[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 10 (Tuesday, February 8, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H233-H236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE CARL B.
ALBERT, FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res.
418) and ask for its immediate consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized at
this time to offer this resolution.
The Clerk will report the resolution.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 418
Resolved, That the House has learned with profound sorrow
of the death of the Honorable Carl B. Albert, former Member
of the House for 15 terms, and Speaker of the House of
Representatives for the Ninety-second, Ninety-third and
Ninety-fourth Congresses;
Resolved, That in the death of the Honorable Carl B. Albert
the United States and the State of Oklahoma have lost a
valued and eminent public servant and citizen.
Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to
the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the
deceased.
Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn as
a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins) is recognized for 1 hour.
General Leave
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H. Res. 418.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), pending which I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today I offer this resolution on behalf of myself and
three fellow Oklahomans, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr.
Watts), and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep respect for and in honor of the
life and service of my friend, Carl Albert of Oklahoma's Third
Congressional District, a former Member and Speaker of this House.
It is also with great sadness that I record former Speaker Albert's
passing last Friday evening, February 4, at the age of 91; but, let me
quickly add though, 91 great and distinguished years. Only 21 Members
remain in this House today who served with Mr. Albert prior to his
retirement in 1977.
Carl Albert was an honorable man who was not tall in height, but was
truly a giant of a man, whom I looked up to for his leadership to his
country and his service to his fellow human beings.
Speaker Albert grew up in poverty in the small coal mining town of
Bugtussle in Pittsburg County, and graduated from nearby McAlester High
School, deep in the heart of my district of Southeastern Oklahoma,
mainly called Little Dixie.
Through his intelligence, leadership and hard work, Carl Albert
lifted himself from poverty to eventually hold the third highest office
in the land, yes, Speaker of the House, and twice was a mere heartbeat
away from the presidency.
My earliest memory of Carl Albert is his speech to my high school
class in Bennington, Oklahoma during our eighth grade graduation
ceremony. Even at that time, Mr. Albert was larger than life to me. He
was a great orator, with amazing leadership qualities. His message to
my classmates in the small poverty area of that southeastern Oklahoma
town was that regardless of your circumstances as a young person, with
hard work and perseverance you can rise up and make the most of your
life and make a difference in the lives of others.
I remember Carl Albert as a great man of great humility, who did not
seek power for power's sake. As Speaker, Carl Albert served as captain
of the Congressional ship during some of our Nation's most difficult
times, including the latter years, the closing years, of the divisive
Vietnam War and President Nixon's impeachment proceedings and his
resignation; and we all need to salute his steadfast leadership in this
House during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
During these times, Carl Albert never sought to advance his own
agenda or to use these events for his own personal gain. Instead, he
sought to unite our country, instead of divide it; and, as a result, we
are a stronger and more united country today.
In 1977, Carl Albert stepped down after 6 years in the Speaker's
Chair and returned to his home in the Bugtussle community in Pittsburg
County, and, as his son David said to me last Saturday, began a new
career as a grandpa.
Carl Albert always talked lovingly of his wife, Mary; his children,
David and Mary Frances; and his four grandchildren, Katy, Michael, Carl
David and Luke.
Carl Albert knew the value of family and friends and home. That is
why it is no surprise to me that, even as a national and international
leader, the Speaker and his wife Mary chose to retire to southeastern
Oklahoma after 30 years in a Congressional career that saw him reach
the pinnacle of power in this U.S. House.
1997 was also the year that I became a Member of this House
succeeding the Speaker, Carl Albert. I also remember being introduced
in 1977 as ``that young congressman who is replacing Carl Albert.'' As
I said then, and still say today, I may have succeeded Carl Albert, but
no one, no one, could ever replace him.
My wife, Lou, and I have firsthand experience and knowledge of the
sacrifices that the Speaker and his family made during those years of
service to this House; and our State and nation are very thankful for
Carl Albert's service.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask that the House pay honor and tribute
to Carl Albert, known as ``the Little Giant from Little Dixie.'' His
service to this State and Nation and his fellow human beings provide a
legacy unequaled in Oklahoma history, a legacy that will live together
as a symbol of one man who overcame great adversity early in his life
and then dedicated the rest of that life to serving others, including a
highly successful 30-year Congressional career.
