The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-17
WASHINGTON.
ELECTORAL COUNT AND
RESIDENTIAL Sue
CESSION BILLS.
COMMITTEES AT WORK = BILLS
BEING PREPARED-LABO
FEDERATION.
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, December 12-The speaker laid
before the house large number of executive com
munIcations including the annual reports of the at
torncy general secretary of the treasury and comp
troler of the currency, and they were laid on the
table for the present.
Mr.. Reed, Of Maine offered resolution for the
printing of the compilation of a revision of the
rules of the house in the thirty and forty
congresses stating that they would be of use in the
discussion upon the proposed change in the rules.
The resolution adopted.
Mr.. Bucks, of Connecticut presented resolu-
ton of the Connecticut Legislature asking that
suitable law be passed for the ascertainment and
counting of the electoral votes. Laid the tablA
At 1920 the house adjourned until Monday.
COMMITTEES AT WORK.
WASHINGTON, December 12.-The senate COM
mittee privileges and election held session
meeting this morning and instructed its chairman,
Mr.. Hoar, to report on Monday, the presidential
succession bill. A number of verbal changes have
been made in the BILL but in all its important
features it is the measure that passed during
the last congress- and known as ''the Hoar bill 1t
will probably be taken up early in the week, and
will give rise to considerable discussion, but is
likely to be passed during the week.
The house committee on rules met at o'clock
this afternoon and considered various propositions
that had been referred to in matters touching mod
ifcation of rules Members of the committee are
of opinion that the subject will be- disposed of to-
day.
WATCHING THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., December 12.-Senators
are closely watching developments in the house
with regard to the proposed change of rules with
much interest and generally regard the proposition
to distribute appropriation bills among the several
committees of the house as an extremely unwise
step, and likely to lead to great extravaganza.
Members of the senate committee on rules, all Of
whom are experienced parliamentarians, and sew
eral of whom had their training in the house of
representatives, are unanimous in this opinion
The resolution embodying the proposed code of
Joint rules will probably be reported to the senate
Monday, and be passed without much delay, and
sent to the house They embody three chief propo-
stons, which, if adopted by the house, would in
Al,
generally, relieve the house of most of its difficult
ties. The first is requirement that the speaker
table shall be cleared every day by referring all
measures and cOmnunlcat ons upon it to the proper
committees, and thus getting them into the chan
nels of legislation at the earliest moment. The
second prohibits riders upon general appropriation
bills and the third requires that during the last
days of each session preference shall be given in
each house to measures which have already passed
the other house. These requirements are already
followed in the senate.
COMMITTEE ON RULES.
The committee on rules of house of representa-
tives, held three hour session to-day and COM
pleted consideration of the revision of rules, as
proposed by Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois. Mr.. Nor
rison's code of rules were adopted with few YER
bal amendments, and will be reported to the house
on Monday next The amendments to rules which
were proposed by other members of the house
not acted upon but will receive consideration
at future meetings of the committee. Though a
majority of the committee favor a distribution of
the work of the appropriation committee this OBJ
ject will not be accomplished until after sharp
contests in the house, which will not be in the
nature of party conflicts, but will be between
friends of Morrison and Code, who believe that
such distribution will result in the facilitating
Of business and the opponents who regard it as
unwise at this time to make such radical changes
THE PROPOSED RULES.
The Star says: Mr.. Randall antagonized every
amendment to the rules and gave notice that he
would carry his opposition to the house. He did
not think the present was proper time to make
this departure and incorporate in the rules these
radical changes. There were members who made
number of concessions relating to the proceed
ings in the house, but did nothing concerning the
appropriation bill.
Speaker Carlisle said to-day that, when the rules
are reported to the house, reasonable time will be
allowed for offering amendments and for debate
Mr.. Randall and his friends think these pro-
posed important changes should be considered in
the democratic caucus.
Speaker Carlisle is of opinion, however, that
it is not partisan question, and ought not to be
made one, inasmuch as there is great diversity of
opinion in both parties upon this question If the
necessary number of names is obtained to request
caucus, as there is no doubt there will be, the
friends of the Morrison rules will oppose any &C
ton by the caucus and believe that they will be
able to prevent it.
Mr.. Randall says, if majority of democrat
c caucus is in in favor of the proposed changes, he
will acquiesce, but he is not disposed to allow re-
publcans to bring about the change.