The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-07
THE RULES OF THE HOUSE.
Changes Contemplated by the Resolu-
ton of Congressman Springer.
Ex-Speaker Randall Points Ont Some of the
Dangers that Would Follow the AdOp-
tion of the Proposed Resolution.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5-Congressman Spring
er's resolution, embodying his proposed new code
of House rules, is printed for examination of
members of the House.
The principal changes proposed are as follows:
"A new committee created on executive de-
partment,' to consist of thirteen members; an
other on public expenditures, to consist of ff-
teen members; committees on railways and
canals, on manufactures, on levees and i'm
provements of the Mississippi river. on militia,
on mileage, on revision of laws, on expenditures
for public buildings, and those on expenditures
in the several executive departments, abolished;
the membership of the committee on ways and
means raised from thirteen to fifteen, and
several other committees raised; the title of the
committee on Pacific railroads is changed TO
committee on railroads; that of the
on invalid pensions to the committee on pen
sions. Army and the Military Academy and
Notifications appropriation bills are referred to
the jurisdiction of the committee on military
affairs; the naval appropriation bill and appro-
%priations for the support of the Naval Academy
to the committee on naval affairs; the postoflce
appropriation bill, to the committee on post
Offices and post-roads. Measures relating to re-
vision of laws" to the committee on Judiciary.
Measures relating to tenure of office of President
and Vice-president, to count the electoral vote,
succession to the presidential Office, compensaJ-
ing federal officers Except appropriations there
for) and reform of the civil service are placed in
the jurisdiction of the committee on executive
department. The on rivers and har-
bors, In addition to its present duties. is given
charge of measures relating to the construction
and improvement of canals. The
on patents controls measures relating to manu-
features.
To the list of committees which have author;-
ty TO report at any time is added the committee
on public lands, which may report on bills for
feiting unearned land grants, and committees
having authority to report appropriations, and
other committees having jurisdiction of the sub
ject-matter thereof, are given authority at any
time for the morning hour to report bills involv-
ing, bat not making appropriations, the provis-
ions of which shall retrencb expenditures.
Debates on points of order are limited to five
minutes by the member making a point, and five
minutes by the member opposing it. thereafter
debate to be confined to such members as the
presiding officer may recognize, and limited to
such time as he may indicate, not exceeding FIVE
minutes to each person recognized. Re
trenchment bills are given right of con-
sideraLion by committee Of the whole,
hitherto accorded only revenue and
appropriation bills. Revenue bills. retrenchment
bills, general appropriation bills and bills for
improvement of rivers and harbors, are given
precedence, in the order named, over other bust
ness in committees of the whole. The provis-
ions of the present rules in relation to riders"
upon appropriations is stricken out and the fol.
lowing substituted: Nor shall any provision
which changes an existing law or embodies gen
eral legislation Of any kind be in order in any
general appropriation bill, or as amendment
thereto" Any committee when called during an
hour may, in lieu of reporting. call up from the
House calendar bills or resolutions Heretofore
reported by that committee, to be disposed of in
the same manner as if reported at the time.
Representatives of daily newspapers residing at
the capital to be admitted at the request of any
member. to the members corridor and rooms in
the rear of the Speakers chair.