Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-11

Likely 70 Consist Mainly OF Objec.
uoms nom This On-Need Of Joint
Rules.

1t does not appear dif1cult to make forecast of
tne proceedings In the House for the rest Of this
session They will consist chiefly OF objections
and adJournments, with probably some indie
coroos discussion. Mr.. Taylor adheres to his de-
Ierminauon that no more legislation shall be
enacteo' ana says that there can be nothing now
uut an aoJournment or q recess. The tangle over
tne eiectoral-count bill is expected to continue
IN us knotty state until next session. when it
can De passed in time for the count Of the
vote cast In November. No evil is likely to
result from the delay OF action, though it is ex-
tremely awkward. The fact thar SUCH tangle
snouio occur calls attention to
THE NECESSITY FOR JOINT RULES
WIN reiatlon 10 the treatment OF bills In course of
enlohment and transmission. The Speaker is
iooking up the subject and 1t is likely that some
ITt rules VIII be formulated during next session.
MI. hafry smith, who was for a number or years
Journal clerk OF the House, and In charge Of tue
IN Uipmauon OF rules, Is preparing some data on
s .mS suoJecI he said TO STAR reporter to-day:
"Ine House has no rule and never mad one regu-
i,a.Ins the matter OF messages between the two
r nUuses. All mat was provided for In the joint
LUIS auopteu IN 1I04, aud which were ADDED TO
Irom Time TO time until the first session OF the
roiy-Iourtn Congress- when the House, having
January 90 1875 adopting the Joint rules in force
at tDe close OF tue Forty-thrd Congress, save the
wehoyseeoad rule grelatng to the count OF the
eectoIal vote, the Senate, on the 14th CT August
ttouowlnR adopted q resolution that there were no
Joint rules In force.
SPEAKER RANDALL's RULING.
IN the following session Speaker Randall held
not however, In a formal ruling-that the joint
rules were still in force and SO continued TO hold
through the Forty fifth and Forty sixth Congresses
Eor th!t reason the committee on rules in the
orT-slxth Congress did not revise the joint
IuIes, ana, although the Senate has at the COM
mencement OF each Congress since then-save the
present-passed code OF joint rules, no action has
T taken thereon by the House committee. Mr..
Was Odd on "a
eneory mat, as The joint rules had been continued
Chrougn several Congresses without readoptiun,
10 Iepral one OF said rules. 1t therefore became
necessary 10 make Journal entry directing The
cierk 10 transmit or communicate TO the senate
tne actlon or the House, and that practice has
Since Oeen observed. In the case Of a senate bill
passed by the House, and where q motion to re-
consioer tnat vote Is mace, 1t has been the uni
form practice
TO WITHHOLD THE BILL FROM THE SENATE
until the motion TO reconsider is disposed or or, in
case the bill has been taken TO the senate, TO
aaope resolution requesting its return TO the
House, and resolution OF that kind has always
oeen treated as privileged question, for the rea
son, OF course, that 1t attaches To the motion to
RECONSIDER, which Is one Of high privilege.
IN THE TwENTY-sIxrH CONGRESS
speaker Hunter refused 10 sign enrolled bill
relating to the presumption right OF settlers on The
pubic lands until the motion to reconsider the
vote by which the House passed 1t was settled
many years IN receive reports from the committee
On enrolled Oils IN the most 1norma! way, IL has
always been II Id by every Speaker that they could
not De received and s1gned-if the point was
lnaoe-except IN the House in the presence OF a
quorum. There Is no rule on that point
Dut IL follows from the constitutional
provision That "a majority Of each (uouse) shall
constitute quorum 10 do business
zine clerk Oh the House has no authority what
ever 10 DO any act not authorized by law or a rule
or order OF the House, and venture TO say that
no instance can be found where the CLERK OF the
house has ever noLited the Senate or the tendency
IN tne house or motion TO reconsider the vote
passing Senate bill. The Senate Invariably
ADOPTS resolution In such Case requesting the
House To return the bill and did so quite recently
GA motion OF Senator Edmunds, In The case OF a
private dill.
THE NECESSITY OF HAVING JOINT RULES
Is quite apparent when the TACT is considered that
they regulate the transaction Of business between
the two houses and with the President and cover
or incluIe great many subjects; and, while con-
grees mas been drifting along without them since
the rOrty-tnlrd Congress, IN consequence or the
failure Oh the HOUSE 10 act Oh The code proposed
Dy the Senate, 1t Is in the over OF one member at
the Close OF session, as at this time, when a
quorum Is not present, TO make a great deal OF
trouble and considerably prolong session, or
even bring about all extra session. have looked
the matter up In part, and believe Congress Is
the only legislative body in the United States
without 1OIut rules"