The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-06
ORDER In THE NATIONAL HOUSE.

Any ono who has ever visited the National
House Of Representatives. and attempted to
discover what the hurly burly was all about,
must have been impressed with tho very ur-
gent necessity for u reform In the method OF
conducting business In that uproarious as
semhlage. Except on very special occasions,
nobody but the Speaker listens to anybody.
the buzz OF conversation is absolutely deaf.
Mug and tho uninitlated are lost In wonder
that anything Is ever accomplished In tho
way of legislation ut all. Occasionally, when
some man Of recognized ability gains tho
floor for speech on an Important topic,
there Is n lul In tho uproar. aud the House
listens. II not respectfully, at least with such
attention that strangers are enabled to hear
what is said. Why II set Of gentle-
mon should consider It necessary
to conduct themselves with such
conspicuous improprety as to merit for tho
House tho epithet of "bear garden" 1t ls
quite impossible to say for outside OF tho
national hall the majority of them know how
TO conduct themselves In accordance with tho
demands Of decorum. and would not think OF
sitting with their feet on parlor mantlepleces
or OF violating any Of tho rules Of good So
eiety.
No Speaker has over been able to preserve
such order In tho House as tho people have a
right tolexpeot and demand. and to this want
Of order ls largely TO be attributed the little
work done and the prolonged sessions, which
are neither useful nor economical When the
report Of tho Committee ON Rules was ,Ip for
discussion the other day. we arc pleased to
sec that Mr.. Williams. of Wisconsin. abiding
to tho lack OF order In the House. suggested a
rather novel remedy for the trouble. and ono
which. IT adopted. would undoubtedly have
tho desired effect. lie said ..5s
# order" be heavens fret law" II IL
equally true that II wa are TO got tho best work
from tho combined ability aud Judgment of this
body auch order should he preserved durIn
business sessions Of the House will enable
eaeh member to hear whit ia being Md and done.
But both Tradition aud custom aeam to have or
danei TINT no such order should be preserved
hero, except at least. In of the death or
occurred to no ia this whe,her II would not be-
N good plan to plant q swivel gun
tss 3e.s WITH front a ana the 'n1 sss.s1
and give him liberal discretion to tlrel Laugh
tori But of, course do not supnose that eug-
gestion can be adopted In fact ! am not just
lsughteFI Now sir. ] speak In no spirit Of full
somo 4 ttery when aay that. In my opinion,
no Speaker or occupant OF that chair has, on
the whole. succeeded In preserving better OF dor
during the sessions of this House than our
present Hpeaker: but II has occurred to me- ma
/ doubt not Ii has to others, that If ha with til
decision and power nf will which characterize
him, should. when noise and confusion arc
roigning supreme tare, sit firmly back In his
seat and declare to this House mud the country
that the public business shnulh not proceed
until order was restored and maintained. and
then adhere to u unninrhirRly. though he
sat through an entire days session. believe
a blessing would as conferred upon Congress-
ono man to beatow. OF course he could not do
1t without the CO. operation of membetH but II
II were understood that this new departure was
to be tried believe he wpuli have tho hearty
cooperation Of majority or Of all the mem
bers of this House. do not mem that the
Sneaker would be expected to preside over ua
likea srhoolmasinr, but TINT such reasonable
order might b., maintained Tint tho business
before tho House might ha fniiy und nrstood.
or rouraa thr,'w this out only ma suggastion
and with fceling Of deferanre to tho House
and distrust In my own Judgment. | know tho
potency Of the reply when any Innovation upon
these customs ia attempted. 1t Ia. oh 1t has
always boon sol'
The suggestion that the Speaker refuse to
with the business until order ia re-
stored and maintained Ia good one. and
should be- acted on unless we desire to have
the national bear garden grow worse and
worse. and become even greater scandal
than 1t la and has been for many years.