New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-27
LIE nOrSE CLERKS REFORNS.

1t will he remembered that only lew days
ago the House of Representatives got itself
into n wild tanclc of debate upon the Amnesty
resolutions, from which it seemed utterly UNI
able to cxtricltc itself. Speaker Kerr was
manifestly unequal 10 the situation, ana
there was no one OF the Democratic side
of the House whose knowledge of par
EamcntAry law was sufficient to CXtrl-
cate him. Unfamiliar with the rules of
the House and with parliamentary law
and usage, and without experience in the chair.
Mr.. Kerr tel an easy prey to the lively and
dcxtcrous Blaine, who had the whole routine
at his fingers ends, and could dance around
him with all manner OF motions and PROPOSE
tions until the poor Speaker hardly knc"
whether he was afoOt or on horseback. There
was one point in the proceedings at which the
Speaker made ruling which obviously
did not please Mr.. Blaine or his
side of the House The discussion, or
rather wranglc-for by this time it had de-
generated into wIangle-was very mani
testify producing bitter and angry feeling.
1t was apparent from the indications ON the
Republican 81 lie that the decision Of the Chalr
would not be submitted TO without an appeal
being taken and the confusion increased. But
Sneaker Kerr was wise enough To do an I'M
proper thing he simply added to his ruling
the rather supplementary announcement
that he was sustained in his decision
by Mr.. Barclay, the Journal Clerk OF
the House. That authority was at once
recognized the gentlemen on the Re
publican side who were getting ready
10 spring to their feet with an appeal to the
House settled back in their seats without a
word, and even the ex-Spcakcr himself offered
no further opposition to the ruling. And that
was the way it happened that the authority OF
Mr. Barclay upon parliamentary law was
publicly recognized on the Journal. OF the
House, rs it had long been by the
House itself and by successive Speakers. Mr..
Blaine himself had too long depended upon
him for advice upon difficult questions To dis
pute the correctness Of his decision. Twenty
seven Years service as journal Clerk had made
him more familiar with the rules aud preccdents
of the House than any member or Speaker
could be his knowledge and experience were
invaluable. 1t is quite certain that no Office
under the Government has been more capably
filed, and that there is none in which any
change would SO surely be IA mistake.
But Yesterday Mr. Barclay, anticipating re-
moval by the new Clerk Mr.. Adams Of Ken
lucky, offered his resignation lie was led to
this step by the removal of two OF his sub
ordmatcs, who he had been assured by the
friends Of the Clerk would he retained. In his
letter Of resignation lie says the action in
their cases is 40 suggestive OF what
will be done in his own, that he pre-
fcrs to select his own time and nntici-
pate removal by resignation. This makes one
more place for some good Democrat who has
worked for the party, and possibly for some
patriot from kentucky. The "clcan sweep
makes progress. The library has been re-
formed, the Congressional restaurant rev.
olutionized, aud one by ono the old
clerks are showed aside to make
room for ignoramuses whose qualifications
are summed up in the statement that they are
good Democrats; :" and perhaps it is quite as
well that the country should take ono good
look at this party having taste of power.
There they are, with their noses in the trough.
| We have had some pretty bad exhibitions at
Washington, but nothing yet quite so bad aa
this May the good Lord deliver us from any
such spectacle on larger scale.