The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-15

The Committees Argument in Favor of the
Proposed Changes.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-THE House commit
tee on rules, in submitting the proposed new
code Of rules for the House, accompanied ! with
n report explanatory of lis visions. After
naming the general appruil. alton bills that
would, under Rule H. as amended, be referred
to committees other than the committee on ap-
preparations, the report states that there would
then be left with the committee on sppropria-
ticns the legislative executive and judicial the
sundry civil, the deficiency. the Notifications
The pension and the District of Columbia appro-
priation bills These bills include more than
half the annual appropriations for car
rying on the government The committee
SAYS: For several years past the various
general appropriation bills have been reported
~ such late periods in the session as to preclude
their careful and thorough investigation by the
members not on the committee on appropria-
tions. The committee is of opinion that the
distribution proposed will enable all these bills
TO be reported at earlier periods in the session,
will permit more careful and thorough consid-
GRAFTON of each bill by the committee having
jurisdiction of it, and also by the House, result
ing IN more considerable and economic legislation;
and will obviate the necessity for the passage
of any of these bills under suspension
of the rules, which has been so
frequently done in late years. The committee
is of opinion that these general appropriation
bills should be confined strictly to items and mat
ters Of appropriations authorized by existing law
to continuation of appropriations for such pub
lie works as are already in progress and for con-
tingencies for carrying on the several depart
ments Of the government. and to this end, rec
ommend the restoration of the old rule, adopted
by the Twenty-ifth Congress, and which stood
without amendment until the Forty fourth Con-
gress period of nearly forty years. and was
further amended in the Forty sixth Congress.
The committee seeks this result, by recommend
ing the striking out of the clause known as the
Holman amendment, permitting general legisla-
tion on appropriation bills, provided they re-
trench public expenditures. The committee be-
lieves that the distribution of the appropriation
bills and the prohibition of general legislation
thereon will more evenly distribute the burden
of committee work, and will avoid heated con-
troversies and prolonged conferences between
independent branches of the government as to
legislation on minor appropriation bills The
committee regard the proposed rule
restricting the reference of private
bills to the committee on pensions,
claims, war claims private land claims and &C
)eunts, unless otherwise ordered by two-thirds
vote of the House. as calculated to secure
stricter observance of the jurisdiction of the
several committees, and to limit the considera-
ton of private claims against the government to
the several committees having appropriate juris-
diction of such claims, thereby affording the
other committees greater time and opportunity
committed to sthem. Rule a which provides
for the introduction of bills on Monday, Is
amended so as to allow the Offering Of resolu-
tons for reference. After brief review of the
changes which are proposed in order to facilitate
business, the committee concludes as follows:
Recognizing the necessity for the early
adoption of such rules will enable the House
70 complete its organization and proceed with
the public business, the committee has not con-
sidered it wise to attempt, at the present time,
Of hQ fIoo WAC
contemplated by the several measures offered to
it, but has endeavored to confine itself to such
recommendations as appeared to be essential to
the proper distribution of the work of the COM
mittees in the promotion of legislation"
The committee does not ask to be discharged
from the further consideration of the proposed
amendments, but retains them for future ex-
animation.
MR. RANDALLs OBJECTIONS
In presenting the dissenting report of the
minority, Mr. Randall gives at length his rea
sons for so doing. He says the principal change
submitted by the majority is the proposition to
distribute the various appropriation bills, which
heretofore have been in charge of the appropria-
tions committee among other committees of the
House. He declares that such distribution is
without example in any enlightened legislative
body in this country or in Europe In the
Instances where appropriations are given to the
on the same question, 1t is susceptible OF proof
that these particular appropriations have steadily
increased, and to such degree that, If the same
ratio of increase were to be followed in all the
other appropriations the result would be not
only to exhaust the surplus revenue, but compel
the levying of increased taxation. The change
is not based on any pretense that the committee
appropriations has been extravaganza
or reckless in reporting appropria-
G Seb be b p11,s will Gnt RESULT tne d1n re@
particular department having its special COM
nittee with which it is in intimate and cordial
relations. 'If," he continues, 1.-THE proposition
shall prevail. and the work of the appropriations
committee.be divided among other committees
and added to their present duties, the extinction
of the appropriations committee is not far dis
tant, and when appropriations shall be withdrawn
from the consideration and control of one
committee and no longer kept within
due order and subordination to each
other and to the burdens of taxation imposed
upon the people, and those several committees
are launched into unrestrained charge of appro-
priations, each striving to surpass the other in
greater recognition and large appropriations for
its special charge, it will not be difficult to
prophesy that the day of extravaganza and all
its attendant corruption is near at hand Then
he asks, "When differences occur between
the two houses, how are they to be
adjusted on any plan recognizing the
whole field of appropriations when the mem
bers Of special appropriation committee can
only know in detail, accurately. what relates
to their own committed At this hour, to disre-
gard the prudential lessons of the past. to sur
render to the Senate the protection OF the Treas
ury is to dethrone the House of Representatives
from the exalted position it has occupied in our
history" He criticizes the proposition to amend
Rule q by striking out the.paragraph permitting
general legislation appropriation bills, and
proposes to submit the following provision
? as an amendment to the rule reported
by the majority. But provisions or amendments
for the direct reduction of the number salary
and compensation of employees of the United
States shall be in order on the general appropri
alton bill. if germane to the subiect-matter of
The bin. and it shall be in order further to amend
such bin upon the report Of tire committee hav-
ing jurisdiction of the subject-matter of such
amendment when such amendments are ger
nlatle to the subject-matter of the BILL"
MINOR MATTERS.