New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-29

ent Congress Speaker Randall designated Mr.. Clark
son n Potter 70 be ITS chairman without consulting
with that gentleman in order to ascertain
If he would accept the position. For personal
reasons which Mr. Potter has explained he ielt u MS
duty TO decline to serve chairman OF that par
tcular committee This left Mr.. Throekmorton' OF
Texas one Of the most pronounced FRIENDS OF
the Texas and Pacific Railway schelSe and formerly
one of its officers. as the ranking member ana ne
By the ordinary usage OF the House, would become
its chairman but Speaker Randall having made up
the committee in such way that maJority
of its members are in favor Of granting subsidy 10
the Texas and Pacific Railway, prefers that us
chairman shall be some one who is known as an OPP
ponent Of this measure. He has. therefore, asked
the Committee on Rul,s to help him out OF his
trouble by reporting new rule, authorizing the
Speaker, in filling vacancies upon committees TO
designate that the Representatives whom no ap-
points shall take the vacant positions instead OF
going to the foot Of the committees.
This plan has already met with very determined
opposition in the Committee on Rules. IL Wouid
probably be defeated if proposed to the House.
Every one is willing that the Speaker shall arrange
the Committee on Pacific Railroads IN accordance
with his own Judgment, and shall indicate who snail
be chairman Of but there is very strong opposl-
ton to any change Of the Of the House Whlch
will deprive the committees OF the night they now
possess. although they very seldom exercise IT, OF
choosing their own chairmen, and controlling abso-
lutely their own organization.
Another subject 10 which the committee gave
some attention to-day was a new rule proposed by
Mr. Alex. H. Stephens. to establish an order OF busi-
ness known as the question: which shall be sub
ordinate to the previous question" but which,
when ordered by a majority of the House, shall
max an immediate vote necessary upon any pend
ing amendment to a bill or resolution. By the
present rules of the House. the mover OF a
measure has it entirely within his control.
By holding the floor during the first hour
until it's consideration begins, and By calling the
previous question at the end Of that hour, he may
prevent any amendments from being offered or voted
upon Even if ne is disposed 70 admit them' the
only ones in order are amendments to the second
degree that IL, one amendment TO the text OF the
bill and one amendment 10 the amendment. Inc
previous question. when called makes an immedi-
ate vote necessary not only upon the penang aehu
nent Int on the engrossment and third reading of the
bill itself. Mr.. Stephens's rule proposes to give
to the majority Of the House the power to call for
"the question" at any time. The effect OF TINS II
an amendment is pending would simply be 90 Sc
cure an immediate vote upon that, but not upon the
main question itself This would open the door to
the Offering of new amendments which would now
be in order and 10 a vote upon each OF them, the
extent To which they may be offered being wholly
within the control of the House. .
Such rule as this seems to meet with some ap-
proval from those who have been consulted IN re-
gard TO it, The Confederate Congress adopted a
similar rule and found that the effect OF Il was very
satisfactory. While II gave that body an OPP
portunity TO vote upon a wider range o;
amendments than is at present allowed
in the House Of representatives. it az the
same time had the effect Of stopping debate upon
amendments whenever the majority saw ht, with
out closing debate on the main question: and thus
expediting the business IN hand. Ihe objection
which has been raised 90 such rule-that II would
cripple the minority in their opposition To any bill
or amenImeu-s answered by the fact that u Is not
proposed to limit any way the range Of hllOuster-
ing motions. -
Another proposition which viii be considered by
the committee AT Of its early meetings Is con,
sohdation and srmpication Of some OF the rules OF
the House. Many of them are obsolete, or conHc'
with each other and the reduction Of their number
would greatly simplify the transaction OF business
in the House.
Thecommittee has agreed to report in favor Of the
publication Of a new edition of the digest OF rules
and practice for the OF the House, 3 the next
session of Congress.