The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY, January IL, 1SS5-l0 a. m.
The House met Speaker Jewett in the Chair.
Prayer by Representative Townsend, of Wayne
County.
TIE reading Of the minutes Of yesterdays pro-
ceedings were dispensed with.
RULES AND ORDER.
Mr.. HAAK, of Wells, submitted q report from
the Committee on Rules
Mr. Men ULLEN moved to amend the report OF
the committee: motion to lay proposed amend.
ments on ,be table, If it prevail. shall not affect
the several subjects to when said amendments
are offered.
amendment so that motion to lay on the table
an amendment shall not adect the original
motion unless the motion to lay the table snail
members may desire TO lay an amendment on the
table and not the original proposition, which can
be done If his substitute he adopted.
Mr.. MOODY understood a motion to lay on the
table does not carry the original proposition If the
III The n sPEAKER: u Ia the absence OF any rule.
n often 10 lay an amendment on the table carries
Tire entire subject with it.
OF opinion in the committee 10 effect of lay
ing on the table an amendment MS to whether 1T
carries the entire question on the table In order
to facilitate business it may be better to adopt tne
rule &C OF last session.
Mr.. SMITH. of Tippecanoe, signed the report of
the Committee on Rules in order TO makeit unan-
imous. The majority usra ally enceavor to curtall
the rights of the minority. We have to go back to
England 10 obtain the best rules for the govern
ment of legislative BODIES which is an astounding
Tact. Whenever proposition comes before
to try TO hustle 1t off by moving to lay it on
the table, and thus send IL off without debate,
and. in ire majority of cases, without proper con-
sideraion. This is \ mischievous motion, and as
long he represents constituency he did not
intend TO move TO lsy any proposition on the
table He entered his protest against such a mis-
chievous rule. These rules are not in accord with
the grand common school system of Indiana.
While ndorsing their subject matter, he could not
indoIse the language as elegant
Mr. GORDON had found the rules TO work very
well during the last session.
Mr.. SAYRE did not know how long this rule
bad been in operation. 1t has been in operation
at least several sessions. There Is a sufficient ma
jority in the present House. under any conceiva-
Gle dition OF things 10 carry out legislation in
a manner satisfactory 10 the majority Under
parliamentary usage there is no occasion, with
the insignificant minority that happens TO be on
this floor. To have such rule Il Is simply gag
rule. and does not expedite legislation. IL merely
cuts off debate. and keeps the minority from en-
tering protest by its votes against any legisla-
Mr.. COOLING on this floor represented the peo
be ade for this SET sion. Otherwise greater poT-
ton Of the time might be spent in useless discus
sion. Ne came here to do business, and 1t is our
business legislate for the highest interests of
the state. The people expect us to pass pure
laws and 10 attend strictly to business. II endles
discussion is permitted an extra session will ,
necessitated. Minorities eften Try TO render
jorities odious to the people by useless discu 3,
sions. He hoped we will not wait for tue Cons
tuition to adjourn the Legislature, but that y ,
will do the business necessary before our cOnstit
tional time shall expire and that the people sha
Mr. sAYRE Qnterposing) again insisted that this
rule would not expedite legislation; that the
msjority could not cut of debate whenever in its
opinion discu Isl became useless
lsnon. Minorities often propose amendments for
the purpose of protracting Debate, and discussions
often became useless protract the session aud ara
Mr.. SMITH. OF Tippecsnoe dnterposing) asked
the gentleman from Ssncock. (Ar. Good1ngl who
is an experienced legislator, having been in tie
n
Mr.. GooDING dnterrupting) No. sir; in 1855
Mr.. SMITH inquired whether parliamenta-y
rules wers msde for the protection OF majoritiss
Mr.. GOODIS6: They are made for the protec-
ton OF both. and are made more especially for the
protection of the people.
Mr.. SMITH: In what are they made for
the protection oil TIE people, ~ not Tor Inc pro
lection OF the people represented by minorities2
Mr.. COOLING: Parliamentary rules are made
TO aid IN the ensctment OF good laws to promote
the welfare and benefit OF the whole people. IL Is
unnecessary to permit useless amendments anc
endless discussion; and regarding this amendment
IS very important one he trusted 1t would be
Nj KELLIsoN insisted the rule sheuld be so
that motion TO lay on the table an amendment
should carry with It only the amendment. The
amendment may be so Objectionable the House
may desire to lay it on the table and yet consider
Mr.. FRENCH demanded the previous question.
| which was seconded by the House
The substitute was rejected. and the amend
| ment Mr. McMullen'sl agreed TO.
Mr. GOODING moved. to strike out Rule IA, re
| lasing to the custody of members, aud whether
such discharge shall be with or without paying
| fees He denied the right OF the House to refuse
to admit q member TO bis seat. The majority
| might put the entire minority under arrest. aud
| that would be high -handed and arbitrary meas
ure. He objected to q rule that would place that
| power in the hands OF majority. IL has right
/ 10 send for members and bring them into the
House. but he denied the power OF the House,
under the Constitution. to prevent any county q
| representation on this floor. The member is ad
mitted to his seat when he Is sworn In. aud ne
never loses mis- right to mis- sea. Until ms constu
| Mr.. GORDON thought II the rule were stricken
/ out ii would deprive the House of the power TO
compel the attendance of members. III the gen.
teman's motion prevail 1t viii not be IN the