Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Special Correspondence Of the Ledger.
WASHINGTON, d. G., March 3d.
With the exception of that first false
step about the Star mail service"
whereby Postmaster General Key has
huddled the democratic rancho, moth
ing Of very serious nature in the way
of unSound and impolitic measure has
been accomplished by the majority
party in the house this session more to
be deplored than certain features of
the new rules. The one-man-power
has at last received its sanction at the
hands Of a democratic house. The
fearful idea, that monstrous theory of
@centralized government, has at last
found a practical exposition and a
most earnest recommendation by the
house of representatives. In the
adoption of this one-man-power there
arc Tennessee congressman who
rightly merit the honor of assist
ing and causing its triumph.
That they arc good members
and hard-working representatives is
not to be questioned. That they
have made a mistake in so far
as the execution of sound principle
as taught by democratic practice and
usage, is to be feared. When the
adoption of the revised rules came to
be acted upon yesterday, MI. Young,
of Memphis, asked to have a yea and
nay vote upon the amendments. But
this request was not granted. Mr..
House, of GAINESVILLE, being granted
the floor said, "Tho amendment of
rule q, or any other amendment
which has been put on the rules a
have a yea and nay vote in the house,
| desire to ask the gentleman (Mr.
Blackburn whether he will allow me
to offer an amendment which was not
adopted in committee, so we may have
the yeas and nays upon it. | think
there is a general disposition to call
the previous question-there is on my
part, | know | do not wish to 60
over all this ground again, but 1 do
consider this Of vital Importance, and
| want gentlemen to go on the record
upon it. | wish to have the amend
ment | suggest read for information,
| do not wish to debate it, but simply
to have a yea and nay vote upon it
to have the privilege of offering
it as an amendment and a vote
upon it by yeas and nays
The amendment offered by Mr.. House
was as follows When a bill, reso-
luton, or proposition relating to the
raising OF revenue or the reduction Of
taxes shall be referred to a standing
or select committee of the house, and
the committee shall fail for fifty days
to make any report to the house there
on, it shall be in order on any Monday,
Immediately after the expiration OF
the morning hour, to move to dis.
charge che committed from the further
consideration which motion shall
then be considered without debate.
and if decided in the affirmative, the
bill or resolution shall be placed on
the appropriate calendar, unless a ma
jority of the house shall then deter
mine to consider the same After
this was read Mr.. House said Il
understand, sir, that the committee OF
ways and means determined this morn
ing to touch legislation of that sort.
[ want to see whether the representa-
tives of the people are ready and
willing to surrender their interests in
their hands, This effort was Of no
avail and any committee has power TO
kill any measure intrusted to its keep
ing. SALTUs MoHEGAN.