The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-12
Obsfru ton to Legislation.

! The multiplication Of arbitrary rules, de-
signed to facilitate business in public bodies,
interposes innumerable impediments to its
prompt transaction. This proposition is well
illustrated by the rules that have been adopted
in the House Of Representatives The time
that is expended in that body in settling what
business shall be taken up is amply sufficient
to dispose of the whole Of it. Perhaps there
would be no exaggeraton in saying that more
Time is occupied in considering motions and
questions arising upon the rules than is devoted
10 the merits of the various subjects that come
before Congress
What could excite more reasonable wonder,
for instance, than the course Of business in the
House on Tuesday, At the usual hour the
House resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, Mr. Strong
in the Chair. Ii was announced that the first
business in order was the bill to grant the right
Of way TO the Tennessee, Mississippi, and Ala
bama Railroad Company. Mr.. WENTWORTH
forthwith made a demonstration on the Har-
Dor and River Bill Mr. Potter voted
against Mr. WENTwoRTH's motion, in order
To secure precedence for the Cheap Post
age Bill. Motions TO rise were made and
defeated. Discussion arose on points of order
under the rules. Thus the working hours Of
the day were exhausted in unavailing attempts
to begin to get at the important and pressing
public business; and, as the result Of the day.
action, when the committee rose the chairman
reported 10 the House that the committee had had
the state Of the Union under considerations and
had come 10 no resolution hereupon. We see
no reason 10 prevent the occurrence of the same
thing every day Of the session. Thus the pub
lie time will be wasted, and the public inte-
rests will be sacrificed, because the business OF
the House is tied mp by series Of arbitrary
rules which enable a minority TO clog the
wheels Of Legislation.
There are several bills before the House in
which great public interest has been manifest
ed, and which are called for, in our judgment,
| by large majority Of the people. To some OF
them the PRESIDENT has directed especial at
tention, and has fortified them by his earnest
and explicit recommendation. We mean that
the people shall not lose sight Of these recon-
|
the measures 10 which we refer should fail, that
the fault Of the failure is with Congress and
not with the Administration. The President
has given an earnest Of his solicitude for the
despatch Of public business by transmitting the
Annual Message on the first day Of the session
This was distinct ntimation Of his desire L
secure prompt disposition of the subject,
claiming the attention Of Congress. Nine months
Of a previous session had been passed in the al
most exclusive discussion Of political and con
stltutional questions. The ordinary business
interests Of the country had been entirely neg
lected, and the people had right oexpect tina
they would receive at the present session no
only the undivided but the immediate attention
Of Congress.
Besides the changes in the tariff recommend
ed by the PREsIDESr, the measures Of especia
public interest which he has endorsed, are In