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.
President Harrison encouraged a spirit of broad liberality toward veterans of the Civil War.