National Republican., 1885-12-15
Let the Rules be Amended.

The contest In the House of Representa-
tives over the proposed amendments Of the
rules governing the deliberations of that
body begins to-day, the issue being whether
the report of the majority of the committee
Messrs. Carlisle, Reed, Morrison aud His
cock-in favor of radical changes shall be
adopted, or the old way, recommended by
Mr.. Randall, adhered to.
The only change likely to give rise to ex-
tended or heated debate is that which pro-
poses the distribution Of q number of ap-
preparation bills to the various committees
having in charge the branches of public SER
vice to which those bills respectively relate,
as for instance, diplomatic and consular
bill to committee on foreign affairs, army
bill to committee on military affairs, navy
bill to committee on naval affairs. 1t is
not proposed to take the legislative, sundry
civil, District Of Columbia, and Notifications
bills from the appropriations committee.
Some Of the opponents Of Mr.. Randall
have made the mistake of putting this
movement in the light Of special assault
on him, and he seems to have made the
mistake of viewing it in that light. Properly
considered, 1t is an impersonal affair in
timately related to the great interests Of
the country. No committee on appropra-
tions exists, and If there were such o com
mittee already appointed, with Mr., Randall
at its head, the House should be able to
relieve it of any portion Of its labors, at
any time, without being accused Of insult
ing or assaulting the chairman or other
members The public interest is consider
alton far higher than the dignity of com
mittee.
For reasons which have been repeatedly
stated In these columns-reasons so strong
that they are believed TO be unanswerable-
we are emphatically in favor Of assigning
the appropriation bills in accordance with
the report Of the special committee on
rules. That the public service will be bene-
fited by such change we have no doubt.
for 1t will give the interests Of the various
departments to those who are best ac-
quainted with their needs, and will afford
the House much more time for careful con-
sideration Of all items of expenditure.
| The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN believes in
the rule Of the majority at all times, stipu-
lating only that the minority whether the
| division be political or otherwise-shall
have the usual protection against impul-
sive or arbitrary action. If our theory of
| popular government is not humbug, the
majority Of any legislative body should be
able to control its action. The notion that
| IL is not safe to trust the House In commit
tee of the whole to perfect appropriation
bills; that arbitrary power must be lodged
| tn tba hanIa OF 10 l,,
violation Of the theory on which the fathers
built our government. AS we have stated
before, II one man is safer than the House,
let us set up the one.man power-let us
crown one man and call him king or en-
peror. Every argument In favor OF trust
ing the few and distrus:ing the many is an
argument against popular rule and In favor
of monarchy.
There are few iniudcous friends Of
protection who damage good cause by ex-
pressing the fear that, unless Mr. Randall
is armed with power to delay and protract
the business Of the House, that body will
find time for tariff agitation, and will pass
tariff reduction bill. Such a fear as this
is worthy Of contempt and nothing else,
II protection could not take care Of itself
without resorting TO uickery, If 1t could
not succeed under fair and decent methods
Of legislation, II would be IN a very bad
way. For our part, while yielding to none
in The zeal Of our advocacy of protection,
we hope its enemies win always have a fair
field. II we are to have tariff agitation
this winter let It come on as soon as posi-
BILE that the suspense may be the sooner
ended.
The Republican party, with a majority of
eight In the Senate, has nothing to fear