, 1879-08-08

statesM,an, whose long exocrcncc III Congress
so well Its lin to bceo,ao tic champion OF his
race.
THE RULES OF CONGRESS-.
rtnflrns Which Experts in E.t Tnpo Are
Expected to Mako In tho 1u1ns of 1'arlla-
n,entary Trocedurc-.The Mood OF ChnnGcs
.-t h1onopniIzfnC Con,mIttee.
tnrrssnonftsrt Stp fort EreniH1 lnsf.
WAsHtSGToS, Aug. 4.-Tlle Committee on
the Revision OF the Rules Of tho 1lousc Of Rep
rsscntatives have been summoned 10 meet as
Long Hranch On the 10th Of this month. The
Committee Is composed Of Speaker Randall and
Mesars Stephens, Blackburn, Garfield. and Frye.
The work inrrusted to these gentlemen Ia OF the
most perp'exFNg character, but all are skilled
parlIancntarinns, and the result Of their confer
cree Will doubtless be greatly improved code
Of procedure.
The rulcs Of the iuouse Of Representatives
now number 1G9, md, to quote MIR. Dlackburu's
comprehensive statement. they ''nrc 50 voluinin-
Gus, SO conflicting, cTen SO crude. rs TO render
II almost impossible for any one 10 arrive at
clear comprehension OF their purpose and scope"
Tue iast revision WIS had III 1sG0, nnd eflce
that rather remote date the new practices ncccs.
STATED by the War. and n multitude Of rulings
aud constructions nndo by Speakers ss occa-
sfons arose. hare superinuosel Upon tho tcrti-
mute ntnl Systematic manual 4 bskiv Of prcee-
dents O! tile most bewIlderng description, AZ
"A consequence rerg few Of tic members havu n
E0oA wnrk1ng acquaintance will the regulations
Which govern ttt.ir own icristativc action, u,ti
frequently fail In Their efforts to gct 4 bill
through thc Chamber by rensuu Of SINGER tgno-
rance nt the rrirs. VERY Often, 10 be sure. this
ignorance Is !nc1eusahIe, te!ng simply thr re-
suit Of iazness alil inetliciencr.
It IS atttaz!tlE tow little sonln members know
uf the rules mil how Indifferent lhcy arc 10 the
fact ol thrir Ignorance. Mr.. Mills, of Texas,
gavn tho following iustancc in polnt during. tho
running di.csssihn oa ,.lo propnsltion to
suthur5zs r, .t'e conm!:tee 70 u unring the
who spent l,fctiu,e III Col1rcss. thai be never
did u1llcrBt md when lie WAS entitled to the
iloor, eyer to make motion TO adjourn, mud lle
had to cousult ills friends on thu subject"
Gen. GARFIELD. during ,fx same informal debate,
cnrc OF cvery member here that wllap t,r first
ta,no tntu the House he found the rules of the
llousc were an tEcxpltcabfa tnystrTs, and SUP
posst! 10 be known only to some ot 'hn older
members; hut some gentlemen who lilyc been
hcre MANY yrasa have never so FAR mustered thu
rut.s as to feel III aus degree certain OF them
su1ves."
As has been remarked. perhaps this very avk
ellihery Is Of benefit to tllc country. The din.
ger Is that we shall be gurernsa too much. As
wholc, our Laws nre good, nlitl under tlesn the
country is prosperous. The faet that any change
Is difficult. while working hard6hos. ITO tluubt,
in particular cases, .nalses our institutions mara
stable tl.an wnlll ho possible could flIry he
h'uwn about l'y every gast al prejudice. istsor-
anrc, H1,d partteatr5htn which has It's !n,nc fl
our Cnves Of tho Wfnts. Notable Instance III
ihe benefit Of this conservative cumsiucss Is 70
be- srcn III the Inability Of the lnIncn fanatics To
p,tslI through Il sympathetEc Congress nnv ',r
many of their peculiar vie'rs. As Mr., Warosr
was sulvthrrc1 IN tho Sruatc Finance Commit
tee, "thera II too sRuell eti1nette.h
But members OF Congress are not apt to take
thu view that Tho loss tiley nro nblp 10 do illr
Nctter It will bo fur tllo country, AM! hcucu II Is
tn ho axpectcd that they wish lhelr rules tt
facilitate rather than to frus,ratc business. Tho
only objection to tho proposition for revision
capo from, tho inevitable slr. Conges, VIM learca
lest in tho contemplated changes aoHG of tho
obstructive motions would ne Aone away with.
