Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-30

| the minority he was not in favor of giving q
dangerous power to one man who, by re-
course to the rules and by filibustering mo-
tions, might nullify the will of the House.
Mr.. Bailey. of Texas, the youngest men,
Der of the House, and who came to WASH
lngton with quite reputation for oratory,
then took the floor, and he fully justified
that reputation. He has a commanding
presence, handsome, clear-cut face,
powerful voice and graceful delivery.
The greatest attention was paid to his re-
marks, which were directed to an advocacy
of Mr.. Hooker's motion. He opposed the
rule as reported, because it was an essential
departure from the traditions of the Demo-
cratic party-a departure which he was un-
willing to see become the law of the House
except over his respectful protest. Inc
American people were to-day living under
a surveillance unknown to the Constitution
because they were living under system OF
committee government
Too Much Power for the Majority.
The proposed rule, said the speaker, gave
to the majority of the triumvirate OF the
Committee on Rules the power to decide
when affirmative action should be taken by
the entire House. Such power ought not
TO be delegated except in cases of absolute
and pressing necessity. The Democrats had
majority of two-thirds, and with that ma
joritv it could safely and properly suspend
all rules should necessity require it. If
the Democrats adopted this rule they were
estopped hereafter from criticising the
Fifty-frst Congress and the distinguished
gentleman who presided over its delibera-
tions Applause on the Republican side.
Mr. Chapman, of Michigan, opposed the
rule, which, he contended, was following
bad precedent 1t was pursuing the WICK
edness and the worst of all the wickedness
and bad things of the last Congress
Mr. Goodnight, of Kentucky, gave his
adherence to the rule.
Mr.. Enloe, of Tennessee, preferred that
the business of the House should be regu-
lated by committee on order of business,
but if that could not be done he was in
favor of the proposed rule. The rules OF
the Fiftieth Congress were do-notbing rules.
the Fiftv-frst Congress. Applause and
laughter There was a lot of bad in them,
too, but ne wanted to profit by experience,
and incorporate what was good in the rules
of the Fiftv-frst Congress in the code that
would govern the Fifty-seconi Congress
Mr.. Buchanan, of New Jersey, advocated
the rule as an enlargement of the liberty Of
Representatives and not contraction
thereof He was pleased with the manli
ness of the gentleman from Tennessee Mr..
Enloe) in stating that there was good in the
rules of the Fifty-frst Congress. His own
idea was that the whole mass of rules of the
House had become obsolete, burdensome
and useless.
Filibuster Talk Only Scarecrow.
Mr. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, thought
all the talk about the filibuster amounted
to nothing but scarecrow. As usual, the
flibuster was a first-rate fellow. Fifteen
wears ago be had prevented the force bill
from being put upon the South. (This
allusion to Mr.. Randall was greeted with
applause) The flibuster had defeated the
Educational bill 1t was not true that the
flibuster was entirely to be the result. 1t
was well sometimes to be OH good terms
with him.
Mr.. Oates, of Alabama, offered an amend
ment providing for the appointment OF a
committee on order of business to consist of
Is members 90 Democrats and of the op-
position) which shall have leave to report
at any time and of which the Speaker shall
be ex-officio Chairman.
Mr. Cochran, of New York, said that if a
majority could not absolutely control
representative body, then parliamentary
institutions were without excuse for their
existence.
After further debate, but without action,
the House adjourned until tomorrow. Dur
ing the debate on the contested rule several
of the Democratic leaders held an informal
conference and discussed the wisdom of call
ing party caucus to secure unity of action
among the Democratic members. 1t was
finally decided that such course was i'm
perative, and, Immediately after adjourn
meut, the caucus was announced for to-mor
row evening at 7:30 o'clock