New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-03
PROGRESS IN TIE HOUSE.

Great proCrcss toward better government mas
baon made during the last week. The Southern
Confederacy is not in the saddle again." as 1t
was when Mr. Carlisle was elected. For some
wears he has exercised power so arbitrarily Ill
behalf of Democrats that they get dreadfully
hot headed when any power is exercised con-
trary to their wishes. just as badly spoiled
child will kick and rave and scream when his
hands are tied Again and again, Mr.. Carlisle
defeated the known will of large majority OF
the House. including in some cases majority
of Democrats, by refusing recognition to men,
bers who endeavored to take up important
business Now the Democrats think it in
famous that Speaker Reed does not recognize
member whose declared object is to stop the
business of the House.
Apparently the Democrats are glad OF pre-
text for not discussing the West Virginia case,
as they have spent the time in ranting and
ravipC The case is one which they cannot al
ford TO place before the country on its merits.
1t is one of those notorious cases in which the
people elected one man and Democratic Gov
ernor then proceeded to elect somebody else.
The question before the House is whether the
bold thefts thus perpetrated shall be up
held. In every such case the House ought TO
sustain the members elected by the people, and
without unnecessary delay. At the same time
it would be wise to give the benefit of the doubt,
in every case where real doubt exists, to the
Democratic claimant, that it may be plain to
everybody that the measures deemed necessary
in order to get any business done at all were
not, as Democrats pretend, taken for the pur-
pose of securing any wrongful advantage IN
doubtful cases. 1t is commonly supposed that
the evidence in favor of Republicans in at least
half these contests is clear and conclusive, and
if the majority should decline to unseat Demo
Gratis in cases less clear it would gain in public
appreciation.
The members of tho House have been attend
ing to their duties with creditable fidelity this
week, scarcely member having been absent on
the Republican side without justification. Out
of 1GS Republicans elected, on nearly every
vote 1872 have been present and voting and one
other who was sick would have been taken to
the House at his own desire if it had been neces-
sary With the return of member from Wis
cousin. and another from the deathbed Of his
wife in Massachusetts. there should he this
week a clear majority of all the members
elected TO act upon the first contested case so
that no preteXt can be found for questioning
the action of the House in the courts, though
the decision by the Supreme Court of Indiana,
upon a question exactly parallel with that raised
by Speaker Reeds rulings, doubtless shows
what the United States courts would maintain
if the issue could be properly brought before
them. No member who respects himself or
his constituents will feel that he has any right
TO be absent at such time If he can possibly
attend
1t is not generally understood. perhaps, that
the laws governing all parliamentary bodies
and the standing rules adopted for the perma-
nent government Of the House. are in force
when the House has not adopted a special code
of rules for itself. But under this commo2
law of parliamentary bodies. as well as under
the code usually adopted, it is expressly re-
ouired that every member present shall vote
when his name is called, unless he has been OK
cused. This fundamental law is found in JEFF
ferson's Manual, long the standing authority
it is one of the Oldest standing rules OF the
House, adopted April 10, 1879. and has never
been questioned, though frequently violated
The right of a member to violate it deliberately
for the express purpose of defeating the per
Torrance of public business, is now for the first
time asserted by the Democrats, whose Unborn
and neradicable propensity TO rebel against
law inspires the party as much as it ever did.
Under Speaker Reed, lawbreallers will not be
suffered to rule the House by their deliberate
violation of the fundamental law OF all parlia-
mentary bodies.