Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-25
Attitude of the senate ON the Revision
of the Rules.

WASHINGTON, November 24.-lf the
House of Representatives enters in earnest
upon the revision of the rules, as expected
at the beginning Of the coming session,
the subject of a code of joint rules for the
government of transactions between the
two houses of Congress is likely to be an
element of discussion. The Senate, by a
vote of 90 to 4, declared several years 2
that there were no joint rules in effect
and formally notified the House of its
action, Notwithstanding which, however,
the House, under an old ruling of its
Speaker, has held to the theory that the
old code CT pint rules would remain in
force until abroeated by the action Of both
houses. Since that time matters have been
by tacit concurrence arranged in accord
ance with traditional usage or by specific
agreement to meet special necessities.
The necessity for a code of joint rules has,
in the opinion of Senators, become graver
with each succeeding session. Two years
ago, after revising its own code of rules,
the Senate took up a resolution reported
from its Committee on Rules,
which embodied a carefully digested
code of joint rules and, after
full discussion, agreed to the resolu-
ton, and sent il to the House for concur
renee. The latter body caused the reso-
luton to be printed in the usual way, and
referred to its Committee on Rules, but no
further action was taken upon the subject
owing to the habit of the House of Repre-
sentatives in putting irrelevant legislation
upon the appropriation bills, the practice
against which the Senate in its W rules
has sturdily set its face. Several Of the
appropriation bills last session became is
sues between the two houses, the discus
sion and settlement of which consumed
much time n CAV rise to 70 small
amount of vexation and i'll feeling. In
every instance but one the Senate main
tanned its ground TO the end, and only re-
tented in one instance because of repre-
sensations of its own members that the
legislative rider in question embodied
legislation, the passage of which was sore
ly needed, and could be secured in no
other wav. The e code of joint rules
proposed by the Senate contains the en-
phatic prohibitory clause against the "gen-
eral" or irrelevant legislation upon
appropriation bills. The temper re-
peatedly manifested by the Senate
during last ST ssion indicates the probable
ity that the days Of legislative riders upon
appropriation bills is past. 1t is under-
stood that the proposed code OF joint
rules will be r~e-introduced in the Senate
by g member of its Committee on Rules
and again rendered to the House. The
attitude of the Senate upon this question
is one of the strongest of the Influences
which inspire he present movement to
secure q. revision of the rules OF the House.
The latter body having almost no other
method, under it's present rules OF reaching
action upon the many important matte rs
which press upon its attention toward the
| close Of the session, than to affix them TO
| appropriation bills which necessarily have
| precedence, a revision of its rules becomes
almost imperative in view of the prospec-
tive loss of this privilege.