The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-09
RULES OF THE HOUSE.


Made bS speaker Reed
wAsmNGroN, Fcb. S.-Althoueh they
were not formally presented in the house
the majority aud minority reports upon The
new code o( rule, flied with the journal
clerk We're ordered printed. In regard 10
the rule authorizing the speaker of the
House io count a0gorGm. the report slYs;
Tho procuss of ascrIiainiup the prrstnce
oi quorum i1 DO husippsS under tho cuu-
,tituton would ordinarily be- under the
control of the speaker. who would derive his
Information from hi, own scnses or by the
ana ol the clerk. or ln ANY way which would
satisfy his mind as a. the accuracy ut the
count. Under our systUlu oi roll call II has
II en- deemed MOte convenient tu nsCcrtalu
and announce the votes 0f Tie members and
the prVseucc oi those Who refuse to yutc AZ
the same time and bv ihr same m,aus,
Discussing the new clause 10 rule ~, thn'
mo dilaiuN motion shall be entertained hy
The SPEAKER. ihe report saYs. 'lhl, CLAUSE
Is merely deciaratury of parliamentary law.
There Hrr no words which can bee framed
which will limit menbcrs tu the proper use
oi proprr nuti0ns. ln the enrN days such
pt0stliNiion of legitimate motions rau,od
by anger, wiliuiness aud party zeal worr
not ~ much abused ~ among the lrgislH-
''fAN ~ fN7ANNE Wv NNNN" ANfiN NINMlA ~
such plopurlluu. that parliamentary law
which governs American assemblies has
found u necessary ~ keep pace with the
rNil and enable the majority lv The inter
Neniipn OF the presiding officer. 10 meet hN
cNiraufdinafN mems extraordinary use ut
power on the part, sometimes. of u very few
members II is argued thai This does not
confer dangerous power. as n speaker will
not darc act IN the face oi majority against
him."
Considering tie question of prN idine
ihhi lh members shall constitute quorum
oi the committee of the whole thp report
states That thus change WAS made la c,.,s0ry
10y members refusing to vote when the roll
was called: aud points ont the fuci that
everything doue ia committee of the whole
has iu he reported 90 the house aud that
hulhlng done IN amy way IL hnal.
Inc minority rrpuuslgned 10y Carlisle and
hahu''ll reviews The proposed code. and
cfiticlhcs many features. The minority
report SAYS, under clause A. of rule -. no
bill on The house calendar can be reached
Tor consideration unless called up hy the
committee that reported II. and under clause
., same rule, no individual member can
make an original motion for the purpose Of
considering any particular hill IN commit
tee ot the whole: when, however. motion
has been made hy direction of
the committee 60 gu into com
inliteo of the whole cn consideration
Of particular bill, an individual member
may move 10 amend IL by designating
another bill: this N The extent of his right
under the proposed rule. ID - evident he
VIII be placed at great disadvantage. The
only reasonable explanation for this dis
elimination ia that II in the policy of the
proposed rules 10 suppress individual mon-
beers OF the house and 30 far MS possible in
crease the powers Of committees. In fact.
nnder the proposed rules an individual
member will scarcely have the power IL
make q motion ot any kind except when he
acts ~ the representative of committee
and by It's directions"
helntNe Ia the change IN the rule,
governing the committee of the whole. th,
minority report snys: at always has bern
so universally conceded that the comniitte,
OF the whole is simply the house itself, that
u aeNer has hoen considered necessary b.
prescribe In the rules what number OF mem.
bers is necessary TO constitute . quorum IN
such committee. The constitution requires
that majority of all the members-oleci
shall constitute n quorum 90 do business IN
ne house, and without any rule ON the sub
Jecl, The snne number hns always been
recognized As necessary in committee of the
whule. In hddiiipn 10 this proposition 10
reduce the numbrr necessary to ronsiliutu
g quorum II IL also proposed by the mod-
hcaiinn al old rule - tu confer upon the
committee of the whole the power 10 close
Az debate on any section or paragraph OF a
bill under consideration. Snch power has
never been heretofore given tn committees,
bnt always has been exercised by the honse,
and in our opinion II would be unWise to
make change IA this respect. especially IL
lol members are ia constitute a quorum IN
committee
TN the subject ut permitting the speai1cI
10 count quorum, the minority saws
inns most radical aud, m our opinion,
most dangerous InnOyni iou, proposed by
the majority. il agreed 10, will not onl,
overthrow the construction uniformly uiyon
To the constitution for more than century
hut WIZ enabl" less than majority OF the
rcprt seniailNrs of the people TO pHss The
most important laws affecting The interest.
oi the Who'll, country. he personal and
property rights of citizens. protected
heretofore bY laws enacted bN
the Nutcs Oi the minority. mn,
bo impaired or destroyed by the votes of 4
mere fraction of members ot congress-, for
IL lc7A ih1i, q majority may cOnstituiionnlly
pass Il nl'tauto IN thr house of cdnrse fhi
same thug irnN be- done IN ilIc scnntr. IN
HE sninn way enormous sums oi money ma,
ne appropriated nom the public TREASURY fol
iho most Unconstitutional pnfposes, and the
interest ~ uiNpaNers completely snhor.
dhalcd 10 The selfish demands of priyat,
individuals and corporations. Without Gu
teriug here into n discussion Of the consii J.
iuti"nnl questions involved IN this PROPOSE.
ton, We earnestly protest against IL ~
ni"Ihur ol tie most dangerous and reYolu
tioury character
The proposed clause allowing the speaker
10 iciu'r io entertain a motion wtirh h,
may cons'dcr dllaiory. Is absolutely neon.
sisirnt WITH ihe Oihei prDN isiDns uI tir rule
which provides that nombers shall hnV
hc right 10 make 0eniu Wotiuus. and al
the san" tmo provide h0i the speaker ua,
reiutr to cnt' flaiu thcn. aud may also ro-
l0se 10 culcrinn nH appeal from his de-
eisiun. ius IA simply tu place ihc Who'll.
ia" ~ TIE hOu-e. ~ fNr aA q parliamentary
motion b. concerned, n the hands ri the
presiding officer"
Accused tI Uruuhruup..