Yes, Oklahoma and the United States lost a great leader in Carl
Albert, but his deeds and his works and the spirit of his legacy will
never be lost in the history of America.
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Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the resolution and to thank the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins) for having the foresight to come
with this resolution to pay tribute to this great American, former
Speaker Carl Albert. I join the Nation as I represent District 30 of
Texas to express sincere sorrow regarding his passing.
Speaker Albert passed away last Friday, February 4, after a
distinguished career, during which he shepherded the Nation through
some of the most difficult years. Beginning in the 80th Congress,
Speaker Albert spent the next 30 years representing the citizens of the
Third Congressional District of Oklahoma in the U.S. Congress, and
helped create a new era of American opportunity, supporting civil
rights and anti-poverty legislation.
Speaker Albert provided invaluable leadership to the House of
Representatives as Majority Leader during the 87th through 91st
Congresses, and Majority Whip during the 84th through the 87th
Congresses. As leader of this legislative body during the 92nd through
the 94th Congresses, Speaker Albert fostered a lasting legacy. He
successfully steered the Nation through difficult times and ensured a
fair forum for democratic discussion on issues ranging from the
impeachment of President Nixon to the War in Vietnam.
He provided the Nation with stability and security while he was first
in line to succeed the President of the United States in 1973 and
separately in 1974. Both times he turned down the opportunity to go to
the White House in order to continue to represent the people in the
Third Congressional District of Oklahoma.
He personified great American values throughout his life. He rose
from childhood poverty to become a Rhodes Scholar, winner of the Bronze
Star, and a distinguished U.S. Congressman.
During a time when we sometimes let partisanship get the better of
us, we have but to look to Carl Albert as a symbol of the most esteemed
values of the U.S. Congress. I join the Nation in paying tribute to an
extraordinary and exemplary citizen who was, during his lifetime, and
continues to be, an inspiration to the greatest traditions of
democratic representation.
I think it speaks well for the type of leadership he offered when we
see the congressman that followed him in the Congress that he left in
1977, being elected as a Democrat and returning as a Republican, still
representing the same people and upholding the same values as Mr.
Albert upheld during his time of tenure. I want to thank the gentleman
for being here today to represent the people as well as the Nation in
the Third Congressional District of Oklahoma.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for her kind remarks.
Let me say I hope that my remarks are accepted in the way I have given
them, from the depth of my heart, because Carl Albert was a mentor, he
was a friend.
Yes, I probably disturbed a lot of people's thinking when I left
being a Democrat. I came here as a Democrat, I have been an
Independent, and also as a Republican now. I told people, I stretch my
friends a long way.
But let me say, to my knowledge, Carl Albert never had an unkind
word, and I appreciate the fact he was that kind of human being. I
think it is a great tribute to him that for all those years that he
served, with kindness, and the respect he had for people from all
backgrounds. He really is looked up to for trying to serve his fellow
human beings around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend, the
distinguished gentleman from the Sixth Congressional District of
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the
Third District for the honor and opportunity today to be here to
discuss this most important person. I, too, respect the fine job that
the gentleman does in carrying on that fine legislative tradition begun
by Speaker Albert in the Third District of Oklahoma.
Let me say, Mr. Speaker, Speaker Carl Albert was an extraordinary
man, coming from the humblest of roots in southeastern Oklahoma. He,
much like the country he so diligently served, grew and evolved over
the years to become a shining example of what Oklahoma has to offer.
The world he knew and the Congress he became a part of in 1947 were
dramatically different from the Congress that he left 30 years later.
From vacuum tubes to space travel, Speaker Albert's time here witnessed
many changes; and throughout those years of change Speaker Albert
represented his constituents with dignity and integrity, rising through
the ranks to become a respected leader of this chamber.
With the death of Speaker Albert, Oklahoma has lost a valued son. I
am pleased that the House is taking time to honor a man whom we all
respect. He will be greatly missed.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me rise and thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr.
Watkins). I hope that the gentleman takes it as a compliment when I
refer to having served with the label of both parties, and I hope all
of us can see that it is something that is bigger than all of us when
we speak about a giant in history as we are speaking about Congressman
Albert. So I thank the gentleman for the opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Eddie Bernice Johnson) for her remarks.
