The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-03
Monday. December .. 1877.
A Practice which should be Changed.

"A EEAo61Co w hAon SnVeAo - SA@AeBS~
Every one knows that under the present
method Of conducting the legislature OF
the country everything depends upon the
committees, and these committees are the
creations Of the speaker Of the house. he
is chosen by the majority of the house; he
represents in fact the majority OF that
majority. and upon him as such falls
the task Of selecting the committees who
are to prepare business for the house. AT
all times the committees to whom the bu-
siness coming before a legislative body is
thus referred are Of great Importance, be
cause upon their report often depends the
favor of the whole body and the fortune Of
a measure; but under the evil practice
which has grown up in the national house
of representatives it may easily happen
that he who selects the committees controls
the whole legislation Of the house. The
practice we speak Of is not only to refer
measures to the proper committees, but to
allow each committee to control and mo-
nopolize the debate in open house on its
reports, and thus to practically exclude in
the majority of cases from the discussion
all other members, no matter how vel
fitted they are by study or information t
shed light on the subject, This was moi
always the custom of the house, 1t any
one will look into the congressional re-
ports Of quarter Of a century ago he vii
discover that the committees then played
q minor part in the work of legislation
measures were prepared and reported b.
them; but when they came thus before
tho house they were, if Of sufficient inter
est and Importance, referred to the com
mittee of the whole House and there be
came the subject of general debate, il
which any members who chose took part
and which was not cut short after tev
hours as has been the practice since, b.
moving the previous question" In thos
days fewer laws were enacted and mucl
more time was spent in debate than ha
been the case an more recent years. Blu
a legislative body is never so usefully en-
ployed as when it is discussing measures
q great and able debate, which must neces
sari!y be Of considerable duration, informs
the country, attracts its attention and en-
ables it to exercise a reflex influence OF
congress which is always wholesome
The previous question, as it has Ion
been used 10 the house. is only a gag law
useful mainly to advance jobs and legisla
ton which would not bear discussion.
Parties are 30 nearly balanced in tn
present house that there is likely to be Al
uncommon tendency to debate and W
have examined Mr.. Randalls committee
with some curiosity, not only 10 see in wha
direction they seem TO favor legislation
but also, il possible, to see If be has frame
them with any desire that they shall en-
courage rather than cut off debate on thei
reports. 1t seems TO us that while tn
important committees have a sufficient
positive character 10 show what the speake
means by them and what are his ideas {
the requirements Of the country, be ha
still, wisely, as we think, so framed man
Of them, at least, that if the ADLER neu
bers Of both parties desire it they ca
easily bring back into the house the o.
and good custom of thorough discussiC
in committee Of the whole.