"Thcre has been sonl5 rcstiye,lcss under tc
present rulcs,n ha sall, "al,,i yomu members at
the Houtd hare Thought TINT there ott.ttt ta t'e
some rule 10 compel tic minority to ttnp dila.
tory motions, mud stop what VIC cat! tIii6uster.
lug, and compel members TO yoto rs the rules
require them ~ do. Now, do not lsnuv hit
lint this proposition arose from the suggestion
whlcn was Made lscse lhat the rules ought to he
SO modified ,hat when Il recus:tnt Republican
require lin to do, strong llnM ought to br
laIl upon lin, and pains and pena!t1ea inflicted
for political contunacy on his part." ANY such
9Hy tbs It!rIoas esr e; f,o'a n' sa,a. fs aus II
this most c0lntuul sights Ut tie wsutcr Wis tn
watch afr. CouRcr sstuavllE up Tho rules dur I'M,
O heated discussion to lind snmc out-,!-.he. SWAY
sectnsa'y 70 srE t:,i npon H. ss s,,aa at.sa ~ s
kins, Mr.. Springer. alld tic oti!ef ltaders Of tho
Democratic sfde
Il IL possible Tint, Ia addition to tho tasls OF
revising anu codltsln. tho existing rulcs, the
y51
uortaat change 1T tho e.,atlnat 0| business rec
omnsunicl BY Me.srs. Springer ind IIonker OIL
the Nrst tlay Of tho extra scssiuI. ttW resosu-
tloha offered br hoth q! these gentlemen con.
tctnpEatcl u division among different commit
tees Of the iRbor dano unAer existing sisages by
l9e COMMITTEES on Approximations. This Com.
!nittec, which wns originally a part Of Tho
Ways and Mrans Cnnln,itscs. has shown a can-
Manl kin nny uqaaleil b. that 0l !Aaron's ruti.
As m example ot this Ireettucss. l nuticcl ut
tho time ''ias nut at tMeasy.tRo ex4aitlss COM
uunIcattons wh!cll i,appanud to bu rurtrrsl on
thu 17th Ut April h(recn were scnt tu lh!a Que
committee. Tho 'conscguencu II, NJ tteY say
III tho clrcg.tous EatnH al tt.at aau.e that tneut
hers OF tttu lloase WHO are moi on ihc favored
Cotnfnttteo f1el, vGty naturally, jealousy Ut
e,l to Il, an desiro moro even distribution Of
business and tho consequent dignity ind lntu.
enco. Gen. Hoosvr saws Oh this point:
On tho frat day OF this session had OCCASION TO
oHff, ~ tuWllHn "ltH bku6k EGALFctAe1, nsupO1t.
tons mnd,tynk tho rutes pf this House III resIri
10 tho wutls which was to bo poFforiru by cer!atn
co'nnt tees: The revolutions which thvn had tho
committees OF thu llonss. to tho coma,istsn on
Military Analrs. tho t'omnaittea On Naval Affairs.
etc., to make the easiatas for thu expenditures ur
thu respective 1epastnBntt VI thu {1stenracnt. !
hope tue resolution oAursd by nY friend from Kun
tueky will receive favorable consideration from
tha Itonso. ahd that thsss propositions will bu
Act1l upol, They wore referred 10 tin i:onsi,tuu
on Rules. ind have pJvcr been acted uaon during
tho entire session, md wo have vouo OIL for tho
tho rules thsy formerly s.!sted Hut. Mt Sneak.
er. l hope. II this Ec,nutloh L aaoptsd oy the
ifousu, and tta Committee on ituic. II authorized
to nit during the vacation TO consider thu general
question vi tta revision VI thu rurs uf this lIuuso
that thsy will not only consEdot thu various pfnp-
lMr, sprinzerl. myself, aud W ethcts. but TINT
they Will 20 stl further md simplify tho rules Of