The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-07-21
COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE.
what rhis Phrase Means when Uscd In
Connection with the Lowrr House,

what This Phrase Means when Uscd In
Connection with the Lowrr House.
After the general debate had ended
on the Tariff bill, proposition was
made. by the member OF the House Of
Representatives who had charge OF the
measure. 20 some of the Republican
leaders. To dispense with the considcra-
"iion of the bill "in committee on the
whole"
Perhaps some OF the readers do not
know what is meant 10y this phrase. or
IL they do know, they may not be- aware
what is the object of going into COM
mittec. as IL is called. on bill Tho
committee OF the whole Is eNectly what
the term suggests Its membership is
the same as that OF the assembly Tho
British House of Commons calls tho
committee "a committee Of the whole
House" In the United States House
OF Representatives il Is usually termed
"a committee OF the whole ON the state
of the Union" The Senate considers
bills "dS I'm the committee of the
whole" but its system is slightly differ
ent from that of the other House OF
Congress
When the House OF Representatives
adopts motion 10 go into committee
of the whole. the Speaker leaves the
chair, which is taken by some member
designated by the Speaker. \ new set
OF rules comes into operation, much
simpler than those OF the House itself.
Some OF the changes should be mem
toned. There is no calling OF the roll.
All divisions are taken by rising or by
passing between tollers. Again, there
which. under the modern methods i'm
our House of Representatives. can
rarely be offered nj all. unless 10y con
sent OF the committee which reports
the measure. But speeches ON amend
ments are limited To FIVE minutes each.
whereas the time allowed To one who
gets the floor when the House OF Rcp-
rescntativcs proper is in session, Is an
hour.
Most important Of all, there Is no
previous question" nnd the commit
tee Of the whole hn4 no power 20
shorten the debate; but when the nom
Der having charge of the hill thinks
that certain clau,c has been dis
cusscd enough. he moves that the com
mittcc rise lfthr motion il carried.
the Speaker take the chair, and then
the same member moves that debate
on the section or clause under discus
sion be limited 10 some time ono
minute. five minutes, or some other
time. II this l. voted, the committee
Resumes It's session. and the chairman
carries out the order u the House by
stopping debate when the time fixed
has elapsed.
Now what Is the object OF that ma
chinery? II Is to enable members 20
consider measures rather moro In
formally aud more cxpcditiously than
they could under the rigid rules Of the
House Of Representatives aud going
into committee also gives them nn OPP
portunity 10 see the bill ~ whole,
amended. before they are obliged TO
vote on It's passage. For when the
bill has been read through. section by
scction-thc clerk pausing when an
amendment is proposed, and rcsuming
the reading when all amendments 10
the clause have been acted On-the
member in charge moves that tho
committee rise and report the bill 20
the House.
The motion Il carried the Speaker
takes the chair again, and the member
who has been presiding as chairman
reports that the committee Of the whole
House has had under consideration
such and such bill, and reports IL
back 20 the House with rccommcnda-
tion that IL pass, with sundry amend
ments, or without amendment. rs tho
case may be- Then the first question
1 n on agreeing 20 the amendments
made in committee OF the whole. If
no objection il made, they are voted on
in lump, but frequently. by agree
mcnt, some one or more amendments
arc reserved 20 be voted on separately,
and then the yeas and nays may be
called.
Without any reference 20 the Tariff
bill, IL may be said that the liberty 10
offer amendments Is one Of the most
useful OF helps 10 good legislation, and
10 has been far too much curtailcd
already. II the House Of Rcpresenta-
tives were 20 go into committee on
every bill, as the Senate does, many
crude and unworkabc sections would bo
made more ineligible and practical