To order a call of the house to ascertain presence of a quorum, made during debate on contested election case of benjamin frederick VS. James wilson of iowa. (

On Mar 2, 1885, the House voted 131–61. Result: passed. By party: Democrats 118–4, Republicans 9–55, Others 4–1, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 13 members voted against their own party.

During the 48th Congress (1883–1884), Chester A. Arthur was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Yes: 131
No: 61
Did not vote: 147
Date: Mar 2, 1885

By party

Democrats118 yes · 4 no · 79 didn’t vote
Republicans9 yes · 55 no · 60 didn’t vote
Others4 yes · 1 no · 7 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no · 1 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Lewis Edwin Payson R-IL voted yes
Richard Wellington Townshend D-IL voted no
John Robert Thomas R-IL voted yes
Strother Madison Stockslager D-IN voted no
William Steele Holman D-IN voted no
Thomas McLelland Browne R-IN voted yes
Eben Francis Stone R-MA voted yes
Louis Emory Mccomas R-MD voted yes
John Joseph Adams D-NY voted no
Joseph Danner Taylor R-OH voted yes
William Wallace Brown R-PA voted yes
Thomas McKee Bayne R-PA voted yes
Augustus Herman Pettibone R-TN voted yes

How each representative voted: Yes

How each representative voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To order a call of the house to ascertain…: House Vote, Mar 2, 1885,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/48-H-322/to-order-a-call-of-the-house-to-ascertain (accessed 2026-10-17).