Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-07
Sneaker Reeds Rules.

In his little speech preceding his de-
claration that the Fifty-frst Congress had
expired by constitutional limitation, Mr..
Speaker REED took occasion to refer indi-
yectly TO the new rules which the Republi-
can members had adopted for the govern
ment of the proceedings of the House OF
Representatives. 1t was to these rules he
alluded when he declared that the House
of Representatives about TO come to an
end had devised a method of doing the
work which they were sent to Washington
20 do. He also alluded to the same rules
when he spoke of legislatinCin t. interest
Of the peoples rights-that is 20 say, of
the Republican party as represented in
the South by the negro population.
The rules of which Mr.. REED thus boast
ed, or pretended to be proud, have not the
force of law. 1t has been decided again
and again that when new House of Re-
representatives. assemblies it has no rules for
Its government except Of even this may be
excepted) the general parliamentary law;
for the Constitution of the United States
confers upon each house of Congress tho
power to make its own rules. The last
House of Representatives met without any
code of rules for regulating its proceed
ings.
Awaiting themselves of this condition OF
things, the Republican members made
rules TO suit emselves-amongst others,
the famous one under which Speaker REED
passed 30 many bills by counting quorum
ms present when no quorum had voted.
He is charged with having counted rs
present members who were not even in the
body of the hall; and We suppose there is
no reason to doubt-what is charged
against him--that he deputed his power to
make mp a quorum by counting TO one of
the clerks who sat near him.
viii the Democrats of the next House of
Representatives, who will have q very large
majority in that body. continue in force Mr..
RxKD's rules? We have sometimes thought
that II was not In human nature for them
TO omit to avail themselves Of the power
which their opponents used 30 relentlessly
in the House Of Representatives which has
Just passed into history. Power is ever
stealing from the many to the few" The
people allow their servants to engage in
the work of strengthening the hands OF the
thieves. Indeed. the people sometimes de-
sire their representatives TO go further IN
the work of retaliation than these latter
are disposed to EGO. Revenge is sweet I"
70 the masses, and the representatives of
the masses are sometimes not slow to 60 TO
the full length Of their tether when they
ind convenient and plausible opportuni-
ties.
80 we cannot foretell whether the Demo-
Gratis Of the next House of Representatives
viii cause the new rules TO plague their in
ventors or not, though we have expected
them TO do so. II they had control Of both
houses and there was a Democrat in the
ofice of President Of the United States. the
temptation to continue the REED rules in
force would be well-nigh irresistible. But
with the Senate and the presidency both in
Republican hands. the Democrats viii not
have reasons 30 good for retaliating
upon the Republicans by continuing
those rules in force; for no measure
Objectionable to the body Of tho Republi-
cans in the House Of Representatives could
possibly get through the Senate or secure
The approval Of the President OF the United
State. To adopt such rules, therefore.
under the circumstances under which the
next House Of Representatives will meet
would be for the Democratic members TO
sell themselves for naught, so to speak.
There are, however, arguments on both
sides of the question. Counting non-
voting members who are known TO be pres-
emit in order to make up quorum is not q
new thing under the sun.