Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-04-12
The Rules Of COBgrefs.

lasted 70 long and promised to last in
definitely, is broken only at last by the
agreement OF the Democratic caucus to
postpone action until the next session.
There was no force in the rules Of the
House to bring the body to vote upon
the measure; which strikes the public
mind as very remarkable thing indeed.
Rules Of procedure are supposed to be
established for the purpose Of securing
legislation and that they are wholly in
effective to enable the majority even to
bring measure to vote is certainly
severe commentary upon their efficiency.
Congress is bound down by rules
that it takes long to learn and life
time Of experience to become master Of;
and yet they have no power to preserve
the House from having its time wasted
with motions confessedly made for vast
ing it. TIE suggestion from this result
ID that the rules need amendment; unless,
indeed, it be conceded that vigorous
minority should have the power to defeat
In Congress the will of the majority;
which we cannot see that it should have,
though we are in sympathy with the views
Of the minority in this case, upon the di-
rect tax issue, and think that they are
entirely right in opposing the bill by all
the means in their power. But we can
not see that it ought TO be in their power,
under proper rules OF the House, TO pre-
vent vote upon 1t.
And there are other things which are
done under the rules which apparently
should not be done. This deadlock was
the result of one OF them. 1t seems that
the committee on rules has the power to
report resolutions, fixing certain days for
the consideration of certain bills, and
therefore largely controls legislation. This
committee has FIVE members the speaker,
the chairman Of the ways and means and
the chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee constitute the Democratic ma
jority. They are the men Of power under
the rules. Mr.. Randall, in combination
with the Republican members, was able
to bring up, at an early date, this bill to
spend twenty millions of the surplus in
repaying the direct taxes and TO follow
1t with another bill to bleed the treasury
OF twenty millions of dollars for swamp
land claims. Two results could be &C
complished by the early consideration of
these measures namely, to postpone the
tariff bill and to lop off the surplus be-
fore the pruning shears Of the tariff bill
co1ld take hold.
The committee on rules seems to be the
steering committee OF the House, and
when the speaker put Mr.. Randall on it,
he exhibited a generosity which has been
expensive. lie does not seem to have ex-
pected that Mr.. Randall, thus conlided
10, would join hands with the Republican
members. His confidence was misplaced
Mr.. Randall has natural habit of serv,
ing his own purposes when he finds him
self possessed Of the power and his long
experience In Congress and knowledge OF
its rules gives him power where another
would be weak. The condition of the
representative when first thrust into Con-
gress is not a happy one. He stands at the
foot of unimportant committees and finds
the House running without any influence
from him. lie cannot even address the
House without previously consulting the
speaker and obtaining his promise to rec.
ognize him when he takes the floor; upon
which the representatives theoretically
stand equal; ; but practically it il
the man Of assurance and experience
only who gets his share Of attention
Modest worth has poor chance for ex,
hibition in the new member which oul
Republican fellow.citizens at home may
note and conclude to give Congressman
Hieatand another term; in his second term
he has secured postoflice, pc rhaps in a
third he may rise to great speech. Mr..
Brosius might rise to speak in a first
term, and we rather think he would 4;
but there is a chance that he might bt
sat upon for speaking not wisely but toe
well.