st"
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-
gsesS is transacted in the committees.
| The major committees are composed
| OF from p to 80 members each. Some
OF the committee meetings are as i'm
portant and formal as the meeting of
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 ef every lull in proceedings
to catch up with their office work.
| There Is always departmental work
to be taken care Of, but members as
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 it
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 unsnimOus 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 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 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.
| A quorum in the house consists of
a majority of its membership. There
are 435 members when all are alive
and there are no acancies-althOugh
! there are often two or three vacancies
on account of death or resignation. So
it usually requires PIT or 21S members
to make a quorum. When the house
is doing business as the committee OF
! the whole 100 members make a quo
rum.
Reasons for Demanding a Quorum.
The point of no quorum is raised
! often because a member wants full
attendance when the question before
the house is considered. 1t Is raised
! sometimes because some one present
wants Il good audience for an import
ant speech. 1t is raised occasionally
merely in order to delay the game and
is resOrted to by the minority to use
! up the time and postpone or defeat
legislation that cannot be defeated by
n majority vote. 1t Is frequently used
! when a fllbuster is in progress, and
sometimes the roll Is called six or
/ eight times Il day. As 1t requires 30
or 40 minutes to call the roll 1t can
! be seen how Il few roll calls will block
! the business of the day.
Occasionally the point Of no quorum
will be raised out of spite. A member
may desire some. time to speak and