Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-02-10
THE NEW RULE IN CONGRESS.

ton of the Republicans OF the House
Of Congress, in changing the rules of
that body so as to give them that fair
control of Legislation, to which their
majority and responsibility entities
them, must fail. The new rule
is fairer for the minority than
any ever passed by the House. New
er before in the history of Congress
sional legislation, was the power of
small minority to- block legislation,
demonstrated. as in the now historic
forty.eight hour session Of the House.
A party in control of Congress
is held responsible for its legis-
lation and II is entitled to every fair
a majority can command.
The power Of a minority should be
ample to check arbitrary and hasty
legislation. to give the body fair no.
tice of the character and object of
the legislation proposed, but beyond
that every advantage is trespass up
on the rights of majority fairly OBJ
tanned. Apply these principles, and
the new rule just adopted, so far from
being revolutionary, is positive con-
cession to the minority, for while it
robs it of the unjust power to posi-
lively block all legislation and con-
troll the House, it gives it dilatory
powers never heretofore enjoyed.
The rule adopted is not the rule
first proposed from the Republican
caucus and framed by Gen. Butler,
but it is one proposed by Speaker
Blaine, parliamentarian of recognize
ed authority. 1t is one which he
framed with express reference to his
rights as one of the Republican mi
nority of the next House.
To show that we have fairly stated
the nature Of the new rule, we quote
from the Cincinnati Commercial
Washington special which comes
from a correspondent not over friend
ly to the Republican majority. He
SAYS:
There i nothing in the new rule that
can give the lobby any comfort. 1t rigidly
excludes all the dangerous propositions EN-
braced in the Cessna lule, and greatly facil-
itates the transaction of public business.
There was general exhibition of relief
and good feeling when the rule was passed
Even some of the leading Democrats ad>
mtted in conversation that the rule was a
good one, and if their party had not by the
long struggle been solidly united against
any proposition to change the rules, there is
little doubt but that many Democrats would
have voted for it, As it was, Mr.. Holman,
one Of the purest men on either side, voted
to sustain the Republican majority in their
call for the previous question upon the final
passage, while General Butler voted against
it.
These remarks are made upon the
merits of the rule and without refer
ence to its bearing upon the Civil
Rights Bill, to the passage of which
we object.
The object Of the change in the
rule was not the passage of the Civil
Rights Bill, although its effect was tc
bring that bill before the House
This was unavoidable, for it stood
upon the Speakers table a block tC
legislation.
The real object of the rule is to pre-
vent an extra session of Congress
The Civil Rights Bill had friends
enough TO keep it constantly menacins
the House. and the issue with Repub
licans was either to fairly meet it anC
pass 1t or reject it, or allow it to de
feat the appropriation bills, and max
, an extra session necessary. Othe
legislation deemed necessary by tn
+ majority was also certain to be dc
feated if the minority was not STRIP
, ped Of its unparalleled fllibusterln
! disposition.
= Ofcourse the Republicans are n
. sponsible for the results of the ne
rule, whatever they may be. But S
l far as the rule itself is concerned, W
e do not hesitate to affirm that it is jus
s 1t is a rule that conforms to the rule
y Of nearly every State Legislature.
a provides an opportunity for debat
never heretofore the right of the m
nority, in this, that the previous que
{ ton cum not be called on the first da
=, when a bill is presented, as at pre-
> emit, by a mere majority, but require
: a majority Of two-thirds of those pre-
II ent To enforce the previous question