, 1875-04-08
CONGRESSIONAL REFORM,

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CONGRESSIONAL KEFoRcI.
We have already commented upon tile way
inwllic!l tho Legislation ct Congress is conduct
cd. The bulk Of tho business is lona within
tho las: three days of tho session, and, i'll
steAd Of being tlone in open, deliberate ses-
sion, 1t receives its final shape in the hands
of Committees Of Conference, whose reports
are often, and VIC might say generally, ,aaopted
by the two Houses in utter ignorance Of what
tho Committees have done. So crowded and
pressed for time aro tho two Houses Tint dc-
bate is cut OF, bills nra not read, aud the yeas
and nays are :efusetl. It il into the bills
passed. unt!er tllese circumstances that nre
crowded thu steals, mud jobs, anl frauds, that
turn up and a:o discovered too lato for rclnc-
dy. Tho two Houses hnve rules on this SUBJ
jeet. Tho 1jth and 18th joint rules Of tho
two Iouscs read " follows:
H. 10 bill that shall haro passed ons House fha be
sent for to tue other either of shs Last
thrce dnys Of tho ecason.
II. No Dlll or resolution that Fh1!t hsva passed the
ouso OF Representatives AID Tie senats shall he prs-
srntea to tho lreA1rut of tic United STATED for hs
appreciation on the last day 0f ths ke>eiou.
Notwithstanding these rules, i. ia notorious
tllat tho majority of tho bills passed are sent
from one House to tue other on tho Inst three
days Of the session, and that the President
signs moro bills Oh tho last day than on any
other. The rules are seemingly all right, and
cover tito abuses, but unfortunately they cau
l,o and Ers suspended ns II matter Of course.
When tho grand rush comes they aro not
worth 20 many straws to check blind aud
vicious Legislation.
We suggest to tue Republican pnzt5 that
this is ono of the worst abuses prcsticol
under our Government. Itis tho cloak under
which nearly all the robbories aro perpotrat-
ed and all the corrupt jobs got through Con-
gross. It il tho convenient cover under
which bills are passed without any record Of
tho yeas and nays. We further suggest TINT
it is fit subject Of reform, and that the Ro-
publican purity should tako tho initiative in
accomplishing it. 1t would purify leGisEa-
ton, aud almost render fraud impossible.
The reform should include tho following
propositions:
/. Tint no net passed by Congress shall 10
valid unless presented to tho President for
his approval three full days, excluding Sum-
| tlay, before tho hour Of ADJOURNMENT OF the
session, In order TINT he may have timo to
examine 1t.
2. That no bill shall pass other House Of
Congress unless 1t receive the affirmative yots
Of majority OF all tho members elected, Of
| each IIouac aEid vote to be taken by yeas
and nays in every instance.
3. Tint the yeas mud nays on any question
shall be taken npon the demand Of ten neln'
Lers In the House and thrce In the Senate.
| Tho present House Of Representatives con.
Bists Of aa92 members, aud when oil aro pres.
cut 1t reqnires tho tloulaud Of tlfsy-nino metn-
bers to have thu voto taken by yeas and nays.
At tue late session repeated efforts to hnve
| the ycas mud nays On tbs revival OF tho frank
ing privilege fnilctl, the requisite number no
making the demand, aud TINT act passed. with
ont any record Of tho votes OF the members
This reform can only DO accomplished
by m amendment to tho Constitution
At present majority OF each House o.
Congress Is quorum, md majority Of I
quorum can PASS auy bill. Aqnoru,n Of thu
s;enate il IS Senator'S md Of the 1Iouue oi
Representatives 147. 30 TINT 20 Senators
and n members, It they bo majority o.
those present, can pnss any law, anu thas, too
without calling the ycas entl uays. Th'
theory Of onr Government is, TINT Congress
represents the people; mud, 10 long III th
majority aro entitled to ra,le, 1t Ia but prore
TINT nothing less than majority shall rule
Tho people Aayo the right to demand tin
thoy be represented not only in theory bnt il
fact; therefore they havo tho right 10 do
| II Af...,, III