Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-06
House.

WAsHINGToN, Jan. 5.-Mr. Orth rose 10
question of privilege, stating it grew out of
and affected the recent appointment of CON-
mittees of the house. Before stating his ques-
tion he said: 81 ask indulgence to announce
that it is my purpose at an early day to intro
duce for consideration and action PROPOSE
ton to change the method of electing commit
ties. The vast and diversified interests of the
country are all more or less affected by con-
gressional legislation and this legislation, as is
we'll known, is almost exclusively controlled
by the action of committees For this reas on
their formation assumes importance and is in
vested with responsibility too great to rest in
the hands of single individual, however
capable and honest and patriotic such individ-
ual may be. AS now exercised it is decidedly
one mans power, and such power is always
dangerous, and in conflict with the principles
of responsible governments. 1t may, at some
future period, be used to the detriment of the
best interests of the people,"
And now, as to the question of privilege.
You have seen fit, Mr.. Speaker, to assign me
to three committees, namely, second place
on foreign afi 'irs, second place on rules, and
chairman e he committee on civil service
reform. b, Tue kindness and unwavering
confidence of my constituents, have been for
twelve years :. member OF this house, and am
now entering on my seventh term of service
here With two exceptions there is not ar
other Republican member who has thus long
represented his people. During that time
have served as a member of eight and chair
man Of three committees on private land
claims, as member of the committee on pay
ments and on the ways and means, and for ten
years as meuiber of the committee on foreign
affairs, part of such time as its
chairman. With one exception, possibly,
too am the only republican member who at
any time prior to this session has served as
chairman of any committee in the house. In
view Of this fact / submit that the speaker, in
his recent action, has done Injustice to me and
my constituents, for the relations between
representative and his constituents are so
clearly interviewer that INJUSTICE to one is ne
cessarily an injustice to the other. They
naturally feel pride and interest In proper
recognition of their representatives and espe-
cialIy when such recognition is regarded by
custom and courtesy by all deliberatlye hold-
ers, as attaching to long years of service. For
this injustice there is, however, no remedy.
All that can be done is to protest against it
as now do for myself and my constituents
and for reasons so apparent as not to require
specification. respectfully ask the house to
excuse me from service as member OF the
committee on rules
Mr.. Springer stated he was about to make a
suggestion as to the method Of appointing
The chair docs not understand that it is nee.
essary for him to vindicate himself by saying
anything in reply. 1t must not, however, be
inferred because the chair does not undertake
TO challenge the statements charging him
with injustice, that the chair acquiesces in the
views taken by the gentleman from Indiana
(Orth.)
Mr.. Orth's request was granted and he was
excused from further service on the committee
on rules.
The regular order being called reports OF
committees was dispensed with.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. Hawk nl.), to recognize the militia
also, to require manufacturers of oleomargin'
to label the same Mr. Hewitt offered reso
luton recitng the fact that the Khedive o
Egypt had presented to the United States tn
obelisk known as "Cleopatra's Needle" ant
extending to his highness, the Khedive, tn
thanks of the people of the United States, TO
the gift which only the Oldest of nations csult
make and the youngest could most highl.
prize. Adopted
A long and desultory discussion sprang III
as to the power of members to introduce bill
through the petition box instead of presentiB.
them in open house. The discussion final.
closed with an expression of opinion from tn
chair, that the only way to get a bill properl
before the committee was to present 1t IN ope
house.
The speaker stated Mr.. Hewitt had requisite
to be relieved from service on the committe
on public buildings and grounds, as his privat
business relations were such as might make
improper for him to serve. Request granted
Adjourned until Monday.
Republican Press Lies Exposed