Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-12
DOWN ON REED RULES
Mr.. WISE THINKS CONGRESS WILL RE-
ADOPT THOSE OF FORMER SESSIONS.
The Rights of the Minority Should BE
Guaranteed Thcm-Tho Appointment
OF De Priest Condemned.

Hon. George d. Wise is pronounced in
his opposition to the rules made by the
tyrant Reed for the conduct of proceed
ings in Congress and he does not think
they viii receive the sanction of the Demo-
cratic majority in the next House Of Rep
resentatives.
To Dispatch reporter who called on
him yesterday afternoon the representative
of the metropolitan Virginia district ex-
pressed himself quite freely on this sub
loct, IN which the people of the entire
country are deeply interested.
shall vote against the adoption of the
Reed rules" he said, "and IL is my opinion
that the Democratic party would be in
consistent in giving them their endorse
ment. We have denounced Speaker Reed
and the Republican party for their action
IN the fifty-tlrst Congress, and we cannot
now initiate the example set US without
qualification.
RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY.
Z" believe that the House Of Representa-
tives ought to be made deliberative
body and that minorities should be Sc.
cured the exercise Of all their constitu-
tional rights. Above all believe that the
representatives Of the people should have
the right to freely express the sentiments
of those whom they represent in the ma
tional legislature. Under Mr.. Reeds code
of rules the minority had no rights and
Congress was dominated by committee
known as the Committee on Rules, of
which the Speaker. Chairman of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, and the Chair
man OF the Committee on Appropriations
constituted theimajority. Those three men
had it in their power to control legislation
and to determine the fate Of any measure.
TOO MUCH AUTHORITY.
"I do not think in republican form Of
government the Congressman continued,
that any three men ought to be clothed
with such absolute power. That am
right in this position can be shown by the
records of the last House of Representa-
tives, No bill could be passed to which
the Speaker was opposed, however much
their enactment into law might have been
demanded by the people of the country. /
shall vote for return TO that code OF
rules by which former Congresses have
been governed, and which is the embodi-
ment of the wisdom and experience of
hundred years of practice. You can also
say | feel confident from interviews with
leading members of the next Congress
that it will be governed by the same rules
as prevailed when Senator Carlisle pre-
sided over the House of Representatives
with SO much dignity and impartiality.
THE DE PRIEST APPOINTMENT.
"In reference to the improvement of
rivers and harbors and the employment of
Mr.. Clinton De Priest al an inspector on
the James river" Captain Wise added as
the DISPATCH man was leaving, want TO
say that it is we'll known to this commu-
nifty that he has no qualifications for such
work Tho improvement Of rivers and
hsrbors is made in the interest of COM
merce and euch works are placed in charge
of the Engineer Corps Of the United States.
1t has always been understood that appro-
preparations for the improvement of our
rivers and harbors should not be diverted
for the purpose of rewarding political
partisaus. will deem it my duty to see
the Chief of Engineers, rs a representative
of this district and protest against making
the James-river improvement the refuge
of political workers, and in the beginning
of the next Congress l shall seek sn early
opportunity to have this matter lnvesti-
gated"