Let me state that the funeral for former Speaker Carl Albert will be
tomorrow, Wednesday, February 9th at 2 o'clock in McAlester, Oklahoma,
in Pittsburg County. Carl Albert grew up right outside of McAlester, in
Bugtussle, a small settlement, very much in poverty, in very humbling
surroundings.
Mr. Speaker, I think you were busy when I stated his son David told
me Saturday when I called and expressed my sadness, ``You know, we are
blessed, because daddy retired in '77 and came home and had 23 years
for another career, being Pa-Pa.''
{time} 1500
I think you are heading home, Mr. Speaker, at the end of this term;
and I remember your remarks that you would prefer to get up each
morning, and instead of hearing the term ``Mr. Congressman,'' you would
rather hear the term ``pa-pa.'' Let me say as being a pa-pa myself I
understand what you and Speaker Albert feel very, very much.
Mr. Speaker, I yield (such time as he may consume) to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Gilman) .
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, it is with deep regret that I join our colleagues in
paying tribute to an outstanding former Member of this body, our former
Speaker of the House, Carl Albert of Oklahoma. Speaker Albert began his
second term as Speaker the same day that I first came to this body.
Accordingly, in many ways, his style of leadership in the Speaker's
chair left with me an indelible impression of the role of the Speaker
in this Congress.
Carl Albert worked his way up to the Speaker's chair the old
fashioned way. After 8 years of serving the people of his congressional
district in Oklahoma, he served first as majority whip from 1955 to
1962 and then as majority leader from 1962 to 1971 and finally as
Speaker of the House from that date until his retirement in 1977.
The then Speaker of the House, the legendary Sam Rayburn, was asked
back in 1955 why he took Congressman Albert under his wing urging his
colleagues to elect him whip. Mr. Sam's reply was, and I quote, ``I can
tell big timber from small brush.''
Carl Albert's life story is a typical example of the American dream.
Born the son of a poor coal miner in one of the most rural and backward
parts of the Nation, Carl never experienced living in a home with
running water or
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electricity until he was 16 years of age. Nevertheless, he managed to
graduate phi beta kappa from the University of Oklahoma and then went
on to attend Oxford University in England under a Rhodes scholarship.
Carl Albert served with distinction during World War II, being
discharged as a lieutenant colonel in 1946.
Upon Carl's return to his hometown in Bugtussle, Oklahoma, the
incumbent Congressman announced his retirement and Carl ran for that
vacant seat and won both the primary and the runoff. He joined Congress
at the same time as many other World War II veterans who came to make
their mark on America, including John Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
Throughout his career in Congress, Carl Albert steered a middle
course that brought him a great deal of criticism from both the extreme
liberals and from the doctrinaire conservatives. But no one ever
criticized his patriotism or his integrity.
Regrettably, the image many people may have of Carl Albert is that of
his presiding at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. As we recall,
the events of that convention over which Congressman Albert had no
control left an indelible black eye for his party. In retrospect,
however, Carl conducted himself with dignity and grace in a situation
where others may have allowed their passions to overcome their good
common sense.
Throughout our history, many Speakers of the House found themselves
in the position of being one heartbeat away from the presidency. Carl
Albert, however, is the only one who found himself in that position
twice, the first time when Spiro Agnew resigned as Vice President of
the United States and the position remained vacant for some months. The
second time Carl Albert was one heartbeat away from the presidency when
Richard Nixon found himself resigned from office, again leaving the
vice presidency vacant.
According to James Cannon's biography of President Ford, it was
President Nixon who actually offered the vice presidency to Carl Albert
at the time of Agnew's resignation; and he stated, and I quote, ``No,
Mr. President,'' Speaker Albert replied. ``I came to Washington to be a
Congressman.'' According to this book, it was Speaker Albert who then
proposed to President Nixon the name of Gerald Ford as the next Vice
President of the United States.
Although the number of Members of this body who have personal
memories of Speaker Albert have been dwindling, his legendary status as
a superb leader is familiar to many of us. We all join in extending our
condolences to his widow, the former Mary Sue Green Harmon, to his son
and to his daughter, his brother, his sister, his four grandchildren,
and all of the others who have come to love, to respect and appreciate
this truly great American.
