Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-18


ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
BOSTON, February 17.-Rev. Joseph Cook
delivered his third prelude and lecture to-
day, and his remarks ELECTED more applause
than at any previous time. The prelude
was On minority rule in Congress. In it the
speaker said:
Prof Brice saws that no assembly in modern
times can have power unless it is representa-
tive. All the authority of the Speaker comes
from the House, and that of the House comes
from the people. We have on this continent
no slave and no King. do not fear that the
government OF the people. for the people and
by the people is to become government of the
people by the Speaker and for the Speaker.
But it is important that the Speaker should be
governed by a set of rnles that the people un-
derstand and approve and will support When,
3 rule OF procedure is under discussion we
ought 70 examine the proposed reform as we
should proposed constitutional amendment.
THE RULES ANALYzED.
What are the rules proposed2 First, mem
bers must vote unless they.hav pecuniary in
terest in the question at issue. Second, the
dignity of the House and rights of members are
given precedence over every question. except
motion to adjourn. Third. lO0 shall constitute
a quorum in the committee of the whole
House. Fourth, members present but not
voting, may be counted as part of the quorum.
Fifth, no dilauory motion shall be entertained
by the Speaker.
On the last two rules the debate principally
turns A few remarks need be made First
This new code is revolutionary 1t has been
the Interpretation Of Congress that the number
presents is to be ascertained by a roll call; if
member does not allow his name to be reported
on the call he is constructvely absent. There
may be visible quorum, but not a constitu-
TlODal OuOrum- But IT aDDpars to he splf-cOn-
tradlctlon that man may be present for OBJ
struction and not present for business. The
changes produced in the new code do revolu-
tionize the proceedings of Congress. Second
The new code, though contrary to precedent is
not contrary to legal decisions. Such de-
cis1on was given by Chief Justice Doe in the
State of New Hampshire, in which all the
other Justices concurred.
CLEARLY CONSTITUTIONAL.
The chief force of the arguments of the op.
ponents of Reed has been in the citation of the
opinions of eminent Republicans But it is
affirmed by every friend of the new code that it
is legal according to recent decisions and not
contrary to high judicial precedents. Third
II is not contrary {, the practice of several of
the State Legislatures Fourth-It is thor
oughly in accordance with the practice of the
British Parliament. You can send out whips"
bring in quorum, and so do business. Fifth
The new code is certainly constitutional. The
Constitution says that majority of each
mouse snail De a quorum, DQL not present and
voting" 1t has been said that the Constitu-
tion does provide for the roll call in certain
cases. but how is the roll call to be ordered by
''One-ffth of quorum" unless the Speaker
has ocular proof that the quorum is present to
furnish its fifth. SiXth-The new rules i'm
mensely facilitate business.
What is the great matter at stake in this de-
bate? Contested election cases. Twenty-seven
districts in the South send representatives to
Congress, in which districts it is notorious that
there is nolmajority of Democratic votes; these
q counties balance q Northern Representa-
tives. Congress will not lie down forever un-
der this gigantic fraud.
TIME FOR REFORM.
Now is the time to weed ont fraudulent Rep
resentatives when the Republican party has
majority in both houses, as well as the Presi-
dent Southerners have threatened to dead
lock Congress for a year, and under the old
code they might have done it; but under the
new rules dilatory motions will not be enter
tanned. SeYenth.-This new code fasten
responsibility on majorities, and does not in |
wade the rights of minorities. The Speaker
has placed in his hands more power than is |
necessary TO expedite business and fix respon-
sibility the majority. We are governed in this
country by Congressional committees. and eau
cuses; in England the Government is parlia- |
mentary, not Congressional. Both systems are |
representative. Some think we should adopt |
The English plan. Reeds committees do not |
make such reports and all Republicans ap-
prove. As Brice says the system OF commit
tees undermines the value Of debate. The |
American system does not develop men like
Gladstone and Bright Our American diff ]
Guilty is TO fix responsibility for mischief; in
seeking to do this we are led back to commit
tee, and there we are lost. With the new
powers given to the Speaker the majority is re-
spOnsible for his decisions.
THE TEST OF A GOOD RULE.
You make debate more important on the
large floor of the House, and do more to bring
out leaders and to counreract petty schemes
that do great injury, and so fix responsibility
more clearly because power is more largely
concentrated. But we should see clearly that
the rights of the minorities regarded. This
protection to mlnorites is one of the promi-
nent features Of our American institutions; the
basis Of representation in the Senate cannot be
changed If little Rhode Island objects
You give one-thlrd of the Senate power to
break up treaty arrangements which foreign
Governments have made with our Cabinet.
One-third of the States can block the most nee
essaTy amendment to the Constitution, and this
principle extends to the State Legislature as
we'll A President can veto bill and thus
block Congress, unless the bill Is carried over
his head by very large vote.
Now these new rules are not likely 70 trample
on any State or party The two tests Of a good
rule are that 1t shall work well both ways and
that il shall be constitutional. believe the
rulee are constitutional The new code will
work well under the Republican party; but the
supreme test will be when it comes into the
hands Of the Democrats May the better man
win.
BALLOT REFORM A NECESSITY.
After prayer by the distinguished evan
gelist, Munhsll, in which be gave thanks
that me lecturer "had backbone, and that
it was in the right place." the lecture fol-
lowed, its subject being ballot Reform
State and National" The lecturer said:
When faith in fairplay elections is lost the
only alternative is an appeal to arms. II the
path TO political preferment is to lead often in
this country through bribery. force and fraud,
q, it is not too much 70 say that free government
is farce and its future likely TO be a tragedy.
question, This country has 20 per cent more
arabic land than China Therefore, we can
maintain as large a population. We are the
Nealthiest nation on the globe to-day. Now
gTabbag the greater the temptation to greed
and fraud and the more necessity for ballot
reform and for conscientiousneSs in the ad.
ministration of elections.
DANGEROUS ROCKS AHEAD.
Several facts in recent American politics
illustrate the need of greatly enlarged at
tention to methods for securing purity Of the
ballot box. First-Each of the great national
parties accuses the other Of having recently
seated President by fraud. The Republican
platform Of 1888 says the Democratic party
owes its power to a criminal notification of na-
tional laws 10 protect the purity of elections
II this set of facts were the only indication that
rocks are ahead we should do well to look out
Two hundred millions or three hundred millions
OF people are soon going to live in this country;
the prizes are therefore rapidly increasing in |
value and make insane political trlcksters and
dizzy statesmen. Second-Eight millions OF
blacks in the South are denied their political
rights guaranteed to them by the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth amendments of the Constitu-
ton, This fact taken alone, ought to be !
enough 70 bring us to pause for long reflection.
We are so accustomed to this state of things
a & m of he of ha