The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-06
TAKE REEDS M. Y.
Republicans in Caucus Consider
Rules for the Government
Of the House.
Many Changes, the Alleged Reason
Being to Expedite the Bust
ness of Congress.
The session said 10 Have Been a stormy
One. Member, obiecting 10 the
Reed Code


was taken up. As each rule was read its
provisions were explained by Mckinley or
Cannon. There were freqeun, inquiries
for more detailed information as 10 the
effect Of the changes. The general report
of the committee was adopted without ma-
terial amendment. but there Wis at least
one important addition, viz: Pension leg
islation was placed in the privileged class.
and reports from the committee on invalid
pensions was made in order any time. THIS
change WIS made by "a vote of - 10 y.
Three calendars are provided for. ndrr
rulo 25 a new clause is added ms
follows. "Ou demand of any member
the names of the members present. but not
voting ON any call by the speaker of yeas
and nays, shall be noted by the clerk under
the supervision of the speaker. and be re-
corded III the journal. and recorded immc-
diately after the names of those voting in
the affirmative and negative, under the
head of present and not voting and shall
be followed by the names of absent mem
bets. which shall be entered under the
bead uf absent" This is in line with
Speaker Reeds ruling.
Rule'lG, clause I. reads; ''Whcn Qucs
tion is under debate. no motion will be re-
cen ed but 10 adjourn. 20 lay ON the table,
for the prey lous question, which motions
shall DC decided without debate: tu post
pone to a day certain. 10 refer. or 10 amend
OF postpone indefinitely. which several mo-
tions shall have precedence IN the foregoing
order; and no such motion being decided
shall be again allowed on the same day at
the same stage Of proceeding This section
is oimcd at iilibusterlng and changes the
old scc ion by striking out motions which
may b. received, those to fix thc day 10
which the house shall adjourn, and TO take
"a recess
In section :. samo rule. the provision that
motion 10 adjourn To n fixed day. to adj
iourn. and 10 take a recess shall ALWAYS be
in order. is stricken ont. But section 10 of
the same ulo carries the principle still
further, for as now the section reads. mo
dilatory motions shall be entertained by
the speaker.
Under rule II il is provided the previous
question may be mnde 20 include the bill To
its passage or rejection. The provision in
the same section of the old code that mo-
tions to lay ON tho table shnll be in order
on the second and third reading of hill is
omitted The principle of preventing
obstruction ~ again pnt IN operation III
rrle Is which j. gm 'nded as compnsod with
he old code 10y the estriklng out of questions
that mny intervene between n motion 10 re-
consider and vote, those TO adjourn 20 a
fixed day, and 10 take recess Section
one Of old rule 2l. which requires all bills
and joint resolutions 10 be read three times
before passing is stricken out.
Section >. of the same rule, forbidding
the inclusion in general appropriation bills
Of appropriations bv law OF by legislation
Is retained with the addition Of the exceI,-
tion in favor of such as being germane 10
the subject matter Of the hill shall be
deemed necessary in providing for the
carrying on of the several departments of
government and shall be recommended OF
moved by direction Of the committee re-
port ing the bill"
Rule q oluits the provision Of the old
rule, t0rbidding the amalgam8tion of two
pending resolutions, and treating the river
and harbOr and post route bills AZ prtitiOns
IN their lntroductions; another important
step 20 prevent hlibusterlug is found IN rule
90 which has reference to the introduction
Of bills. Under the former rules one mem
ber could on Monday prevent the transae-
tion OF business by introducing long bills.
new OF old, aud demanding their reading IN
full. thus consuming the day. Under the
present code no provision is made for bill
dny on Monday. aud whenever public bil
is introduced II shall be read 10y title only.
In rule -, section ., which requires the
committee of the whole tO rise when with
out quorum, clause Is inserted after tho
word quorum" ms follows: Which shall
consist Of 100 members"
What may be change full of sipnif-
canoe occurs III section Of the snn!e rule.
requiring certain measures to be considered
in committee of the whole. This Is in The
opening sentence which reads; "All mo-
tions or propositions originating either in
the house or senate, Involving a tax ur
charge upon the people, all proceedings
touching the appropriation Of money.
The words "oriylnating IN the house or sen
ate are newly inserted, and would appear
TO recognize the long disputed right of the
senate to originate tariff and Hppropriating
bills. Another important change in the
line of eypediting business occurs in SEC
ton 1, the same rule. which prcscribes the
order Of business IN commtteeol ol he whole
| The Chauge reads "Dr IN smell order rs
tie committee may determine, unless the
question 10 be considered WAS determined
by the house M the time of going INTO com
mittee." The effect Is - relieve the house
from the necessity of laying aside bills pre-
ceding IN order, the one which il is d, sired
to reach. which offered large opportunity
for obstruction.
Another change in the snme direction is
in section six. the same rule. which permits
the committee of the whole 10 limit or
opsn house for order. and f0rblds debate On
motion 10 close debate.
Rule q, order of business, is radically
different from the old .fulc. II provides
that after prayer and tho reading If the
Journal the order is as follows: Correction
OF the reference OF bills; disposal uf busi-
ness on the speakers table; unfinished husi
uess; morning hour for the disposal uf
ipparts from committees: motions to 20
ts.a fhp zfis.l g.
the uu Oh. to consider bills dclNnaled. or
der vi the day. After the disposal Uf the
business on the spenlcr's table. the uniiu-
isled business in which tue house nlay be
engaged at adjournment. except business IN
the morning hour. shall be- resumed and pt
the same time each day thereafter until dis
posed Of After the DISPOSAL OF uilhnNlled
business the c0mulltteelnay ~ order call mp
for consideration any bin reported on the
previous day. and on the house calendar.
When one committee has occupied tic
morning hour ON two DAYS. another COM
mitteo must be called. Aiier the morning
hour motions 10 20 into committee of the
whole 10 consider particular bill are IN
order.
Another change Of consequence occurs in
rule 2s which requires two-thrds vote TO
suspend rule. To this an addition -
made as follows: Except 10 fix a day for
tnt tuAalNtlallun NA b4lA VI if7NlNilhll
already favornbly reported by q committee
or motion directed TO be made by such
committee, which shall require only u rna-
iurity vote Of The house."
The caucus remained III session until
O'Clock. Great secrecy in regard 10 the
proceedings was preserved and every effort
vas mado 60 prevent tho action Of the
caucus from becoming public. While II i
stated that on every question presented
Al ftar tha taputh .af