Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON LETTER.
dTrem eur regular correspondent
Ex-Speakers Carlisle and Randall
have ably presented their case in the
minority report on the code Of Rulcs
which Mr.. Carlisle by his parliament
tary adroitness compelled The repub
lican majority of the House commit
foe on Rules to report much sooner
than they had Intended. II says OF
the clause in the proposed Rules au-
thorlzing the Speaker to count mem
bers not voting 10 mako a quorum
tsThis IS the most radical, and in our
opieaon, the most dangerous innova-
tion proposed by the majority. If
agreed TO, the personal and property
rights OF the citizens, protected heres
toforc BY laws enacted by the votes
of a majority, may be impaired or
destroyed by the votes OF u mere
fraction of the members o. Congress.
80. lnthe same way enormous
sums of money may be appropriated
from the public treasury for the most
Unconstitutional and improper pur-
poses. Any rule or practice
which enables the Speaker or the
clerk TO pass bills by counting MEM
bers present and not voting will ins
evitably result in destroying the con-
fdonce of the people in the integrity
of legislation. -
The Rules we're called up in the
House recently and nothing else is
to be done until they are disposed
OF. just when that will be cannot
be stated yet. The republicans seem
inclined to try to rush them through
and to have final vote taken very
sooh, but this, programme will be
vigorously resisted by the democrats
-who:insist upon ample time being
given for full and free discussion.
They have taken this stand, not be-
cause they expect TO defeat the adop-
tion Of the rules, bat that they may
have AN opportunity, through tue
medium OF speeches, 10 show up
every flaw in them, 20 that the
country may plsce the responsibility
where it belongs.
~
The.imperative need of more pub
lie buildings in Washington has been
much talked of in both ends of xke
Capiiol since Serator Morrili
], brought out the fact that $l2l 100 3
year was being paid out by the Gov
srnsue..t for rents in this city. and
that ewing to tho overcrowded con-
dition of the Government buildings
the. amount wae continuously IN
creasing. g'he sentiment IN Con-
gress seems 10 be in favor of erecting
the buildings uecossary to curry on
I the business of the Governmeni,and
ii iswNobable .hat early action viii
be taken in tho matter. This is par
..ticularly necessary in the case Of the
fiovernmont printing office, a ram
shackley, unhealthy old ra,-'rap
which will some day fall down and
kill several hundred OF It's sardine-
packed occupants if it is not replaced
by now building.
~
The republicans in Congress are a
long ways IRON being a happy fam
ily lust now. Senator Edmunds
threatens to resign from The Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs be-
cause resolution OF his was voted
down in executive session, while
Senator Sherman, chairman of the
committee, chuckles and says" lot
him g6.D On the House sido there
are oceans of trouble. Speaker
Rced is hopping mad because the re
uubli an caucus amended his code of
Rales by adding clause meking
!. pension legislation privileged at all
times, and 10 has intimated to M.
Carlisle through third party, that
If n democrat will move TO strike out
this clause enough republicans viii
vote with him to do so.
~
The hearings in the Ohio ballot
box forgeflss still so merriIy on.
Whatever the committee may do,the
impartial public has convicted Fora
ker and Halstead of trying to destroy
q nan's good pame with paper
which they knew to be forged.
~
Belief that...the new Rules are to
be adopted by tho House bas
brought = swarm Of lobbyistsof nll
descriptions to Washington in the
hope Of getting part OF the spolls.
This is the way the matter strikes
Representative Crisp, OF Georgia,
ono of the Hcst clear headed men
Of the Honse ssWhen you consider
the propositions for immense ex-
\ pondituros Of public money that are
being urged upon this Congress, and
that these Rules make tho way clear
for them, you do not have to bc .
* ~ Y 49, 4 X i ~, q vaax- = b e,d