The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-02-09
THE NEW CODE REVIEWED.
The Reports at the Majority and Minority
Made. Public.

u tkfbprFt~ az ~ NtaJsFty aus -
Made Public.
WASHINGTON. Feb. s.-Though not
formally presented i'm the house, majority
and minority reports upon the new code
of rules were filed with the Journal clerk
and ordered printed. In regard to the
rule authorizing the speaker to count IA
quorum. the report says: The process of
asccrtaining the presence of a quorum to
do business under the constitution would
ordinarily he under control of the speaker
who would derive his Information from
his own senses ar 10y aid of the clerk or in
any way which would satisfy his mind as
To the accuracy of the count. Under our
system of roll calls il has been deemed
nounce votes of members and the pres
ence of those who refuse tai vote at the
same time and 10y the same means.
Discussing the new clause to rule M that
no dllatory motion shall he entertained
by the speaker. the report says "this
clause is merely declaratory of the parlia-
mentary law. There are no words which
can be framed which will limit the menu
bcrs Ia a proper use oil the proper motions.
In early days such a prostitut,oi. 81 ieglti-
md zeal, but not so much as among the
Legislators to-day. The abuse has grown
to- such proportions that the parliament
tary law which governs assemblies has
found il necessary tn keep pace with the
evil and enable the majority 10y the inter
ventiou of the presiding officer to meet by
extraordinary means the extraordinary
abouse of power ON the part sometimes of
"A very lew nle1ltbcrS. III ~ grktteu tnat
this does not confer "a dangerous power.
AS the speaker will not dare To act i'm the
face of a majority against HIM.
Considering the question OF providing
that 100 nlcnlbers shall constitute "a quo
rum of the committee of the whole, the
report states that this change il made me-
ccssary by members refusing tn vote when
the roll IL called and points out the fact
that everything done in committee has to
he reported tn tli. use. and nothing
done il in any way final.
The minority report, signed 10y Carlisle
and BANDA reviews the proposed ode
and criticiSes many features. The minor
ity says: undc clause 4 of rule -, no bill
ON the house calendar can he reached for
consideration unless called up ~ the
committee that reported IL. and under
clause > Of the same rule no individual
memlp. A. can make an original motion for
the purpose IF considering amy particular
however. motion IL made by direction
of the coinmittss, To go into committee of
the whoIc on consideration ofa particular
bill. the individual membc may move to
amend II ny designating another bill.
This is the extent of his right under the
placed at n great disadvantage. The only
reasoIlaDle explanation FOR this discrini-
nation il that il il the policy Of the pro-
posed rules to suppress individual MEM
bcrs of the house as far as possible and
increase the powers of committees. In
fact, under the proposed rules an individ-
ual member will scarcely have the power
To make "a motion of amy kind except
when he acts "a "a representative OF "a
sttt ny ~ Ih'it
tive To the change in the rules governing
the committee of the whole. the minority
says: Ii has always been so universally
conceded that The committee OF the whole
il simply the house itself, that il has never
been considered necessary tn prescribe i'm
the rules what number of members is
necessary tai constitute n quorum in such
committee. The constitution requires N
majority of all member elect tai constitut.
"a quorum tai do business in the house. and
withou, any rule an the subject. the same
number has always been recognized
necessary i'm the committee of the whole,
In addition to this proposition to reduce
the number necessary to constitute a
quorum. il is also 10y m'diiici.
ton of the old rule - to confer upon
the committee of the whole power
TO close all debate on any
section or paragraph, of "a bill under CON
sideration. Such "A power has never been
heretofore given to the committees. bu'
has always been exercised by the house
make a change i'm this respect. especially
il 100 members are to constitute a quorum
i'm the ommitte On the subject per
hitting the speaker TO count a quorum
the minority says: This lis a most radica !
and i'm our opinion u most dangerous m
novation, roposed by the majority. II
agreed to, il will not only overthrow the
construction uniformly given tn the con
~stitution for more than "A century. but vii
enable less than n majority OF the repre-
~sentatives of the people to pas
most important laws, affecting tin
interests of the whole country
Personal and rights %
acted by the votes of the majority, ma.
he impaired or destroyed by the votes of
mere fraction Of the of congress
for. IL less than q majority may constitu