The name of Speaker Carl Albert will long live in memory as one of
the outstanding legislative leaders of the second half of the 20th
century.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for
those wonderful remarks. I know Mr. Albert was a friend, and I know he
cherished that friendship.
I would like to reflect on what the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Johnson) stated about him being such an extraordinary man. He had a
hunger for knowledge. Yes, he was phi beta kappa and he was a Rhodes
scholar from this small rural area from this one-room schoolhouse. But
let me share with my colleagues something about such an extraordinary
man.
It is my understanding, he could speak more than 10 languages; and
let me say to my colleagues, he was studying on another language at the
age of 91. That is the kind of extraordinary intellect, but yet common
sense, that this man had who came out of poverty conditions. As Sam
Rayburn said, a lot of giants come from that area; and let me say he
was one that distinguished himself above all.
The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts), who had an uncle that lived
in McAlester, Oklahoma, was deceased just a few months ago. I know that
many times during the civil rights movement in those times, he turned
and sought the advice of Wade Watts, the uncle of the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Watts). We also lost our friend Wade Watts just a few
months ago to diabetes, primarily. And I know that leaders throughout
our area, not only the State of Oklahoma, turned to Wade Watts as a
tremendous counsel knowing he would never mislead us. I can assure my
colleagues that Carl Albert relied a great deal on Wade Watts's advice
and counsel.
I know my colleague from Oklahoma, (Mr. J.C. Watts) definitely wants
to share a few remarks with our Members.
Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a small community in the deep southeast
part of the State of Oklahoma, and I will never forget Carl Albert's
sense of humor. As I mentioned, Carl Albert was small in height, but he
was a giant of a man whom I looked up to for his leadership and for his
achievements. I will never forget how he told the story about coming to
a small community where I lived and talked about just being a
Congressman. And in this community, after he finished talking to this
graduating class and being the great orator that he was, we were all
motivated, when he finished up his speech, this long, lanky country boy
who came out of the rafters down to where Speaker Albert was on the
stage. He was all enthused and all excited about Mr. Albert's talk
about being a Congressman. Mr. Albert had this young kid so motivated.
Mr. Albert said I need to find out what I said. This tall, lanky
country kid looked at Mr. Albert and said Mr. Congressman, it was not
anything you said. He said, Mr. Congressman, I figured if a short man
like you could make Congress, I should be able to make President.
Mr. Speaker, Carl Albert only stood about 5 feet 4, but he was one of
the greatest orators, a dynamic motivator, and one whom I feel will go
down in history, as one of the great leaders of our time.
I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for such time as
he may consume.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it came to mind, I recall one incident
during the State of the Union message, I am not certain who the
President was, I think it was President Ford, when Carl Albert had just
returned from a lengthy trip to China, flew all night and came to
preside as the Speaker does at the State of the Union message. And I
remember how he struggled to keep his eyes open, but he managed to do
it most of the time. Once in a while his eyes closed. But my heart went
out to him, because I know how he felt, traveling that distance and
having to preside at the State of the Union message. But that was Carl
Albert, always willing to fulfill his duties as the Speaker, and he
fulfilled them well in all of the days he presided.
Mr. WATKINS. Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York,
because I know they had a very close relationship. Carl Albert had a
working relationship across the aisle, as the gentlewoman from Texas
(Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) stated.
I was just reflecting on my colleague from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts), who
had an uncle that lived in McAlester. I was just reflecting on the fact
that I know Speaker Carl Albert turned to Wade Watts on so many
occasions for his advice and counsel during the civil rights movements;
he was one of his number one advisors from back home during that time.
I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts).
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from
Oklahoma yielding. I am delighted to have seen so many people come to
the floor this afternoon to honor former Speaker Carl Albert.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Speaker Carl Albert who
represented southeast Oklahoma, the district of the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins), and served as the majority leader and also, as
we know, Speaker of the House.
Born into humble beginnings in the hills of southeast Oklahoma,
Speaker Albert proved that all things are possible through hard work
and determination. Speaker Albert grew up actually about 40 miles from
my hometown of Eufaula, Oklahoma, the son of a coal miner. Speaker
Albert was inspired as a child to run for Congress when a Congressman
came to speak to a small rural school in Bugtussle, Oklahoma. Little
did anyone know that at that time he would rise to become Speaker of
the United States
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House of Representatives, an Oklahoma icon and a national treasure.
