Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-19

the absurdy Of the rules and their obstruction to the
public business He (Mr. should have been pleased il
the gentleman had pointed out single rule which
tanned an absurdty large majority Of the rules had
been the standing rules Of the House of
since 1889 Did not do business then Did they not
egsate In lSl0-l2 and in 1820-25? The evil there
fore could not be attributed to the rules and he called
public attention to this fact because it was becoming
common with men who did not understand the subject to
say that It was the abominabe rules of the House which
obstructed the business Of the country If the gentleman
from North Carolina desired to 60 to his Mr V's) con-
stituents and tell them where the evil laid he {Mr 81
desired him carry this message from him. and he would
thank HIM TO deliver IT, The evil In the the peo
PIE sent mere IL they would send such they
sent twenty-five years ago. if they would send Legislators
and statesmen and not demagogues then would the bust
ness Of the country be transacted The evil in the
organization Of the House, and in the they were
good and WISE and strictly conformed to- the table could
be cleared Of the bills under the weight Of which it was
now groanng Ii they would put gentleman in the chair
VINO understood the rules and would enforce them if
they would organize the committees with proper mate
rias; and the people would send Congress who
could transact the public business they would hear none
of these complaints against the rules But if they should
repeal the one hundred and three rules by which
they were now governed, and substitute in lieu thereof
the parliamentary law they would then have some three
hundred and seventyfve rules for their government.
Mr. McLANAHAN desired to know how could the chair
of committees who had public bills in their keeping
make their reports and bring them before the House un
less under the rules?
Mr. STEPHENS replied that the heads of committees
ought to be presumed to be Of influence and if they
had possessed that influence which their position should
have given them they would have influenced the House
to conform daily to the execution Of the rules and thus
have expedited the public business. But the heads Of
committees had not the confidence of the House. and
sequently every thing went pell-mel This was his
opinion,
Mr. McLANAHAN thought it was to be regretted tina,
the heads of committees could not command this infu
ence and that it would be well for the gentleman to pein
out what gentlemen could command the confidence of the
House ~.
Mr.. STEPHENS replied that perhaps the gentleman
would not like him to begin, for he might commence at
point at which the gentleman might not be anxious he
should
Mr. s. then reiterated that the evil in the rules
but in their administration. His object in speaking
to prevent the remarks Of the gentleman from North Ca
rona going before the country unanswered because the
people might think that the House had committed great
absurdity in adopting hundred and ftythre rules
which nobody could understand.
Mr.. STUART sought to show that the rules might be
much better administered than they if there was
disposition on the part of majority Of the House do
So and endeayored to show that if the House at any time
would undertake to enforce the rules in their letter and
spirit the evil Of which gentlemen complained would
exist.
Mr. NEWTON then addressed the committee in favor of
the homestead bill.
The House adjourned