The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-02-06
Several Radical Changes Madein the Order Of
Business, and Especially in Regard to
Reporting Pension Legislation.
Strong Precautions Taken to Prevent
Filibustering by DilatOry Motions.
Mr.. Reeds Quorum Ruling Incorporated with
Slight acknowledgements Meet and
Agree to Ask Time for Discussion.
TIE NEW HOUSE RULES.

knoy VIII EucCSuoAy Csc
and Tend to Quicken Legislation.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The Republican
caucus to-day lasted until nearly 2 o'clock.
The discussion, while earnest, was at
all times harmonious. The entire eau
Gus was devoted exclusively to the cOnsid-
Grafton of the proposed code of rules.
Briefly summing up the entire action of
the caucus 1T can be said hat the most i'm
p~Ortant decision was the rejection of the
second clause of Rule 81, by which it was pro-
posed by the committee to engratt ger
name" measures on appropriation bills.
Mr.. Adams of Illinois moved to strike
out the clause. The principal objection was
thai the term "germane" was susceptible of
very different construction In the mouths
of different men. Mr.. Cannon, of the COM
mlttee, defended it. Speaker Reed took
but little part in the entire discussions of
the caucus.
The clause that brought out the most
discussion, though not in itself the most
important, was one that added the commit
tee on invalid pensions to the list of COM
mittees having leave to report at any time.
This committee was added when it reported
for the purpose of general pension legisla-
ton. The debate turned mainly on questions
of policy and order of the relative standing
of general pension legislation underthe scope
afforded by the new code. it being commended
on the one hand that to cucumber still fur
Their the list of committees thus authorized
would gain for this special committee no
practical advantage, while on the other
hand it was held that such action was only
proper and right, as the redemption of the
pledges of the Republican national plat
form of 1888. 1t was finally adopted, after
q very long discussion, and then there was
tories for the purpose only of reporting
bills for the admission of new States.
The most sweeping changes are those In
Rule "a, relative to the. new order OF busl-
ness. Under this rule the morning hour is
severed, and provisions are added which,
while apparently intricate. will. in effect,
when taken with the other rules. tend to
simplify and expedite the consideration of
public business. Another marked change
is the one by which COMMITTEES reports are
placed, upon the Speakers order, upon the
appropriate calendar.
Clause 8 of Rule Is incorporates the
Speakers recent ruling of a visible
quorum. with the difference that, on any
members demand, the Clerk shall report
to the Speaker the names OF member pres
ent and not voting. Filibustering is guard
ed against by taking away in effect from
the motions to adjourn to a date fixed and
to take a recess, the precedence they now
have over other motions. The clause that
will cause the most savage debate in the
House and the most desperate resistance by
the Democrats is this: 'No dilatory motions
shall be entertained by the Speaker"