New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-05
THE HOUSE RULES ADOPTED
A CODE FULL OF OBJECTIONABLE PRO.
VISIONS.
DEVICES TO THwARr THE WILL OF THE MA:
JoRITY-Two REDEEMlNG FEATURES COPIED
FROM THE LAST CONGRESS.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO The TKIBCNE.I

tives is at last equipped with a code of rules, and
it is to be presumed that the legislative mill
will now begin to grind a grist; that 1t will do
with dizzy rapidity no person expects who Is
familiar with the provisions OF the code and has
observed their operation in the last three Demo-
cratic Congresses.
1t is true that the Democratic majority has
virtually conceded the principle laid down by the
Republican majority in the last Congressman so
bitterly denounced and stubborny opposed by the
Democrats in that Conarcss-that the Speaker all
refuse to entertain dilatory motors While the
application of the principle is limited to certain
order of business. it affects important class Of
business, and will enable the majority to bring
to a final vote any measure which, in the opinion
of Speaker Crisp, of Georgia, Mr.. McMlllin OF
Tennessee, and Mr. Cafchings, of Mississippi, ought
to be passed by the House.
The new code also contains another provision
adopted motion Of Mr.. Dinglcy, and despite
the opposition OF the Committee on Rules-which
was embodied in the rues of the last House, and
found TO be extremely useful 1t is the one which
gives the majority of the House power 10 con-
slider, without reference to a committee, House
bills which have been returned from the Senate
with amendments, and which do not GARY appro-
priations. Under the old Democratic practice, for
a return to which the majority Of the Committee
OH NultS COHltEutO, SDsIc oDJcCeioh W Soh~
sideration carried all such bills to committee.
When reported back to the House, if ever, the
bills went to the foot Of the House calendar
which, nine times in ten killed them.
The two provisions mentioned are the redeem
ing features of the new rules, which otherwise
are more Objectionable even than were the rules
of the Lth Congress, of which, with one im'
portant exception, they are substantially copy.
This exception is the restoration in its most drastic
and Objectionable form of the old Holman
rule" which permits the fastening OF political
81 riders upon general appropriation bills. This
rule, even after il had been modified and de-
prived of it's most obnoxious features, worked so
badly that it was dropped by the Democrats
themselves when they were in control Of the
House in the XLIXth Congress 1t is based upon
the pretext that it is indispensable TO the carry
ing out OF the policy of "retrenchment and
economy" which the Democrats regularly pro-
claim on the eve of every Presidential campaign.
AS matter of fact, the operation Of the rule
in the past has not been to retrench expenditures,
and therefore the prcteXt upon which II Is
based is false one. The real reason for the
restoration Of the rule is a partisan one, the de-
sign being 10 coerce the House to adopt and the
Senate and President to consent to the repeal OK
certain laws and permanent appropriations. No
secret is Dldue tIdt SUCH ID JLc
Readers of The Tribune cannot have forgotten
how this power Of coercion was used and abused
by the Democratic majority Of the House only
few wears ago how, as General Garfield declared,
the Democratic party having failed to shoot the
Government to death, now propose to starve IL
to DEATH At that time the purpose was
as Mr. Blackburn violently declared, " to sweep the
last vestige Of your legislation from the statute
books" The same vicious power is now to ne IN
vokcd to destroy the third section Of the Tariff
law. TO repeal the Ocean Mail law, and to undo
other benecent acts OF the last Congress, as well
as 10 repeal certain necessary permanent
appropriations and make them subject to the whlms
of partisan aorities in Congress. The rule may
also aid Economist Holman somewhat in carrying
out his cheese pairing schemes although the uiti-
mate result VIII be 10 saving of money. Already IL
is whispered that he proposes to reduce by 20 per
cent the salaries OF all officers and employees OF the
Government who receive more than l,2OO year
each OF course he will not begin by attempting
to cut the pay Representatives in Congress down
to $4,000 year
All the other devices invented and discovered by
Samuel J. Randall and his associates who believed
and maintained that II is not safe TO trust the rep
resentatives of the people with the business OF
general leeisation-to choke and thwart the de-
the new code of rules The House even rejected
by majority of twenty four Mr. Reeds amend
mcnt. which would have enabled it to pass in the
morning hour bills reported by committees pro-
vided they carried no appropriations Of money, and
adhered to the old rule under which single men,
ber instead of the House itself, will
control the fate of bills proposed and considered
in that hour. Many Democrats supported
this amendment, the wisdom of which was
apparent to every sensible unpreJu'iiced
member of the House, irrespective of party. All
the other Objectionable provisions of the old Demo-
cratic rules have been retained, and the result
probably will be that this House, like its Demo-
cratic predecessors for years will and deserve
the title of "a do-nothing House"
Mr. Reed offered as a substitute for the new
code the rules Of the last House, with an amend
ment prescribing the manner in which quorum
shall be counted in cases in which portion OK
the members shall refuse TO vote The substitute,
of course, was rejected.
Mr.. Enloe of Tennessee. offered an amendment
providing that euloges to deceased members shall
be delivered on Sundays land Sundays only, on
which day the ceremonies shall be opened with
prayer by the Chaplain. These services, he said.
were in the nature of religious services, and no
more appropriate day could be selected. Mr.
Morse. of Massachusetts, seconded the amendment
Mr. Ray, of New-Iork, opposed IL. IL was evil
IDENTIFY offered in the interest of those persons VINO
never attended church, but who could come here
on the Sabbath Day and listen TO oratory.
Mr. Reed of Maine gave the information that
the consumption of time in the first session OF the
last Conuress for memorial services was twenty.
four days
Mr.. Bergen, Of New-Jersey, saw no necessity
for putting another day into the week. stand
iney vote showed a majority Of 90 10 Gs in favor
of the amendment, but Oh a rollcall the ahehd-
ment was deieated-ycas 81 nays l55
Mr. O'Neil of Missouri. offered an amendment
m,iing il obligatory on the House TO consider
the private calendar on Friday. Lost-57 10 III.
Various propositions were made having ior
tbcir object the abolition or the resurrection OF
The custom of setting apart days for the delivery