Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-16

fully determined to resign the Presidency of
the Senate, aud II is rcpbricd that Senator
Anthony of Rhode Island will be elected to-
that Office. The Vermont Senator is aware
that his influence on the door will be needed
by his party. and all Republicans must
commend. the spirit in which he has resign
cd au Office which, though hon
orablc in itself aud honored by its
present incumbent can not give the Senator
the influence aud power. which his voice and
opinion in debate will afford. Senator Ed
munds, during the course of his long service
in the Senate, has twice before filled the Of
flee of President pro tsn having been elected
to the place in 1859 and in 1871.
Immediately after the reorganization of
the Senate, will come the reorganization o.:
the various standing and select committees.
The present number of committees is forty
four, go that assuming that the Republicans
gain control each Of the thirty-cight Republi-
cans Is certain Of u craftsmanship. II the
usual courtesy to the party in the minority
is followed, the Democrats will probably be
allowed the craftsmanship of five or six of
the less important committees.
A change In some of the rules of the SEN
ate has been proposed for the coming session,
and the matter will early be taken into con-
sderaton. A committee on notifications
was appointed at tho last session, aud Scna-
tor Frye, chairman Of the committee, has
prepared draft which will be submitted for
the approval Of his conductors. 1t is pro-
posed to add two new standing committees,
one Of which shall have charge Of all bills
relating to internal improvements, and the
other committee on the expenditure of pub
| lie money. One Of the new rules to be pro-
posed excludes everybody from the floor Of
the Senate except officers of that body ant
certified clerks Of Senators. The need OIL
there is at present nothing to prevent louug
ers from occupying the space in the rear Of
the Senate Chambers, or Of intrudne
upon the cloak room. The House
has been protected from this nuisance by a
rule adopted a number of years ago. News.
paper correspondents and reporters will, by
| the new rule, be restricted to the privileges
of the reporters gallery, which should b,
amply sufficient for the purpose required.
Another rule relates to the establishment
Of the previous question. 1t may awaken
some surprise TO know that there has been Nc
rule in the Senate relating to this matter fol
eighty years. Hence the in,crminable debates
which have killed so many important bills
The only rule governing the matter is one
by which the Senators may pass
from ono question TO another by a majorit,
vote When 1t is proposed to drop pend
Ing question the motion must be decided
without debate. So long, however, as the
question is before the Senate, each Sen.
ator has unbounded liberty Of speech, and in
this way many a question has been talked
to DEATH by its opponents.
Onc of the new rules proposes an
important change in the membership Of
committees. 1t provides that no Sen
a,or shall be member of more
than one of the following COMMITTEES. cxcep,
by special .rcsolution, viz Judiciary, Ap.
preparations, Finance and Commerce. This
will give the new Senators chance to sill
with their more experienced coahjutors on
some Of the leading committee. These are
radical changes in the organization of tho
Scnt', and, if adopted, will modify consid.
erably the working methods of that body.