The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-02-13
The New Rules.

The New Rules.
The report of the majority of the com
mittee on rules, as we'll as that of the
minority, has been submitted to the
House, and is being discussed. A vote
was to have been taken yesterday, and
doubtless the majority report was adopt
ed.
There has been a great deal of very
foolish and very malignant comment on
the majority report. Whatever may
have been the usages of Congress in the
past, it is recognized by the country
that the time has come to put a stop to
merely factious opposition and the de-
lay in legislation by the interposition of
motions of a purely dilatory character.
1t is principle in our system of govern
ment that the majority shall vote, and
this principle should be made as appli-
cable to the House of Representatives
as in any other relation. The people
have commissioned the Republican
party to discharge important trusts, by
electing Republican President and a
Rep lblican Congress. That party is re-
sponsible for legislation, therefore, and
will be so held by the country. 1t will
be hell responsible for legislation, and
the manner in which it is enacted. 1t
is the earnest desire of the constituent
body that no unnecessary obstruction
should be interposed to block legisla-
ton, and that after reasonable discus
sion ard a fair statement of the argu-
ment on both sides of the question,
vote should be taken and the matter in
CONTROVERSY determined, to the end that
the necessary work Congress has to do.
may be performed and that body ad-
journ No one will deny that conten-
lions on the floor of Congress, and the
bitter feeling that is caused by partizan
discussion, seriously disturbs the bust
ness of the country, while there is no
possible compensation for this in the
unseemly wrangling of superficial politi-
clans, who give secondary consideration
to the interests of the people. The
power placed by the new rules with the
speaker to arrest mere factious and dill
atory motions by refusing to entertain
them, may be a departure from past
usages, but it is a departure that is in
| the line of common sense, common hon
esty and common decency. Under the
old rules, when a few reckless partizans
had the power to enact legislation, rem
der powerless the majority, and either
defeat useful measures or unnecessarily
delay action on them, no possible good
but much harm was effected. This was
bad politics as well as bad statesman
ship. If the majority propose improper
measures, such as would work harm to
the country, it would soon be discovered
by the people, and certain cOndemna-
ton would follow. A bad laws most eff
fective antidote is its enforcement. If
it is not promotive of the public good,
the public will soon find it out, and re-
buke the party that enacted it.
Under the new rules, quorum to
transact business consists of 100, whereas
before there had to be a ma ority of all
the members elected and voting. A
single member, by dlatory motions,
tOuitt Dloch 1eSlSldtlou, uOlu Ill cueCk
any important bill, and keep in suspense
the entire country by reason of partizan
contention Oh the floor of Congress. I'm
der the new rules, the Speaker has it in
his power to prevent this. While the
Speaker would not dare to refuse to en-
terrain a motion that was made in good
faith, he can, when it becomes patent
to every one that it is merely faetious
and dilatory, refuse to entertain it, and
in doing SO, will be doing his duty to
the country.
Under the new code, legislation will
progress rapidly. and Congress be pre-
pared to adjourn months before it has
been able to do so heretofore. Not only
will the session be shortened. but bills
will be acted upon, that otherwise could
not be reached, and the business of the
country relieved from the agitation and
excitement incident to protracted and
| contentious session of Congress-