Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-24
CONGRESSIONAL RULES.
1OINT CODE TO BE INTRO
DUCED AT THIS SESSION.

r4;catiOu that Riders VIII Have
81 Ron of OF the HOuse ApDrOpri-
-, Weasures-The Unsatisfactory
'..nsi Understanding on which the
- Houses Have Depended in the
past.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-If the House
ponreseutatives enters in earnest upon
-oyision of its rules as it is expected to
laot tbe beginning Of the coming session,
W. srbiect of code of joint rules for the
-oyornment of transactions between the
t,,o Houses of Congress is likely to be an
mont of discussion. The Senate, by
vota Of 50 to (, declared several years ago
.bot there were no Joint rules in effect,
and formally notified the House of its
e.tion. Notwithstanding which, however,
cha House under an old ruling of it's
snsaker has held to the theory that the
IA code of Joint rules would remain in
aTce until 6brogated by the action Of the
two Houses.
HOW THE HOUSES GET ALONG.
Since that time matters between the
/ ,7o houses have been by the tacit con-
currance OF both arranged in accordance
gitb traditional usage or by specific
egrpement to meet special necessities.
The necessity for a code of joint rules has
IN the opinion of the Senators, become
more apparent with each succeeding ses-
sion. Two years ago, after revising its
own code OF rules the Senate took up
resolution reported from its committee on
niles which embodied q carefully digested
codq of iointrul and after full discussion
agreed TO the resolution and sent it to the
me-, far oonqvrrpuPp.
sHELvED BY THE HOUSE.
The latter body caused the resolution
N he printed IN the usual way and re-
fq-red If to It's Committee ON Rules, but
M further action was taken upon the sub
i iact owing to the habit Of the House of
i Representatives Of putting irrelevant leg
islatiOn upon the regular appropriation
hlls-a practice against which the Senate
in its own rules has sturdilY set its face.
Several of the regular appropriation bills
last session became issues between the
two houses, the discussion and settlement
of which consumed much time and gave
& rise to no small amount of Yexation and
& ill-teeling.
SENATORIAL TENACITY.
In every instance but one the Senate
& maintained its ground to the end, and
s. luly relented in one instance because of
81 representations OF its own members that
8 the legislative rider in question embodied
81 legislation, the passage Of which was
a Nrely needed and could be secured in no
s. ether way. The new code Of Joint rules
s. proposed by the Senate contains an en-
81 Dnatic prohlbitOry clause directed against
4 general or irrelevant legislation upon
81 appropriation bills, and the temper re-
# peaiedly manifested by the Senate during
4 tie last session, indicates a probability
that the days OF legislative riders upon
4 appropriation bills are passed.
TO BE REINTRODUCED.
81 Il is understood that the proposed code
81 n Joint rules will be reintrOduced in the
Senate by member Of its Committee on
Rules, and again rendered to the House.
The attitude Of the Senate upon this ques-
ton is in fact one Of the strongest of in
tuelces which inspire the present move
nent to secure a revision OF the rules of
he House, the latter body having almost
1 10 other method under its present rules of
reaching action upon many important
matters which press upon its attention
bTard the close of the session than to
aIlx them to appropriation bills, which
7cessafily have precedence. A revision
IFS rules becomes almost imperative, in
new Of The prospective loss OF this priYi-
ege.