The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-25
Overthrowing the Holman Amendment.
New York SUM-

The organ OF the Jobbers and ringsters and
corruptiOni SITS who are engaged in this
enterprise. alleges that the Holman amend
ment, made II the interest OF retrenchmenf,
authorizes legislation on the appropriation
bills, and is responsible for much OF il that
is bad. The rules themselves give the best
answer to this charge Here is No. 100:
No appropriation shall be reported in such gen
eral appropriation bills, or be in order as an
amendment thereto for any expenditure not pre-
viOusly authorized by law.-September H. 1897.
Unless in continuation OF appropriations for such
public work and object as are already in progress.
March rs, ISIS.
When the Democrats got control of the
House, in the Forty-fourth Congress, they
added the following amendment, on motion
of Mr.. Holman:
Nor shall any provision in any such bill or
amendment thereto changing existing law be in
order except such a being germane TO the subject
matter of the bill shall retTench expenditures
January l., 1876.
The object of that clause was to stop the
vicious practices that had prevailed under
Republican rule, to replace extravaganza
with economy and to redeem the pledges of
reform made by the Democracy during the
memorable Congress campaign OF 1874, COM
monty known as the tidal-wave year.
The amendment did more than retrench
expenditure, immensely valuable as that
service was. 1t did away with the practice
Of loading the appropriation bills with for
eign matter and perniciouS legislation,
which had favored iobbery and had cost the
Treasury tens of millions of dollars.
What most troubles the lobby and the adj
vocates of reckless expenditures, in and out
OF Congress, is that every proposition they
offer in the House must confront the crucial
test of the Holman amendment, and be
lected as out of order If not in strict con-
fOrmity Herewith
The guardians of the Treasury watch every
bill during its progress and they are special
lv vigilant when adroit tacticians come for
ward with well-coyered schemes prepared
cunningly to eyade the application OF the
rule.
Sometimes in Committee of the Whole a
weak or incompetent or interested chairman
may admit an amendment that ought prop
erly to be excluded. But when it is brought
before the House. with record to be faced,
such construction is rarely sustained.
The sternest restrictions imposed by the
rules are occasionally overthrow by the
will of an adverse majority. No wisdom
can provide against these lapses, especially
when a pr0digal Senate stands ready to
crowd the appropriation bills with amend
ments which the committee of the House
have resOlutely resisted.
The present Democratic majority in the
House is about one-half of what II was in the
last Congress. A controversy like that now
proposed would necessarily weaken its moral
force at the outset. and exhibit q detection
that would gladden. the Republicans who
are urging the movement, first because they
have axes 10 grind. and secondly in the hope
OF creating discOrd in the ranks of their OPP
pOnentS.
Representative Springer was met by re-
porter to-day and asked what he thought of
the prospect for a revision OF the House
rules this winter
II think he replied, sit will be done /
have prepared revision which have been
at work on all the summer, and intend 10
submit it for adoption. ! have gone over
the entire subject with great care
Does your revision make any distribution
of the appropriation bills?'
"Ges it takes three from the Appropria-
ton Committee. The Army bill | gave to
the Military Committee, the Naval bill to
the Naval Committee, and the Postoffice
bill to the PostOffice Committee. The others
are all left with the Appropriations Com
mittee. Not only does my revision deal
with this branch of the subject, but it in
clues every feature of the rules which OBJ
struct business. My aim has been
to prepare set OF rules
which will facilitate public busi-
ness-wbich will enable q majority to do
business. | am willing to trust a majority
of the representatives of the people. Hith-
erto we have come here at each Congress and
bound ourselves hand and foot, and then
called upon doorkeeper to deliver us bound
TO the other House We have not been able
to do anything beyond passing approprla-
tiOn bills scarcely, except what was assented
to by two-thirds or unanimous action. Now
my revision opens the way for the prompt
transaction of all business which meets the
approval of a majority. And after three
days my revision prohibits filibustering."
"Can you get your revision adopted with
out referring to the Committee on Rules
"0h, yes; easily enough. When we meet
and organize we will have no rules. Then
instead of the usual resolution to adopt the
old rules ] will submit resolution to adopt
them as amended. | have gone over the old
rules and have put my revisions in the shape
of amendments. When deemed it neces-
Sary have stricken out. The part stricken
out will remain, with line through it,
and the new matter will appear in
italics, so that each member, with a copy of
the print before him. can see and under
stand what the revision does. 1t will only
require majority vote to adopt the revision.
Now. want here" said Mr.. Springer, "to
disclaim in taking bills from the Appropria-
ton Committee any idea or object of strik-
ing at Mr.. Randall. My object is to facilitate
public business. The Appropriations Com
mittee now has more than il can attend to
in good order and in proper time"
Got 1t Right.