Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-13
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP,

day, the Houfe gave a vote from which We
are almost tempted to draw the conclusion
that they have made up their minds, as far as
possible to permit nothing to be said or done
for Bunkum, until after the important public
business of the country shall have been die.
posed ola consummation most devoutly to be
prayed for by all who have the public inter
est really at heart. The occasion thus worthy
Of being particula rized is as follows, viz: Mr.
Peckham desired to criticise portion of the
message, and made motion equivalent to re-
questing the House to refrain from committing
the various portions of that document to the
different standing committees, which are now
ready to commence the real business of the
session by getting at once to work upon the
various recommendations of the Executive
MIR. Peckham's proposition was, in effect, tn at
such action, on their part, one and all. should
be delayed, until after he had delivered bis
views on the points or point of the message he
desired to discuss. The House, we are ex.
trsmely glad to be able to say, would consent
to nothing of the SORT; ignoring the honorable
SouGlomdu request, luStanter.
1t will be remembered that no speech upon
the message at this time can possibly affect
the action of the House upon the proposition
to refer the message, on which it was Mr.. P. 5
desire to mako his. And it will be recollested,
moreover, that on the very first occasion on
which the House 60 into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, under their
rules and practices Mr.. P. will have the op.
portunity to talk an hour on politics. It is
greatly to be hoped that some change will DO
made in the rules or practice of the House
whereby members, if not confined strictly to
the discussion of subjects Immediately before
tho body, will not be allowed to spend days
and weeks in the delivery of speeches to
which few of those present, except the doomed
reporters, can be induced to listen. We must
not, however, be understood as CHASING Mr..
Peckham in that particular oratorical cate
CORY, for he is gentleman of very fine ora
torical abilities, and always commands an
audience in the Hall. In his case the objec-
ton is wholly to the fact that had his PROPOSE
ton succeeded, the public business of the
country would practically have been post.
poned to await his speech making convenience
1t strikes US that, by very simple change
in the rules, very great saving of time might
be effeeted-thus Try the experiment of pro-
viding that hereafter every speech proposed
to be delivered on subject not Immediately
before the House shall be filed, in writing.
with the official reporter, for publication, just
as it is now provided that notices of petitions,
&c, may be filed with the Clerk and referred
without in any manner bringing them in so as
to take up the time of the body in proceedings
attendant on their presentation. Three-fourths
of such speeches are not listened to in the
hall; neither are they, for the most part, IN
tended to be listened to there, being designed
for home consideration mainly. Honorable
gentlemen who desire thus to address the
-" dear people," rather than their fellow men,
bera, would accomplish all they really aim
after on ouch occasions, while, as all who
know the practices of the body and the com.
mon hindrances to its prompt action on the
public business must be we'll aware, the change
would enable the House to dispose of, I'M
derStandingly, at least twice as muc DO ma
Jfds business as it can possibly get through
which allows any and all gentlemen to occupy
an hour, each, in discussing general politics
upon taking up any and all public bills in
the Committee of tho Whole on the state of
the Union. Try the experiment Of this pro.
posed change Of the rule. Our life cn't,
great saving of most valuable time will thus
be effected.
The only objection we have ever heard
mooted to this proposition, is that if the rule
be so changed, there will be no check on the
PRONUNCIATION Of undue and unjust PERSONAL
tiles, &C., in speeches published under such
circumstances. To this we have to answer,
that to admit that there are gentlemen in the
body who would abuse the privilege by mean
ly essaying Intentionally to use it to malign
and misrepresent their fellow members, is to
say there are some very scuryy subjects in
deed in the body. But we have no idea that
any such Intentional misrepresentation wonld
understood that such speeches are made with
out afording the opportunity for reply on the
moment, and it will be found that all the
House will scrupulously abstain from saying
any thing under such circumstances likely to
give rise to interminable personal explana-
tions,' such as vexed the public patience and
delayed the public business SO seriously dur
ing the last session. Our experience of many
long years with Congress satisfies Us that if the
experiment be fairly tried, it will be found
that there is not member of the House who
will knowingly thus abuse the immunity to
publish what each member chooses, proposed
to be accorded, as We explain above.
Tho City's Business before Congress Al
dermen Dove, Evans, and Marks, have been
appointed commit tee on the part of the Up
per Board of the Washington Councils, to
attend to the city's interest before Congress-
In view of this fact, We respectfully ask for
their representations the kind conside ration of
a or hoth