The New York herald., 1879-08-25
CONGRESSIONAL RULES.

THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENrA-
TIvEs HAVE RESOLVED UPoN-wHY THE
CHANGES WERE UNDERTAKEN.
LONG BRANCH. n. j.. August %. 1872
The Committee on the Revision Of Congressional
Rules closed proceedings finally the Elberon to-day
and the following synopsis of the result of their
work The idea that there necessity for the revis-
ion was founded the belief that the Speaker had
the largest possible discretion of legisla-
ton; for instead of being last he really frst
far as appropriation bills concerned. He ap--
points committees appropriations and commit
tees on conference on appropriation bills. That ID
the theory on which this committee pro-
ceeded, and the old machinery. which evidently
was framed to retard and delay business. has
all been wiped out and the committee has proposed
a system OF calendars which will enable the House
to dispose OF the work prepared and reported by
committees without hlibustering to the right OF
way of committee work. As for instance there
has always been antagonism between the com.
mittees Appropriations and Ways and Means
and the other committees of the House. and FREE
quently combinations have been formed preventing
action not only general appropriation. but also
on Tariff and revenue bills, notably the
in the Forty fifth Congress Woods Tariff bill.
The committee have endeavored to harmonic
these differences by providing that there shall be
a morning hour for reports of committees, no re-
pore to be acted on save by unanimous consent
all reports to go to calendars whose titles
be decided when this Committee on Revision shall
reassemDle the 10th of November next. The
action of the Committee Revision thus far has
been unanimous the only differences being to the
power of the House to compel members to vote Dur
ing the the republicans in both branches
of Congress flbustered. by refusing to vote. and,
though rule OF the House provides that every
member who shall be in the House when his name
is called shall VOTE it found impossible to exc
cute the same. This very clearly stated by
Speaker Blame on the Force bill in the second
sion OF the Forty-third Congress. the fiibustering
being led by Speaker Randall, that though you
might lead q horse to the water you cannot make
him drink. This subject quite vigorously
pressed by Mr.. Blackburn of Kentucky. in the dis
cussions revsions OF the but was LAID over
until the adjourned meeting of the COMMITTEES.
In the deliberations next came the question of
striction Of debate and it was almost unanimously
agreed that the recognition OF members entitled
the hoor within the exclusive discretion and
control OF the Speaker but that the latter practice
restricted member to one hour except in the case
where he acted the mouthpece of o committee in
reporting q BILL when he entitled to close the
debate. The rules defining the duties OF the com.
mittees many of which are vague and scattered are
now concentrated and classified under rule by
the Committee Oh Rules. the specific duties OF each
committee being more clearly defined and avoiding
questions OF jurisdiction between committees. Fifty
three rules defining the dulles of committees have
been condensed into one short rule Then. too.
the machinery to House officers has been
greatly modified, and only one question growing
out of that remains to be fought over next Novem-
Der when the committee meets, and that is to tho
effect OF the 147th rule, which provides thxt
.these rules shall be the rules the House Of
Representatives OF the present and succeeding Con-
gresses unless otherwise ordered" This question
presents itself in the preliminary organization Of
the House, the strict copstructionists, State
rights people, holding to the doctrine that no House
could in the least degree or respect adopt rules
binding its successor. These are the principal
features Of the report. From reliable source the
following conditions stated the that
induced the present revison-
REVISION UNDERTAKEN.
Rule l66 OF the House-the rule which was adopted
prior to the year 1900. and when there was only one
third OF the present in Congresswas
based theory which pervaded ali through the
earlier rules of generalization of all the business.
For example, no bill could have an existence in the
House except it was reported by committee or on
motion OF u colleague According to the old prac.
tice governed by rue 1856. member had even
right to introduce bill all. This practice con-
tinued until 1920 when the Houee took the first new
departure. Up to that time all business had been
done by select committees. There were only two
standing commttees-that of the Ways and Means
and that OF Elections. In 1920, my informant.
member Of Congress sojourning here. related how
committee on roll bills was appointed then COM
mittee on commerce. committee on public lands
and next the judiciary Committee was organized by
the Thirteenth Congress. of which Henry Clay
Speaker. In 1885, when James X. Polk Speaker
of what was known AS the Whig Congress, the House
adopted what known As the whig theory. and OF
which this resolution is the spirit: Al the States
shall be called for bills ON leave and resolutions
every Monday during each session of Congress. aud
il necessary to secure this object said days all
resolutions which shall give rise to debate
shall lie for discussion under the rules
of the House, and the whole OF said days
shall be devoted to bills leave and resolu-
tons until all the States and Territories
called through" Here was the pont continued
my informant when the States and their unity and
importance SO to speak were recognized; and it
under that call that the slavery agitation COM
neuced ana worked. so far ~ the slave States were
concerned unfortunately Tor it was SO that the calls
for resolutions and balls were presented ON the same
day.
THE CHANGE 1912.
1t then followed III ls42, when John Hoyt, OF Ken.
lucky was Speaker in the Tw Congress-,
that they suspended the calls for States resou.
tions and established the present rule, which pro-
vides that members having petitions or memorials
any question might file them in what was known
the petition tached to the Clerks desk for refer
ence to appropriation committees. and also pro-
vidng that such petition and memorials should be
subject to the control and direction of the
Speaker; and if any petition or memorial
be SO handed in which, in the judgment
OF the Speaker. is excluded by tho
rules the same shall be returned to the member
from whom it was receivei." Now. sir said the
member of Congress, right under that rule the
greenbackers filed their bills. imitation and others.
under the suggestion of Alexander II. stephens.
chairman of the Committee on Rules, and that gave
rise to the terrible ilibustering which occurred
thereafter ON those three memorable Mondays. This
rule was adopted to shut of John q. Adams the
slave question in the District of Columbia. 1t was
utilized tor the first time in twenty-five years in this
Congress to indirectly present to committees OF the
House what was forbidden by the rules OF the
House. The ,, old Ri, rules You see: reeosn.sa
necessary aud that it should bc general.
not gpecial. and the records OF earlier Congresses
will be searched vain to hnd tue amount OF spe-
cis legislation which the short session OF the last
exhibited. The Committee OH Rules telt the neces-
sity OF reviving this cumbrous machinery to start
with. revision was entered upon ana nearly com.
pleted by that committee. OF which Messrs Blaine.
Milton Sayler, ex-Speaker Banks and General GAR
field were members. but has been lett To- the pres
ent committee. which has just adjourned here to
assemble IN Washington on the 10Th OF November. to
do 1T. They will do it, doubt and prevent out
lined above the abuses referred have given you
as fair an outline as can of what has actually been
done thus far by the committee.