The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-30
RULES FOR THE HOUSE.
WIDE VARIANCE FROMTHE TOPIC
IN TEE HOUSE DEBATE.


day, after the reading and approval Of the
journal, Mr. Campbell of New York at.
tempted to secure the floor in order to ask
the immediate passage Of joint resolution
authorizing the department of state 70 de-
liver TO the officers and crew Of the
United States steamer Baltimore 354
medals presented to them by the
King OF Sweden to commemorate
the services rendered by them in transport
ing the remains Of Mr.. Ericsson to Sweden,
but Mr.. Catchings Of Mississippi demanded
the regular order, and the House proceeded
to further consideration of the report of the
committee on rules. The pending amend
ment was that offered by Mr.. Hemphill of
South Carolina Withdrawing from the
! jurisdiction Of the appropriations committee
| the appropriation for the support Of the
| District of Columbia.
In speaking TO thisisamendment, Mr..
| BlOunt. who has had many years. experience
as chairman and member Of the comm ittee
on postOtfces and postroads, replied 20
some remarks previously made by Mr..
! Holman. rejecting upon the increase in the
| expenditures for the postal service. He (Mr.
Blountl denied that there had been any ex-
| travagance in that service. The increase
VI IuS lhLlDlH UhQ EIOW1 OuJ OA Lle
prosperity Of the republic. Applause
sAYREs OPPOSES THE SCHEME.
Mr.. Sayres of Texas was opposed TO Mr..
HemphilPs proposition, and contended thet
it was in the interest OF good government
and public economy that the expenditures
for the District Of Columbia should remain
under the control of the appropriations
committee
While Mr.. Sayres was speaking he was
frequently interrupted by Mr.. Hemphill
and by MIR. Heard OF Missouri, but there
was 50 much confusion in the hall that their
voices did not reach the reporters ears. In
VAIN did the speaker appeal for the restora-
ton of order. He was finally compelled to
call upon the sergea to aid in the
preservation of some degree Of quiet.
HEMPHILL CRITICIZES THE CONIMITTEE.
Mr.. Hemphill. in advocating his amend
ment, criticised the committee on appropri,
ations for endeavoring to hold on to every
thing it could get, aud ridiculed the idea of
economy entertained by some people, which
consisted in taking money from the people
and keeping it as long as they could.
Mr. Breckirridge of Arkansas argued that
the policy of distribution of the appropria>
ton bills had not contributed to economy.
Mr.. Hooker Of Mississippi gave his adher-
ence to the doctrine Of distribution of the
appropriation bills. That distribution
had been made on account of rebellion
against the immense power exercised by the
committee on appropriations. 1t had
worked we'll, and he coDld see no reason
why the district committee should be given
jurisdiction over the expenditures for the
support of the district.
Mr.. Hemphill closed the debate in favor
or his amendment. He warned the House
against the danger Of giving the appropria-
ton committee power to legislate upon ap-
preparation bills and to side-track any other
legislation that might be called up. The
amendment was rejected.
FREE COINAGE DRAGGED IN.
The debate got away from the rules alto.
gether, and in its course Mr.. De Forest Of
Connecticut brought in the silver question.
be declared that If free coinage bill were
passed by this congress, 1t would not go out
with the stamp of che Endorsement Of the
Democratic party upon it.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine said that the gentle
man from Illinois (Mr Springer), in a
speech delivered in New York, had declared
that this House would not pass free silveo
bill. He also understood that the gentle
man from Texas (Mr. Lanham) had with
drawn his amendment giving the committee
on coinage, weights and measures 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 somewhere, and he
wished to call the attention of the gentle
man from Illinois to the matter.
sPRINGER's DENIAL.
Mr.. Springer-l did not make the states
ment that this House would not pass a free
coinage bill.
Mr.. Dingley-I understood the gentleman
| to be 80 reported. win the gentleman
please state what he did sayl
Mr. Shrine raplxy -. A.
reporters, but he subsequently stated that
| his reply was: 81 stated that a free coin
| age bill would not become law during the
| present congress"
Mr.. Hooker of Mississippi moved TO strike
| out from the rules the provision making it
always in order to call up for consideration
the report from the committee on rules and
| preventing dilatory motions being made
| pending such consideration.
| This brought on long and spirited de-
bate.
Mr.. Springer earnestly opposed the mo-
ton.
A NEW ORATORS BOW.
Mr.. Bailey of Texas, the youngest men,
Der of the House, and who came to Wash
ington with quite q 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 remarks, 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 Democratic party, a departure which
he was unwilling to see become a law
of the House except over his respect.
ful protest. The American people were to-day
| living under surveillance unknown to the
constitution, because they were living I'M
der system of committee government.
| The proposed rule gave to the majority of
the triumvirate of the committee on rules
power to decide what affirmative action
should be taken by the House. Such power
| ought not to be delegated except in case of
absolute and pressing necessity.
POWER OF THE DEMOCRATS.
The democrats had a majority of two
thirds, and with that majority it could
safely and properly suspend all rules, should
necessity require it. If the democrats
adopted this rule they were
| eStopped hereafter from criticizinp
the Fifty-first congress, and the
distinguished gentleman who presided
over Its deliberations. Applause on the
republican side 1t embodied the very
essence OF his tReed's) philosophy in the
transaction Of puOllc business. The Fifty
| first congress proposed 10 stop filibustering
by empowering its presiding officer 10 de-
eide what were and what were not dilatory
motions. This congress proposed to
give tho same power to the two
men composing the majority of the
committee on rules. If this propositio was