Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-05
NEW HOUSE RULES.
A Code of Procedure at Last
Adopted.
Several Important Amend
ments Rejected.
Dead Members Will Continue to Re-
ceive Consideration.
Call Seated in the Senate-Tom Reed
Boasts of the Achievements of the
Fifty First Congress-Wash-
ington Notes.
Associated Press Dispatches.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The house of
representatives was called before the
bar of public opinion today to answer
the charge of irreverence to the mem
ory of departed representatives. Stout,
of Michigan, was the public prosecutor,
and in the absence of counsel, the house
pleaded guilty to the charge. 1t was in
the days OF Adams and Clay and Web
ster and Calhoun that the practice of
setting apart day for the eulogy of de-
ceased statesmen was inaugurated.
The eloquent and spontaneous orations
of Webster and Calhoun and Clay have
given place to studiously prepared re-
marks. AS the eulogy has become a
duty instead of spontaneous tribute,
the interest of the house and the coun-
try in the event has decreased until
memorial day, as now known, is regard
ed as day of rest and recreation, and
none feel iG incumbent on themselves to
attend the sessions, except the orators of
the occasion. The first declaration
OF the insincerity of such proceedings
came from Enloe OF Tennessee, who de-
sired to amend the rules by providing
that eulogies to deceased members shall
be delivered Sundays only, on which
day the ceremonies shall be opened
with prayer by the chaplain. The
amendment was seconded by Morse OF
Massachusetts.
II am in favor of this amendment"
said Mr.. Stout. II happened once, Mr..
Speaker, to be in St. Louis when fu-
neral cortege bearing the body CT g
member of congress passed through the
city. The newspapers next morning
said the body was left in the depot
while the senators were talking about
the preceding election in the rotundas
of the hotels [laughterl and the young
members were gone to the theater, l
suppose to assuage their profound grief.
[Great laughterl The country should
know whether or not we are sincere in
our professions OF respect for the dead"
Reed OF Maine gave the information
that the consumption of time in the
first session of the last congress for
memorial services was twenty -four days.
This announcement created great sur
prise, but was not disputed.
Although standing vote showed a
majority of SO to 6S in favor of the
amendment, this majority vanished be-
fore the dreaded roll call, and the amend
ment was defeated-yeas, 81; nays, l55.
Reed offered substitute for rule "a,
relating to order of business. The only
change proposed is that the morning
hour (Which under the code is limited
to sixty minutes) may be extended in
definitely at the pleasure of the house.
The substitute was lost, 80 to 104.
Chapman of Michigan offered an
amendment providing for Friday night
sessions for consideration of private PEN
sion bills. Agreed to.
O'Nelll offered an amendment re-
quiring the committee on rules to report
back within ten days all the amend
ments to the rules referred to. He did
not believe that when the code of rules
was agreed to, that the house should
bind itself hand and foot and have no
power to amend it. He did not propose,
without notice, to put his head in the
halter. The amendment was lost.
Consideration Of the rules reported
by the committee having been con-
cluded, Reed, on behalf of the Repub-
licans, offered as substitute therefor,
the rules OF the tifty-frst congress. LosJ
without division.
The code of rules was then agreed to.
Dickerson of Kentucky offered reso-
luton directing the committee on Judi
ciary to make an investigation and
report whether congress has constitu-
tional authority to appropriate money
for the worlds Columbian exposition.
Adopted
On motion Of Goodnight, the senate
bill was passed to provide for the crea-
tion OF fourth judicial district in the
territory of Utah.
Adiournad until toy,,orrou,