Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-07

Between the times that they are occupied in
running after offices for their constituents the
republican Congressman are thinking very
seriously Of the trouble they may have before
them in getting the House in working order
All the speakership candidates, while
they are keeping very quiet, are hard
at work. There is general feeling that
there should be an extra session of Congress in
September or October, but there are several
members, like Mr.. Butterworth, who are OPP
posing the proposition to meet before Decem-
Der. Mr.. Butterworth has advised the President
against it. The most common expectation
points to An early session. The idea is that
they will have to start early because they are
apt to have very interesting time before
them.
AS VERY ACTIVE CANDIDATE FOR SPEAKER,
Mr.. Burrows, Of Michigan is much interested
in the matter Of organization.
A STAR reporter asked him to-day what he
thought of the danger of a deadlock on the
very opening Of Congress over the adoption of
rules for the House and the settlement of con-
tested election cases.
"Our majority is very small" he said, "and
there is undoubtedly great danger of getting
checked at the start. We have about three
majority"
The elections in the new states will probably
increase tits to six or seven. In order to do
anything every man will have to be in his seat
On the most trying occasions it is seldom in the
history OF Congress that many more than that
number have not been absent. In order to
have a quorum there
WILL HAVE TO BE BINDING AGREEMENT
entered into. every man pledging himself to
be in his seat at twelve o'clock and not to leave
the hall of the House until there is a recess or
adjournment. OF course if the sessions had to
be cut down to two hours day more progress
could be made than in ten hour sessions with
out a quorum.
But even with this agreement there is the mat
ter Of sickness which may keep members away
are disposed to fight over the adoption
of new rules and the settlement of the con-
tested election cases, and they determine to
filibuster there is a block at once. I think
there is great danger in it. All parliamentary
law recognizes the right to make motions to
to take recess. Now, by repeating these mo-
tions,
THE HOUSE MAY BE HELD PowERLEss
Why, could take such man as Sam Randall
and by using these motions we could prevent
the swearing in Of members and hold the House
unorganized for the full term Of two wears.
We could dismantle the government. Now to
prevent such thing is serious question. It
is a question whether it would be better to
make these motions, thus running the
risk OF embarrassment in the future,
or to run the risk of obstruction and take the
responsibility. This is question to be settled.
l have my own ideas about it. But it is no easy
problem. assume that the present rules Of
the House will not be adopted as temporary
rules, but that We will open under general par
liamentary rules and organize. A committee
of rules will then be appointed to draw up
rules. Now, if when they report there is a
feature Of the new rules that the
| minority do not like, and they
| undertake to flibuster to prevent its adoption,
what sthen is to be done? II allowed to make
| the recognized motions to adjourn and take a
| recess without restriction.
THEY COULD PREVENT THE ORGANIZATION
Of the House. The question is now, would not
the presiding officer under the circumstances,
the House not yet being formed,
be justified in announcing, after the
| ilibuster had gone far enough to be pronounced,
that he would not recognize any one to make a
dilatory motion, even in the form Of motion
| to adjourn. Might he not hold that
the House could not be held in q
half organized state, and that II
must become body organized and capable Of
doing business before even an adjournment
should be in order? This done firmly and
fairly after good reason, it seems to me might be
| warrantable without q breach Of parlamen tary
law. Otherwise the government might be dis
mantled and brought to chaos. There must be
new rules or We shall be tied hand and foot"