Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-12
THuRsDAY...FE IL, 1885,
The Rules.

eminent OF each house Of Congress were
passed 10 expedite legislation, and not
10 prevent or trammel the same. But,
As is often the case with laws, these
rules do not operate rs they were in
tended to operate.
There are fears Of an extra session OF
Congress-, TO commence immediately or
soon after the close Of the present ses-
sion, which by constitutional limitation
will end on the 4th proximo, or rather
ought to close at or before IL O'Clock
on the night Of the Sd Of March, but by
legislative fiction is often extended
into the 4th Of March--the day Of the
beginning Of the term Of the next
Congress. We cannot say that we
dread an extra session. There are
several bills pending in Congress
which ought to become laws this year.
The BLAIR bill ought to be passed as
soon Is possible. So also ought the
river-and-harbor bill. And the friends
OF this latter bill ought not to suffer
the appropriation for the Galveston
jetties. nor any other such important
appropriations, to fail ofsuccess through
fear Of an extra session. If the Repub-
licans force an extra session upon the
unwilling Democrats, the responsibility
will fall upon the shoulders Of the party
whose obstructive proceedings will have
created the necessity for such session.
The two houses have rules which
practically conflict. The rules Of the
House of Representatives allow what is
called general legislation. or amend
ments in the nature Of new laws, to be
attached to an appropriation bill, if the
same be germane to the item of appro-
pristion under consideration. For cx-
ample, when the post-oflice appropria-
tion bill is before the House Of Repre-
sentatives, it is in order to offer an
amendment fixing new rates Of postage
on any class of mail matter. So it is
possible in the House Of Representa-
tives to attach TO one or another of the
appropriation bills almost any sort of
amendment that member might wish
to become law Of the land.
Not so in the Senate. II has a rule
which provides that "no amendment
which proposes general legislation shall
be received to any appropriation BILL"
That language is plain enough; but it
has often operated TO the disadvantage
OF the Senate, for the House of Repre-
senatives has over and over again in
sisted upon and secured the adoption of
amendments to appropriation bills which
could not have come before the Senate
ut all If they had not come into that
body upon bill sent over from the
other house. In other words, general
Legislation is, in spite Of the Senate
rules, frequently effected by means Of
an amendment attached to an appro-
priation bill.
or course it is the custom Of the
Senate TO strike out Of the appropria-
ton bills sent over from the House of
Representatives all amendments pro-
posing general legislation, but the
House often. and we might say always,
insists upon its amendments, and calls
Tor committees Of conference, which
committees are compelled to compro-
mise all such differences. some points
being surrendered by each house. The
Senate rule is powerless under such
circumstances.
These rules it is that now threaten to
produce such q conflict between the
two houses as will result in an extra
session Of Congress. The logic Of the
case seems to us to be with the House
Of Representatives, since the Constitu-
ton Of the United States allows Of such
amendments as the House is in the
habit Of lacking To the appropriation
bills, and since il has from the founda-
ton Of the Government been the Gus
tom Of Congress to iegislate in that |
way---the Senate rule being, we think, |
Of comparatively recent adoption.
Itstrikes us, therefore. that the sensi- |
BILE thing for the Senate to do would be |
10 turn deaf ear to the utterances Of |
the New York papers, and adopt, so Ear |
~ general legislation is concerned, the |
same rule which obtains in the House |
Of Representatives. Mr.. INGALLS, has |
tried to convince the Senate that such |
would be lis wisest course; but he has |
not succeeded in convincing that body |
that he Is right. Last week he pro. |
posed to make the Senate rule read as !
sollows
. No amendment not germsne nor |
relsysnt to the subject-matter contained |
IN any general appropriation bill shall |
Be received" &C., DC.
That would be, in substance, if not |
n words, tho House rule. When it Is
recellected that the Senate cannot under |
rs owa rules either amend or discuss
The smendments sent over TO i, from the
Iloslse Of Representatives, it does look
Ike ehild's play Tor that body to keep
tlehs rule in force. II ties only It's
pws 'ksssh --aot those Of tIls House Of
Representatives,.