Undoubtedly, Speaker Reed was violating all precedents.
Facilities of obstruction had been cherished by both parties, and
nothing short of Reed's earnestness and determination could have
effected this salutary reform. The fact has since been disclosed
that he had made up his mind to resign the Speakership and retire
from public life had his party failed to support him. For three
days, the House was a bedlam, but the Speaker bore himself
throughout with unflinching courage and unruffled composure.
Eventually he had his way. New rules were adopted, and the power
to count a quorum was established.* When in later Congresses a
Democratic majority returned to the former practice, Reed gave
them such a dose of their own medicine that for weeks the House
was unable to keep a quorum. Finally, the House was forced to
return to the "Reed rules" which have since then been permanently
retained. As a result of congressional example, they have been
generally adopted by American legislative bodies, with a marked
improvement in their capacity to do business.
* The rule that "no dilatory motion shall be entertained by the
Speaker" was also adopted at this time.
With the facilities of action which they now possessed, the
Republican leaders had no difficulty in getting rid of the
surplus in the Treasury. Indeed, in this particular they could
count on Democratic aid. The main conduit which they used was an
increase of pension expenditures.
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