Speaker Albert did love public life, however; and he counted hundreds
of other officials, Democratic and Republican, as his friends. I recall
here, I believe about 3 or 4 years ago, he had President Bush come to
Carl Albert Junior College and give the commencement address.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, he has had
what seems to be all of the Presidents down to Carl Albert Junior
College, and a lot of them may be at his funeral tomorrow.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Yes. Mr. Speaker, he was quite a fellow.
During his tenure in this House, he also helped lead our Nation through
several troubled times: as has been mentioned this afternoon, the
assassination of President Kennedy, the fight for civil rights, the
Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal that brought the resignation of
President Nixon.
Speaker Albert's contributions to his home State of Oklahoma were
numerous, but none was more important to our country than the
statesman-like manner in which he presided over the Speaker's chair
during the Watergate scandal. By his leadership and bipartisan
approach, he is a man that truly deserves the title of statesman, a
title he had earned well before the time of his death this past
weekend.
{time} 1515
His legacy of dedicated leadership undoubtedly has and always will
leave a lasting impression on our Nation's history. Former Speaker
Albert is one of Oklahoma's greatest gifts to our Nation, and he will
truly be remembered for his commitment to public service to Oklahoma
and his country.
We all send our condolences to his family, and we are all delighted
and proud, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins) and I and the
Oklahoma delegation are quite proud to call former Speaker Albert an
Oklahoman.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from
Oklahoma, for his comments. As he indicated, actually between McAlester
and Eufaula, the birthplace of the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts),
is Bugtussle, so Carl Albert grew up between McAlester and Eufaula, in
that small area.
I would like to note to a lot of people who are historians of this
House that also in Oklahoma, in the name of Carl Albert, there is a
Carl Albert Center for for Congressional Affairs there at the
University of Oklahoma, his alma mater. I think without question it
probably houses more documents concerning the activities and the
operations of this House than anyplace in this great Nation, maybe with
the exception of the Library of Congress across the street. But we have
that at his alma mater. It is a great honor and distinction for him to
have it there.
Also, he has a college in the Third Congressional District, the Carl
Albert Junior College. It is so fitting, because he is a man who had a
tremendous hunger for knowledge and great intellectual capacity,
probably more so than any person that we have ever had in public
service in Oklahoma.
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my sincere
condolences to the family of my respected colleague, the Honorable Carl
B. Albert, who passed away this past Friday. I join my fellow Members
of the U.S. House of Representatives in paying tribute to former
Speaker Carl Albert's service in the Congress and to our nation.
I served with Speaker Albert in the House from 1965 through 1976.
During these 12 years, I witnessed his dedication to his constituents,
his sense of fair play, and his concern for the well being of the poor
and disadvantaged. He was a strong, effective Majority Leader and
played an important role in the passage of civil rights and poverty
legislation. As Speaker, from 1971-1976, Carl Albert presided over a
tumultuous period when the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal
divided our country. Throughout this difficult period, Carl Albert was
a principled and effective leader, vigilant to the demands of
conflicting viewpoints and to the civil strife that accompanied these
crises.
Carl Albert, who rose from poverty to high national office,
demonstrated that talent, hard work, and perseverance could overcome
the humblest beginnings. He knew that not everyone shared his ability
to overcome adversity. His compassion and concern for the most
vulnerable members of our society was a hallmark of his 30 years in
Congress.
I vividly recall how, on July 13, 1975, he took the well as Speaker
to call for a re-vote on a damaging amendment to an appropriations bill
(H.R. 5901) that would have left the historic Title IX provision deeply
weakened. I was the floor manager of that debate on Title IX but was
called away because my daughter had been severely injured in an
automobile accident in Ithaca. Speaker Albert called the House together
the next day to express concern for my daughter's recovery and saved
Title IX as well in a call for a re-vote. I will always remember
Speaker Albert for this noble and inspiring action, as should all women
today who have enjoyed equity in educational opportunity.
I join my colleagues in giving profound thanks for the life of Carl
B. Albert. Aloha, Carl, and thank you for your legacy of service to our
nation.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). Without objection,
the previous question is ordered on the resolution.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________