Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-11
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA.
A Plan to Discipline Representative
Weaver.
ITS ONLY DEFECT rs THAT IT CANNOT BE CARRIED
OUT UNLESS HE CoNsENTs-wHY DEMOCRATS
WANT TO CHANGE THE HOUSE RULEs-yEAIousY
OF THE SENATE.

the minority Of all power in the next House.
They see that there is more
DANGER TO THEM IN THE PRESENT SITUATION
than there could have been in permitting the
proposed change of rules to go through. Every
day illustrates how vicious the present rules
are, and it is certain to lead to a demand that
the rules be changed. This has become SO APP
parent that the democrats are anxious to make
change at once. The wisest among them see
that 1t would be far better for them to make
the change now so as to show that the minority
may be given power enough for self-defense
without being able to abuse it, than to wait
until the next Congress and meet the demand
that all power be taken from them. With this
In view they are consulting as to
THE BEST COURSE TO BE FOLLOWED.
The rule that they would adopt if they could,
would provide that no dilatory motion can be
repeated, except upon the demand of one-ffth
OF quorum. This rule they will probably
adopt If they can, even if the present deadlock
Is broken, by surrender of the House or by
other means. They see the necessity for this
change regardless, Of General Weaver or of the
interests of any particular bill. 1t is too evil
dent that the policy of non-action has been car
rled too far, and there is most decided dis
position to break away. But General Weaver
must be dealt with first, and
THE PLAN SPEAKER CARLISLE PROPOSES
to apply to him might be very effective if it
could be put in operation. 1t is to do away
with the 5-o'clock adjournment and to keep the
House in session until Gen. Weaver is worn out
10 hasten the breakdown of the dead-locker
the Speaker would make him stand as teller all
the while, though the teller on the other side
would be relieved from time to time. If Gen.
Weaver should ask to be excused from this
service the House would refuse to excuse him.
Iwenty-four or forty-eight hours on his feet
fha Srann l-lr% ia,
FATAL DEFECT IN THE PLAN.
Undoubtedly this would break the deadlock
in day or two, but the difficulty is that to do
this the rules must be changed, and Gen.
Weaver can filibuster against the change. The
only amendment to the rules he would agree
to would be such as would give his bill a
chance to be voted on. The majority are Just
beginning to wake up to the fact that by the
operation of the rules the House is almost
entirely deprived Of its rights as the prime
source OF legislation, and nearly all the
POWER HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE SENATE.
During this Congress scarcely a measure has
been considered under the rules and passed.
1t is only by unanimous consent and suspen-
sion of the rules that anything at all is done.
Necessity carries the appropriation bills
through, but no legislation can be put upon
them, no matter how necessary to the proper
expenditure OF the money, except in violation
OF the rules. So that while the constitution
provides that the House must originate all ap-
preparation bills, it is in fact the Senate that
does this. as they alone have power under the
rules to change the form of the bills and place
restrictions, extensions or any form of legis-
lation upon them. Whatever changes the
majority in the House wants to legislate as to
appropriations they must get unanimous con-
sent for, or else wait until the bill gets to the
Senate and have that body make the desired
change.
VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE RUSSELL.
Representative Russell, speaking on this sub
ject to STAR reporter. said that the result was
an absolute abdication of the House to the
Senate, and that instead Of the popular branch
OF the government growing in power. as our
fathers had expected it to, it had been gradu-
ally surrendering its power to the more aristo-
cratic body, the Senate. 'The Senate" he
said, composed principally of gentlemen of
great wealth, who have term of six years and
are not elected by the people, feels perfectly
independent to actregardless of the wish of the
people. To that body the rights of the House
are being surrendered"
This feeling that the House has lost much of
its power through the operation of the rules as
they have been adopted from time to time is
becoming very general.
IN THE CASE OF THE TARIFF,
it is asserted that the fact that the Senate is
preparing an entirely original tariff bill is an
encroachment upon the constitutional rights of
the House, which is encouraged by the general
course the latter has been following Some of
those members of the House who are not will
ing that this should go on, declare that when
the tariff bill comes from the Senate they will
move its reference to the judiciary committee
to have its legality tested, instead of sending it
to the committee on ways and means.
WHAT MR. WEAVER IS WILLING TO DO,
The House opened this morning without any
improvement in the state Of affairs. Gen.
Weaver began filibustering before the journal
was read, and the House was left in the same
helpless condition. He said to STAR
reporter that he did not object to
a change of rules to do away with the
5-o'clock adjournment. He might let them
do that and yet they could not wear him
out. If he were alone he could stand it; but
he was not alone. He was inclined to think,
though he had not yet fully decided. that he
would be willing to have the rules changed SO
as to require one-fifth of quorum
to repeat dilatory motion. Such a rule
would give the Oklahoma bill the chance they
wanted for it. He had no idea, however that
the other side would make such a proposition
to him. Any rule that would prevent his fill
clustering would also prevent others from fill
clustering against the Oklahoma bill.
BY RULING OF THE SPEAKER
it was held that the consideration of confer
ence rePort was Vi nlSner privilege than
motion to adjourn or fix a day for adjourn
ment. This enabled the House to proceed
with the conference report, but it does not
open the way to any other business. When no
conference report is before the House General
Weaver may go on with his obstruction to bust
ness.
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
Every effort is being made to induce Speaker
Carlisle to arbitrarily refuse to recognize
Weaver any longer for motions to adjourn,
&c. But if this can be done to Gen. Weaver
now it may be done to Mr.. Carlisle when his
party is in the minority. 1t makes more
dangerous precedent than the change of rules
to suit situation. 1t would also be- on Mr..
Carlisle's part, going back upon the position
he took in protesting against such arbitrary
action by Speaker Keifer. Some such extra
ordinary action seems, however, the only
thing that will make the House master of it.
self again.
TO ROPE THE AVENUE.