Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-06

| Mr.. Orth rose to a question of privilege
stating that it grew out of and affected the
! recent appointment of committees of the
| House. Before stating the question specific
ally he said: 81 ask indulgence to announce
that it is my purpose at an early day to in
| trOduce for consideration and action propo-
| sition to change the method of selecting
committees. The vast and diversified inter
ests of the country are all more or less af-
fected by congressional legislation, and this
| legislation, is very well known ia almost
exclusively controlled by the action of the
committees. For this reason their formation
assumes an importance and is invested with
responsibility too great to rest in the hands
| of single individual, however capable, hon.
est and patriotic such individual NAV be- As
now exercised, it is emphatically a one man
| power, and such POWER is always
dangerous and in conflict with the principles
of Republican government. 1t is our duty
to see that it may not 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, sir, 10
assign me to three committees, namely, the
second place on Foreign Affairs, second place
CIvil-Seryice Reform. By the 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 another Re- publican member who
has thus long represented his people. Dur
ing that time / have served as a member and
chairman OF the Committee on Private Land
Claims, as a member of the Committee on
Ways and Means, and for fifteen years az a
member of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, part of such time as its chairman.
With one exception, probably two,
am the only Republican member who at
any time prior 10 this session has ever
Ia served as chairman of any committee of
this house. In view OF this fact, / submit
that the speaker, in his recent action, has
done an injustice to me and 10Y constituents,
Tor the relations between representative
and his constituents are so closely inter
woven that an injustice to me is, necessarily,
an injustice to the other. They naturally
feel pride and interest in the proper recog-
milton of their representative, and especially
when such recognition is regarded by the
custom and courtesy of all deliberative
bodies as attaching to long years of service.
For this injustice there is, however, no
remedy. Ali that can be done is to protest
against it, as do now for myself and my
constituents and for reasons SO apparent as
not to require specification, L respectfully ask
the house 10 excuse from service as a
member of the Committee on Rules.
Mr.. Springer stated that he was abont to
make a suggestion as 10 the method Of APP
pointing committees, but would not do so at
present.
The Speaker-The Chair does not under
stand that it is necessary 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 LOrthl
Mr.. Orth's request was granted, and he was
excused from further service on the Commit
tee on Rules.
The regular order being the call of COM
mittees it was dispensed with.
Bills were introduced by Mr. Hawk ILL.,
to reorganize the military; also TO require
manufacturers of oleomargerine to label the
same.
Mr.. Hewitt offered resolution reciting
the fast that the khedive of Egypt had pre-
scented to the United States an obelisk known
as "Cleopatra's Needle" and extending to
his highness, the khedive, the thanks of the
people OF the United States for gift which
only the Oldest of nations could make and /
the youngest could most highly prize.
Adopted.
b A long and desultory discussion sprang up
as to the power of members to Introduce
bills through the petition box instead of pre-
senting them in open house. The discus
sion finally closed with an expression OF
an opinion from the chair that the only way
to get bill properly before the committee
was to present it in open house.
The speaker stated that Mr.. Hewitt had
to be relieved from service on the |
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds |
as his private business relations we're such BIS |
might make it improper for him TO serve, |
and the request was granted.
Adjourned until Monday.