Daily globe., 1879-04-10
House of Representatives.
RULES.


the committee ON rules, reported resolution
for reappointment of the following select COM
mittees: Census, reform of civil service, laws
respecting the ascertainment and declaration !
OF the Presidential elections, prevention of
epidemic diseases, ventilation of the hall, and
causes of the depression of labor. Also to IN |
crease committee membership as follows: En- |
rolled bills to seven; coinage to eleven; ways
and means to thirteen; agriculture, judiciary.
elections. commerce and appropriations to
fifteen each. Also new rule providing that
motion to suspend the rules aud pass general
appropriation bill shall require three-tourths
majority Instead of as now, two-thlrds. The
report was then discussed.
Mr.. Kenna opposed the proposed rule. which
he characterized as an attempt to kill the
river and harbor bill by rules OF the House.
and he submitted an amendment providing
that the rule should apply only to bills report
ed by the committee on appropriations.
Mr. Blackburn opposed the amendment. lie
was heartily in favor of tho proposed rule.
It was not intended to kill the river and harbvr
bill, but it meant to say that If the committee
on commerce endeavored to gag the House and
pass a bill without discussion or amendment 1t
would have to obtain a three-fourths vote.
Mr. Conger opposed the report. 1t seemed
plain to him that the object of the new rule
was not aimed at the river and harbor bill.
It might be that the House would be called
upon to provide appropriations for the next
fiscal year by the passage of joint resolution
under suspension of the rules. When thas
time came there would be one quarter OF tne
members of the House thatwould oppose 1T,
but there would not be ons third. The real
motive that had prompted .he report OF this
rule was to prevent two-thirds of the sober
men of the House, of men willing to prevent
resolution, from passing onthe approprlation
bill without political clause. Where mad the
Republican members of the committee OF
hoo Bhouf Qasante0 DfOOO.
sltion7
Mr., Garfield moved as an amendment the
following: 'sNor shall any provision in any
such appropriation bill changing the existing
amendment, and assured the House tliat IT vas
not offered in view of the pending legislation
| at all. In fact, he proposed that it should not
apply to the army or legislative appropriation
of this session. In regard TO the proposition
requiring q three-quarter majority In case CT
the passage of an appropriation Dill unoer sus-
pension of rules, he assured the gentleman
| from Michigan, Conger, that no such idea as he
| suggested had entered into its consideration.
For himself, he did not care about that feature
| of the report, and was willing to have the rule
stand at present, requiring only tWo-thlrds
majority.
MIR. Randall, having left the Speakers chair
and come down to the floor, spoke in opposition
to Garfield's amendments, dwelling upon the
importance of maintaining the rule as 1t stands
at present, in regard to requiring amendments
!. to be not only germaine to the bill, but in the
interest of economy.
The first proposition recommended by the re-
port for the reappointment of certain select
committees was then agreed to without amend
ment
The second proposition, increasing the mem
bership of certain committees, was agreed u
without amendment.
} The third proposition, in regard to the neV
rule, having been reached, Mr.. Kenna Withdrew
8 his amendpent.
D Mr.. Reagan moved to strike out the proposed
p rule and insert the following: ''That hereafte
the committee commerce shall have tn
!. same privilege to report bills making approOri
: alton for the Improvement of rivers and hal
s bors that is accorded the committee on appre
8 priations in reporting general appropriate
G bills" Agreed to-yeas lat, nays 81.
The question was then taken on the amene
ment offered by Garfield, and it was rejected
yeas ITO, nays l29.
10 An amendment offered by Mr.. Springer TO
,e bidding reprinting of bills of one Congre
when introduced in another Congress WI
agreed to without division.
- An amendment offered by Mr.. Mills abolls
- - ing the committee of elections and requlrin
~ - each contested election case to be referred to
- self ct committee which should report With
- - thirty days was rejected without division.
70 Another amendment offered by Mr.. Mil
-. giving to the committees on banking and Gu
10 rency, coinage, ana ways anu ueaus AeaSo
., ., report at any time and authorizing the majc
,s ,t' ity to fix a day for the consideration of a
~ public bill reported by one of these comm
he he tees, was agreed to; yeas, lS0; nays. lOs.
no NJ An amendment offered by Mr.. Fort. prov
- - ing that the morning hour shall not be d
on pensed with on any day for any purpose exec
b ba by two-thirds vote, was agreed to.
-. On motion of Mr.. Stephens the committee
"' rules was authorized to incorporate the seve
propositions agreed to at the proper place
the existing rules.
-. Mr.. Garfield, from the committee on rul
" submitted a report recommending that
ate rules regulating the awarding the floor in
to House and committee of the whole be
of changed. 1t also states that the practice
on making lists of those members desiring to Sd
ng is proper, in order to enable the presiding
in Ger to remember the wishes of members. but
the shall not be bound absolutely by his list,
ter shall exercise wise and just discretion.
the conclusion, the committee asked to be
ese charged from the further consideration of
by subject.
on, The report was agreed to, and the House
journed.