New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-10
THIS Is THE POINT.
CAN ONE WHO SHIRKS HIS DUTY COUNT
MORE THAN ONE WHO DOES IT?
A PLAIN STATEMENT OF THE LAW AND THE
FACTS WITH REGARD TO SPEAKER REEDS
RULING AND TIE DEMOCRATIC con.
TENTION UPON 1T.

Washington. Feb. s.
try should fully understand the nature OF tie oatte
that has bcen going ON between the Republicans and
the Democrats in Congress during the past ten days
II Is a novel battle. II concerns highly important
principals and the issue Of it will have marked
effect upon Congressional methods hereafter
Each Congress. from the beginning, has adopted a
body rules for It's procedure based upon the geherdi
principles Of parliamentary law but adapted Ill 'er
details TO our own peculiar system. These rues'
during hundred years Of growth, have become voluml-
nous and often inappropriate. In some ways they are
conflicting, in many Instances they are obscure. re"
Congressman understand the half of them, and not
more than half in general application To-Day.
Cushing remarks. in closing his great work on
American parliamentary law The great purpose OF all
the rules and forms by which the business oil legS-
lative assembly is conducted, whether CONSTITUTIONAL
legal or parliamentary in their origin Is to subSerVe
the will Of the assembly. rather than to restrain III
to facilitate and not obsuct the expression oil us
deliberate sense II will not be undertaken I'd uehy
this selfcvidcnt propositions but rules OF Congress nave
become 50 confused and numerous that members WHO
have chosen 10 ignore TIN, principle have been easily
aide by artful application Of the rules to hod Ooh'
gress in a legal vice and to obstruct all business
cGectivey-n other words, to Use them for jlst tho
very end they wcrc framed to avoid
When this Congress met. speaker Reed appointed tho
Committee on Rules promptly and no other intention
was entertained by the Republicans than to report inc
old rules, with addition or two, Immediately Nr'
Reed was intensely anxious 10 get the House organ
lied and at work. to make short session, as
tingui,hcd for its good legislation quickly done His
early appointmcnt OF the Committee Rules was
token Of that purpose. BAT it came to the ears
q the Republican leaders that the Democrats had
decided on policy Of obstruction. Threats were
freely made that they would not allow anything TO be
accomplished. but proposed to astcn the dSrcpue OF
"douoihng Congress" upon the Republican party.
Their opportunity 10 do this was rarely favorable
The Republicans bad but 16S members three moro
than a quorum. surprising that all should at all
times be present under the old rules it would be easy
10 delay action Unfortunately by ntcrpo,ing insinccre
motions. old hand, AZ hlbu~tcrnc. such a Springer
and Glount hy pro-ttutnc the rules to the purposes
Of obsruction could easily restrain the action OF 80
small a majority a., IG5 While. If as many as four
Republican, should happen 10 be absent and that
many were almost sure. for reasons wholly beyond
their control 70 De absent AT all tmesthc majority
under an old custom Of determining the presence Of
quorum bi rolclll, would be always at the mercy
Of the minority.
The roll call Is peculiarly American institution
As a mean, Of taking the sense Of the House, 1t IS
unhcard Of abroad. II va, adopted here for the cx
cccn purpose Of fastening upon members their proper
responsibility 10 the people. Gradually, however in
the House 10 became the test Of the presence or alb
-cncc ~ a qu0-um-a secondary function, for which II
Wa not originally conceived. Neither in parlia-
racn,ary aw nor IN the rules Of the House j. this
r''''''' ''' ,''" ''''''', ,'''7 49,, ~,
'''' IN "' "',.'' -. ~, Loan,
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..... W, nth cav, ,lyr,vs
number me r''''''' '' ''''"'' W. "'''-"
Doe a-,.f.lilcd lv coIntns. TIL, /, usually done
after TIE assembly q, constituted. by it, presiding
''" WV a.. ~, ..,.a, % no tha
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"' ''I''"' avn ' a.. .,
"'N H'"-.'|'u '' p'" va, ' .,'
7I''N" h''' ~ '"''' ~ 'I', ''' ''.' ,, 1',.
"'''l "',N'' 90 ''." ~ Wv I .,.. o,..r
% '"' 3" '''
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~
"''''' prosecute 800
h'''- '''"' '', I''. " :.
seriously contemplated u' 'i' democrats 10 l"ucc''
bad not been definitely d"cd'd uI"h' VT. k'eo ana
b., advisers concluded I'd SUBJECT 'c on r"'rs -
thorough examinations -" TO- 10 ascertain ITO" ''' '''
were obsolete, ana -'iFI'''h' h'' - an a." u" AZ '''
but a. means 90 Impeding a''I'h Inc u'uai Gus
tom q" ''ntfr''' pending '"' report 81" ''o
on Rule, I' {" adopt tI' "'' ones '."P''"'"' i"'
Observance IT u'' custom inc D,"0
Gratis Intended 20 o'''H''' ""'u nave o'o" i"'
% all legislation, ana tAr h'pub"'dh F"''' uo'''"
Therefore that until the committee iHH got H' hc"
report ready Confre,' should get along without any
special laws for it- guidance beng 'oh'roHe" oS
those principles OF pr''".e "I'Nefs'"y '''o'D'A'u OS
., . - ,..., ,, that tbov had acted wisely
u WIZ '''" ''" ' '' " =, ~.
Tie Democrat, manifested a profound 'hagrlh thal
,l ,,, ,,d.~ ,l,ii f.v had "a pccicd 10 nllblstcr
49,, a.. a., ,a, ,hcv
were Not permitted t'h' II""" "N w. "'' NV
attempted Obstructive tactic, based on the old rules,
,, W. pc.t ni,,Idlv declared them out Of order and
80 .., il, ,ll,..,,i,,,. uu.jnese
''' H'''' vent %" VII" ~
was moving rward rapidly. mich important "tl'
LATIN, va. Distributed among the appropriate com
, g.. ... .,.,,,r.,t IN thc delight OF
m'''''' ''" 'l "'' @''' 'PI"'"' 80
the Republicans and 10 the disgust oil Inc Democrats