The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-01-03
NATIONAL LAW-MAKING
BILLS ARE GENERALLY WRITTEN
BY LAWYERS.


tertaining Description of the Movem ents
of the Legislative Machinery.
Those who think that a Congress-
man can shove bill through both
houses by simply applying his
shoulder to the wheel of legislation
are much mistaken, writes Congress
man Amos j. Cummings, in the New
York San. It is job of infinite diff
ficulty. Not one in 200 passes both
houses and is signed by the President.
1t requires ripe practical experience to
steer bill through the tortuous chan
nels of Congressional legislation. Not
one member in hundred can do it.
The more brilliant he is the greater
his chances of failure.
Most bills are drawn up by lawyers.
A few constituents, however, write to
Congressman detailing what they
want and leave the framing of their
bills to him. There are blank forms
for the work in the stationery room.
An economic House taxes the Congress-
man two cents for each blank. Unless
unanimous consent is given, and this
can be only obtained by the courtesy
of the Speaker, bills must be intro
duced on Monday. The States are
called in alphabetical order, and mem
bers arise in turn and pass up their
measures. The call can be SUSPENDED
at any time by the House.
After it's introduction the bill is tenn
porarily at the mercy of the Speaker.
He refers it to whatever committee he
thinks proper. At times the members
demur to the reference, and even APP
peal to the House. Occasionally, how
ever, bills land in strange places.
Through accident or design a judicial
bill may land in the Committee on
Acoustics and Ventilation OF in any
other committee. 1t requires the
unanimous consent of the House to
shift it to its appropriate place.
once III committee bill enters it's
first stage in life. Unless enc of the
committee takes special interest in it
it may lie dormant throughout the ses-
sion. The chairman may exercise
baleful influence. He may refer it to
subcommittee of it's enemies, and
without more ado it may be strangled
Even If it passes the subcommittee, it's
fate in full committee is problematical.
Rarely is there full attendance at it's
meetings. They are usually held at 10
q. M, and die at noon, when the House
is called to order. This fuctuation in
attendance frequently gives chair
man power to kill bill. He may ad-
vance or delay it. If he desires to
have it pass, and the lines in commit
tee ale nearly and securely drawn, he
forces it to vote when its friends are
in a majority. If he wants it killed
he waits until they are in minority.
Measure Of national Importance are
often squelched in this way.
So much for the consideration of
bills in committees. The power there
is frequently almost arbitrary. Even
the action of committee may virtu-
ally be nullifed by the member Sc
lected to make the report to the House.
He may spring it into the House at an
untoward moment, or he may delay it
until it is too late in the session to Sc
cure action. There are other him
ORANGES, unless committee is priv
LEGGED The privileged committees
can make report at any time. They
include those on Ways and Means, on
Appropriations, on Rules on Printing,
and on Enrolled Bills. All others re-
port Tuesdays. The Speaker calls
them in their ratio of Importance. The
call can be passed over or suspended at
any time by order of the House. When
bill is reported it takes it's place up
on the calendar It has now reached
it's second stage of existence. If it
carries an preparation or thinkers with
the revenues it must be considered in
committee of the whole. It may re-
main upon the calendar to the end of
the second session without coming be-
fore the House in regular order. Mem
bers in the good graces Of the Speaker
may secure recognition and ask unani-
nous consent to consider it. Some
one, however, is sure to object, unless
the bill is either of the utmost insig-
nificance or of vital Importance to the
country. If it makes an appropriation
half dozen "watch-dogs" stand ready
to pounce uron it.
Another chance for it's consideration
is on what is known as Suspension
DHy. Au1S OCCuLS Ou Gl0 uTSU ana
third Mondays in each month. The
first Monday rests with individuals,
and the third Monday with commit
tees. The last six days Of the short
session are also Suspension Days. On
such days the Speaker usually recog-
niZes four members, if the time allows,
two Democrats and two Republicans.
The member recognized moves to
suspend the rules and take up bill
in which he is interested. It the mo-
ton is backed by twothirds vote,
the bill is taken up. The recogni-
lions, however, except on days set
apart for committees, are at the will
Of the Speaker. AS soon as the House
is organized experienced members rush
to his desk and put their names on the
suspension list. They are taken down
by clerk in tAe order of application.
New members rarely get the tip. IF
they do get it, it seems that they more
rarely get the recognition. The list is
supposed to be of some service to those
whose names appear upon it. Mem
bers periodically murmur and grumble
over it. It appears to be an indefinite
quantity in Legislation. It it confers
any special privileges the old members
usually get them, and not the new