New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-05
MIR. REED TALKS ON THE RULES.

THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE LAST CONGRESS
PARTIALLY FOLLOWED.
Washington JAN 4.-Aiter the house TINS afternoon
agreed 70 the code Of rue<, eX-SpeaKer heeu was
souxht ont by Associated Press reporter ana o9hcu
to talk upon the subject. lie sat down upon one Oh
the large sofas In the rear OF the hail. ana "i'er
moments consideration, said
"The withdrawal by the Louisiana Lottery OF Its De
mand for q new charter Is Of the trumphs Oh inc
List Congress The country VIII remember VIC
promptness with which the House committee on IoSF
Offices and Post Roads, under the chalrmahshP vi "e
cral Bingham even before the Presidents message Oh
the subject considered and July % reported the
hill TO deprive the lottery Of the use OF The united
States malls The Committee on Rules very soon
after set apart August l6 for the confederation by the
Honse and the bin passed that body that day. Now
that the Supreme Court has sustained the constitution
aty Of the act, the lottery company recognizes
the futlty of It's future existence. The acts OF the
List Congress are al standing well the test of time
With regard to the rules just adopted Mr. Keed
further said:
1.-THE principle OF responsible government In the
House has been more ruthessly recognized In that
part OF the regulations relating to the power OF
the Committee Rules than was ever dreamed OF
I'm tho List Congress. Power to enforce the VIII OF
the House was lodged in important measures IN that
committee, so that party legislation could have luii
swing. while the bill Of the individual member, even
II approved OF by the House, was left to the mercy
Of the hlibusterer The right Of present quorum
had been denied and of the member. present
for the purpose of being absent. had been revived
All this however, time and the Supreme Court VIII
take care of. Meanwhile 1t will be source OF regret
TO the country that liberal measures for the
promotion Of innocent useful nOnpaItsan and neces-
sary legislation have not been adopted 1t might have
been done and the House really wanted to do 1t. but
the me- jorlty having fought campaign somewhat on
abuse OF the rules Of the List Congress, 1T was TOO
much TO expect of poor fallen human nature to make
such confession OF error.
The debate however, has shown that the good ex
ample of the last two years has not been entirely lost
What used to be called tyranny and IS now on the
road 10 be called 'COOd-Scnse has been established IN
The great and uneXampcd power conferred on the COM
mttee on Rules The folly Of wasting the time OF the
House in the reference Of bills has been forever done
away with This. with the sound expressions rs to the
folly OF he doctrines Of the rights Of minOrtes which
fell from the lips Of eminent Democrats during the
debate show conclusivcly how reason and sense
are 20 assert themselves in measure even after the
lcrcest conflict. l am disposed 10 thank the Demo
Gratis for some progress and to hope that during the
session further wisdom may come 10 them.
In the new regulations the old member who KNOWS
the ropes has preserved much Of his obstructive power
and the veto power has been conferred each member
who knows how except where the Committee on Rules
shall intervene. But this viii do less harm than Tor
gress. the country knows that the House OF Repre-
scntatves can do all il wants 10. What IT don't 90
now, Ii is responsible for That ostrich has lett on
conrcallng Itself by putting its head in the sand"