St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-11
REEDS NEW RULES.
The Tyrannical Code Is Reported
to the House.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-In the house
to-day the debate on the code of rules
was begun. The journal of Thursdays
proceedings was approved-yeas 149,
nays 1.-The speaker counting quorum.
Fridays journal was also approved,
The conference report on the bill to re-
move distractions from the Missouri
river was agreed to. CAS- agreed to, the
bill appropriates $4,000 for the re-
moYal of snags from the Missouri river
and $4,000 for the improvement of the
mouth or the Columbia river). Mr..
Cannon. of Illinois, from the committee
on rules, reported back the new
proceeded to consider it. 1t was under
stood that for to-day the debate
should be carried on without limitation
and no arrangement was arrived at as
to when the discussion should termin-
ate. Mr.. Cannon explained the provis-
ions of the code. and stated that of the
forty-seven rules which governed the
last house tWenty-nine were reported
without material change. The changes
were such as would enable the
WILL OF THE MAJORITY
to be ascertained and expressed, con-
sistent with fair and deliberate consid-
GRAFTON, In the last congress, he said.
not per cent of the business on the
calendar had been considered. The
people demanded code of rules that
would enable majority of the repre-
sentatives of the people to register their
will in the shape of law. He defended
the proposed change prohibiting the
speaker from entertaining dilatory mo-
lions, and denied that the proposed rule
was tyrannical; but if it was.
then it was tyranny sustained
by the majority of the house.
If he had to choose between the
tyranny of constitutional majority,
responsible to the people, and the
tyranny of al irresponsible minority
he would stand by the constitution. and
so act as to let the majority rule. Re-
ferriDg to the rule permitting the
speaker to count quorum, he said that
If the Democrats wanted to go to the
country as against the principle con-
tanned in the rule. the Republicans were
ready to meet them and let the people
choose. Mr.. Cannon reviewed the other
changes in the code, and commended that
their effect would be to facilitate the
transaction of business. Mr.. Mills
claimed that the code of rules was
founded on the principle that the ma
jority was divinely constituted and
cOulu 90 no WRONG, Rul6S were not IN
tended alone to facilitate business: they
were intended to protect the rights 8
the minority, and they had always done
so from the beginning of the govern
ment. 1t was upon
THE SOBER SECOND THOUGHT
of the people that the government
rested. Rules were intended to make
the house pause, deliberate and in some
instances GO back. Mr.. Bayne, of Penn
sylvania, argued that the proposed code
of rules would facilitate the transaction
of business, and prevent small minor
ity multiplying the will of the majority.
He argued at great length in support
of the constitutionality of the rule per-
uniting the counting Of members pres
ent and not voting to make quorum,
and he cited decisions of state legis-
latures, and many legal decisions as
well in support of this position. Mr..
Blount made an argument against the
proposed code, dwelling especially on
the rule making 100 members quorum
of the committee of the whole. After
further discussion, the house at :s5
adjourned.