National Republican., 1883-02-20
ON THE AVENUE.
Small Talk About Men and preasu

ehthAh INK huouN NAthh anu NhonHNhSas
"What is the committee on rules going to
do with your resolution I" asked the Avenue
man Of Mr.. Kasson last evening. "I do not
know" was the reply. 1.-THE committee was
to have met Saturday TO discuss IL, but no
meeting was held, understand. The vote
on the revenue bill to-day must have con-
vinced the republicans that they are power
less to pass bill to reduce the reve-
nne unless they amend the rules as
1 have suggested in the resolution now
before the committee. Every one sees that,
and members who are in earnest in their de-
sire to have this congress do something for the
relief of the people will favor it, ] know Of
no canvass Of the house having been taken,
and my opinion as to what the action of the
house will be on the question of amending
the rules would be merely speculation"
sss
Speaker Keifcr chairman of the committee
on rules said last evening that there will be
meeting of the committee to-day, and that
report would probably be made to tho house
on Mr.. Kasson's proposition. "Wbat is the
temper of the house on the question:" was
asked. "The democrats, have been in
formed, will oppose the amendment proposed
by the Kasson resolution to man." he
replied. They have been talking a
great deal about its being revolution
ary proceeding, and all that, and kicking
up a fuss about it on that ground, but as
matter of fact there Is nothing revolutionary
about it. For forty years prior to 1880 ma
jority in the house Of representatives was
able, under its rules, to do just what Mr.
fY, txvO IL UNA nTt the
recommendation of the committee on rules
Of the forty-sixth congress-when 1t consisted
of Messrs. Randall, Blackburn, Alex. Stephens,
Garfield, and Frye-that this power was
was taken away from the minority.
."s
The manner in which the house has been
in the habit of forcing any measure to an issue
previous to the amendments of the rules
wrought by the forty-sixth congress is thus
described by o gentleman who is familiar
with the subject: "Prior to 1860 the commit
tee of the whole could get o bill directly be-
fore the house by a majority vote, and press
it to passage under O suspension Of the
rules. Later tho friends of measure
could vote TO strike out the enacting
clause in the committee of the whole and If
they were in the majority the committee
would have to report to the house immedi-
ately. The majority could vote to non-con-
cur in the report Of the committee of the
whole, which would bring the bill directly
before the house, and it could be driven
through under the gag law. Under tho op-
Grafton Of the Randall rule vote to reject o
recommendation of the committee Of the whole
to strike out the enacting clause offs bill simply
recommits it to the committee without
| further action of the house. When Randall
was speaker he was continually trying to
nail the tail Of the democratic tiger to the
floor whenever he could catch it to prevent
the animal from doing harm. He suggested
the change which was adopted. Alexander
Stevens never bothered himself enough about
rules to inquire what the change meant, and
Joe. Blackburn, the other democratic
member of the committee evidently
didn't see the full force of it or he would have
fought it, for he is in favor ofletting his party
have free swing when it is in majority, as il
was at that time. Garfield and Frye, the re-
publican. members of the committee were
only too willing to lend Randall all the as
sistance they could render to muzzle the
democratic majority and prevent it from
carrying things with q too great disregard
for the wishes Of the minority. The
howl raised about Kassons proposition being
revolutionary is all fol de rol. 1t may ter.
rorize few republicans who are looking for
an excuse to vote against the bill, and who
while protesting to be exceedingly anxious
TO have this congress do something will bt
dreadfully disappointed if they should have
to vote aye or no on tho passage of either
revenue OF tariff revision bills"
S"s
1.-THE democrats will not filibuster against
the Kasson rule" stated an oracular member
Of that party last night. "Joe Blackburn
will merely move to make it permanent
There will be no talk over it worth mention
excepting general and concerted howl fo
effect as the gag is applied. By the way" HI
added, "did you know that Sam Randall
is blowing tonight that the hous
will pass the senate bill without
protest; that the metal interest i
placated; that John Sherman and Kelley ar
satisfied to let it 60 through. Do yol
know further that as soon as the tariff is ou
of the way, aud there is breathing spell
! the iron men, with the help Of the democrat
and enough Of their high protective friend
on the republican side to assist them
, will rush through bill to reduce the whisb!
: tax to fifty cents gallon, and in this wa.
, cut down the revenue to respectable figure.
, s@@
, Telephone message to the Avenue Man
' Hello! Oh, you are there, are your Well
then, want to tell you on the dead quiet tina
one of these fine days the Southern Pacfi
, railway consolidation scheme is going to b
slid through congress, and that the meat Il
t that legislative cocoanut is in section A, whic
provides, that the right to fix, from time I
: time, as the public interest may require, til
rates for carrying passengers and freight o.
Y the consolidated road is hereby reserve
y to Congress-" That clause takes
a out of the power Of the half dozen or NOR
q q states through which the consolidated rate
will run to meddle with the rates, and col
centrates the power in congress. The Paoi6
railway combination has heretofore found
j. a comparatively easy matter to defeat hostil
: legislation in congress- and it had rather tax
= chances there than to buy up state lcgisli
IS lures. These state commissioners are givin
Q the railway companies no end OF troubl,
= and in the near future you will see them con
iSS ing to congress for protection Then it wi
: be worth the while of q thrifty man to be