Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-15
Fixing Up the Code OF Rules Before
Adoption

The consideration of rules was proceeded
with. Cultivate of Ohio, offered an
anne endment striking out the clause consti-
tuting 100 members Il quorum in = commit,
tee of whole. He also offered an amend
ment to clause Of Rule %, which pro-
vides that "All motions or propositions or
iginating either in the House or Senate. in
v)lvinR q tax or charge upon the people be
first considered in 4 committee of whole. -
The amendment was to strike out the words
'Origina ing in the Hous, or Senate
Cultivate argued the Insertion of these
word would, by implication be against
the constitutinn) and acknowledge the right
of the Senate to originate Q revenue bill
The speaker. as chairman of committee on
rules, stated there was no such intention
on the part Of the committee. and at his
suggestion Cannon of Illinios, (Who has
charge Of the code) acceded to the latter
amendment. Adopted
Oulhwaites 6rst amendment, relative to =
quorum was lost. yeas 1856 nays l50.
Crisp of Georgia, moved to strike out
the clause conferrng upon the speaker the
power to count quorum. He argued that
such . conferring power was unconstitu-
tionsf. In order to show that such was the
side, he quoted from = circular marked
"Confids ntal." signed by Thomas B. Hen
derssn, chairman of the re publican caucus.
which was sent to every republican men,
ber, requesting each man to be present
rules till the end
Brosius of Pennsylvsnla in view of the
record of the democrats on constitutional
tt.,a ,ht,,.f ftA.lt tha
whether on su h questions that party was
worthy of credit before the people.
Reilly of Pennsylvania said he realized
fully how hopeless a task it was to say any
thing that would il A renee the result as to
the adoption Of these rules but he felt con-
strained to protest against what he regarded
as dangerous departure from an unbroken
line of precedents. He criticised the ma
jority for the course pursued BY them in
regard to the adoption of the rules. All
writer's on parliamentary law have recog-
nized the necessity of having an established
code Of rules, and the ffsmers Of the con-
stitution, recognizing the same doctrine,
conferred the most ample power on the
House in this particular. He then reviewed
the history of the House, showing from the
first congress to the present that every
House. no matter BY what party controlled,
had as the very frst action after organiza-
ton adopted a code of rules.
Amendment lost, yeas l26. nays 1856.
Mills of Texas moved TO strike out the
clause that no dilatory motions shall be en-.
tertained by the Speaker. Motion lost,
yeas l4I, nays l55.
La~ler of Illinois offered an amendment
providing that no member shall speak more
than ten minutes upon any subject until all
members who may wish to speak have
spoken. Lost
The hour of 5 having arrived, the Speak
er stated the previous question ordered on
the adoption Of the rules.
Springer Of Illinois inquired whether the
melton to recommit With instructions in
order had received q negative reply. The
| motion that Springer wished to submit vas
that the code of rules nov pending be re-
committed to the committee on rules, With
instructions to report to the House on Mon
day nex It the code of rules Of the last Con-
srese, with the following amendments !:
Add 10 Clause 5 of Rule Is: Provided that
. motion ito fx the day to which the Honse
adjourn" and . motion ito take recess, -
If made and decided in negative, shall not
be repeated again during the ssme lesisia.
tive day, unless seconded BY third Of the
members present
| No motion shall be entertained BY the
Speaker until the reading Of the journal
unless the reading 10 dispensed With. On
motion to approve the journal but one in
tervening motion can be entertained before
the question 10 put thereon. On suspen nsiou
days the Speaker shall entertain motions u
suspend the rules at so on each Of said
days to the exclusion Of all other business
The committee on rules may II any time
report on resolutions TO tx the time and
manner of considering measures on sh.
House calendar or On the calendar Of ths
lcommitfee Of the whole House on the Ssat<
of the Union and resolutions 70 reporset
shall be subject to debate for thirty min
uses. after which The quesion eaa b pu