, 1892-01-30
NEWS.

House.
WAsHINGToN, jan. 29.-The Demo-
Gratis Of the house found 1t necessary to
appeal TO a caucus decree in order to
secure unity of action in adoption of the
rules. 1t is a matter oil some significance
that the subject of dissension in the
Democratic ranks is that clause of the
proposed code which enables the com
mittee on rules at any time TO call up for
consideration the report Of that committee
and preventing dilatory motions from
being made pending such consideration.
To give the speaker power to recognize
and prevent a dilatory motion at
such particular time and not
clothe him with the like power
at all other times seems TO many Demo
cratic members a great discrimination in
favor of the committee. of which the
speaker is ex officio chairman and whose
deliberations he naturally directs and the
proposed rule was most bitterly attacked
by various members OF the dOminent
party. So little, however, was any at
tention paid to the party lines during The
debate that one of the strongest sup
porters Of the rule was Hon. James Bu-
chanan, a well known Republican repre-
sentative from New Jersey.
Later in the afternoon a political debate
was started. during which Dingley of
Maine referred to Springer's silver
speech in New York city and charged
Springer with having said that this house
would not pass a free silver bill. He also
understood Lanham OF Texas had with
drawn his amendment giving the com
mittee of coinage leave to report at any
time on the assurance OF the gentleman
from Missouri (Mr. Bland) that it was
unnecessary. There seemed to be some
misunderstanding, however, and he
wished to call the attention of the gen.
tleman from Illinois to the matter.
Sprlnger-"l did not make the state
free coinage bill; l said a free coinage
bill would not become a law. because your
president would veto it"
Hooker Of Mississippi moved to strike
from the rules the provision making it
always in order to cell up for c~onsIdera-
ton a report from the committee on rules
and preventing dilatory motions being
made p,nding such confederation.
Springer earnestly opposed the motion,
and gave his hearty approval to the rule.
Bailey OF Texas, the youngest member
of the house, and who came to Washing
ton with quite a reputation for oratory.
then took the floor, and he fully justified
the reputation.
The greatest attention was paid to his
remarks, which were directed to the
advocacy of Hooker's motion. He
opposed the rule. The American people
were today living under surveillance
unknown to the constitution, because
they we're living under a system of com
mittee government. The proposed rules
gave to the majority of the committee of
rules power to decide what affirmative
action should betaken by the entire house.
Such power ought not to be delegated
except in cases of absolute and pressing
necessity. if the Democrats adopted this
rule they we're stopped hereafter from
criticising the ffty-first congress and the
distinguished gentleman who presided
over its deliberations. Applause on the
Republican side].
Oates of Alabama offered an amend
menu providing the appointment of the
committee on order of business to consist
of fifteen members (ten Democrats and
five opposition) which shall have leave to
report at any time and of which the
speaker shall be ex-oficlo chairman.
Cochran of New York said if the ma
jority could not absolutely control the
representative body then parliamentary
institutions were without excuse for their
existence. After further debate but
without action the house adjourned till
tomorrow.
During the debate on the contested
rule several Democratic leaders held an
informal conference aud discussed the
wisdom Of calling a party caucus to secure
unity of action among the Democratic
members.
A talk with a number of Democrats in
the silver caucus today indicated that the
caucus determination on the silver question
would have a less binding force than on
almost any other question. A call was
circulated BY the ants and a number OF
free coinage Democrats said they did not
believe the ants would abide by a
decision favorable to Tree silver and that
a great many men both for and against
silver would refuse to go into caucus
unless it is assured it would not be re-
garped as binding.
Members of the ways and means con
mittee of former congresses expresses an
opinion in favor of the general tariff re-
vision bill, but Springer and his asso-
clates argued the proper procedure was to
attack in detail. On motion of Bryan of
Nebraska this policy was carried by I to
8, the negative votes being those OF Nc
Millin, Turner and Wilson. These gen.
tlemen said afterwards. however, they
would act in harmony with their Demo-
cratic brethren and Mr.. Springer, in an
interview this afternoon, said the Demo-
cratic members will vote as a unit in the
committee and that everything was per.
fectly satisfactory. McMillen, in an in
teryiew, said the Democratic position on
tariff was stronger now than ever before
and he thought a general bill was prefer
able to an individual or separate bill. He
would, however, earnestly support the
party policy.