Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-07
PLANS OF THE DENIS
PECULIAR DEMOCRATIC RULE
Made the subiees al aidienis BY the Older
Members Of the House--E How They
are Regarded On al Sides.

democratic economy has begun in III
house OF representatives. Yssserca.
ImoFnlng the committee GA rules. W alcl
. the organ OF tie speaker, and which
isto shape the policy Of tue house
came IN with . report recommending
the acceptance OF rule tor the INTRO.
ductlen OF biiis- In view Of The illness
OF the speaker and VI the certainty thai
he will not for . considerable period b.
able 70 preside over the committee on
rules. which is 70 prepare . permsnen.
code Of rules. 10 WAS decided TO have
An ad interim Arrangement.
The rule which gas reported was no,
suoleet 70 particular objection, except in
Two particulars; FIRST. that is provided
that private bIlis and bills relating 10
river and barber improvements should
net DO printed until after they have
been placed upon the calendar; second,
that there was no provision made for
The Introduction of petitlons-an omis-
Jon which would have had the effect
o destroy the right OF petition. The
declaration that private bills aud bills
proposing river and harbor improve
ments should not be printed was
Affirmative. The reason assigned was
that economy would have been effected
oy declining &c print these bills.
Withoar = Following.
The older members of the house
smiled at this suggestion, but the re-
2ublicans declined 10 take any part in
The proceedings. as il was evident that
the moment that General Catchings of
Mlssisslppi. who has been chosen by
speaker Crisp as one Il his immediate
representatives. on the floor, arose,
that he Was to be q leader without a
following. DIVISION along the demo-
cratic line was soon manifested, and
one might imagine himself in the DEM
ocratlc speakershIp caucus, so MANY
were the differing opinions and so Bit
Ter was the wrangliug over the propo-
Elton which came from the wrangIIng
leaders of the Speaker.
The proposition that private bills
mould not DO printed was a very thin
disguise to conceal iobbery. The great
est Jobs IN congress are introduced in
the form OF private bills. One Of the
most effective means of preventing
these jobs nom pnssiog to a stage when
sner enactment y almost certain is To
give pusiscity to their details. What
Tho Jobeers most fear is the publicity
which Is given TO their schemes through
he newspapers and BY members who
rave taken time to study them. IL
Inese Jobs could be kept from the
knowledge OF the public and even of
The republican members OF the COM
mistees until after the committees had
agreed TO report them and place them
upon the calendars the jobbers would
have secured q very great advantage,
And be IN . position where q faclle
majority could easily put measures
ipon their passage.
Bisuns Opposes II.
Mr.. Blount OF Georgia, who il an
honest man, was not willing that hin
party should De committed TO apv
Ducn irscious scheme. He Was frank
enough to say that such proposition
would open the door TO the widest
possible jobbery, and he said that IL
Was known to everyone that millions of |
holiars were submitted to congress, |
every year IN the form Of these private |
bills, and that il Was proper that the |
public and members OF congress should |
know what they we're about. These
facts are 90 well known that the state
fnent OF them IS their demonstration.
The democratic leaders did not have
onrdence enough IN their ability to
lead the house and force that
scheme through unless the apree-
ment could be reached WITH
but debate. There were indication, that
there would be debate which whould
expose this proposition TO conceal ioo-
berry. Finally the leaders of the house
fought refuge under the proposition
mat the only purpose of the rule was
10 effect economy, and that il was es-
'ential for this to be done. The prono-
'ltlon was then made that the bills
'houid DC printed. but tha. the number
printed should only be twenty-five.
i was then suggested that il was quite
fecent and expedient that the house
mould PRINT 100 copies of each of these
bills, as the senate committee has
lgrced to do. and that the difference in
he cost OF printing twenty-five bills.
'ftsr the composition had been paid |
or, was Insignificant. Upon this prop
'sltion there ensued wrangIe of an
Iour.
They Were shamsd Out.
Ins Democrats were shamed out of
heir proposition OF pretended economy
n THIS score. and the jobbers were not
uccessful IN conceailng the scheme
rom the press and nublic. But this
Fas not accomplished until after the
emoerats had wasted over $500 of the I
copies money IN time which was con- =
nmed IN debating whether or not SEQ 4
houid oe saved on y printing bill. The
osai expenditures CT the house for the
me which was devoted to the d scus-
on of this proposition to save $50.
hicn failed to carry is $500. The |
enoerafs have entered upon a policy I
this congress OF saving at the spig.
ots aud losing az the bunghole. and
esferdsys work ~ fair Inauguration
their policy. Democrats who saw
'e absuTdlty of the proposition which
80 made with such gravity nv the
'nmittee on rules INSISTED that econ :
nv might be necessary. but that Il IL
ot the place 10 begin. That will be
le troulie with tha democrats All
trough this congress. They will dis
'ver that u Is diiiieult 10 ind the
ace 10 begin and for very cool rea-
ms. There - 10 place e. begin any E
reduction OF the esoan.fi- 2
res without Doing an absurd thing or :,
lppil1S the business OF tins great GOV 6
nmenf, aud the democratic leaders =
10 know anything aud are frank
Iough 10 tell the truth are teginnsnz
sdn1st tbs. The session is 60 be one