The Washington bee., 1893-07-01
WHEN CONGRESS MEETS.
WORK CUT OUT FOR THE MA
TlONAL REPRESENTATIVES.

What Gen. Catchings, Of the Last Rules
Committee, Thinks on the Subject
Stringent Rules Probable-The Silver
and Tariff Question.
Gen. Catchings, Of Mississippi, who
was member of the last House Com
mittee on Rules, in speaking of leglS-
lation which will occupy the attention
of Congress at the special session this
autumn, said, on Monday: 1.-THE repeal
of the Sherman law and the reform Of
the tariff are the two great subjects
with which we will have to deal. The
numerical strength of the free silver
vote is not certain. 1t is certain,
however. that many members will op-
pose repeal unless something near to
free coinage is offered. When the tar
iff debate springs up every protected
industry in the country will have its
representative upon the floor. With
the opposition so strong, it will be alb
solutely necessary to modify the rules,
else nothing can be done. Every one
remembers the scenes which marked
| the closing days of the last Congress.
| Day after day was wasted in sense
less motions which had no object save
| delay. With these rules again in force
| no vote could be reached. / think
| that the Committee on Rules thorough
| ly understands this. / am mistaken
| il, when Congress meets, q different
! order of things does not obtain. 1t is
as nearly certain as anything can be
| that a quite considerable change will
be the result of conference and past
| experience. Last winter the Commit
tee on Rules formulated a provision
which should meet the case. 1t was
to the effect that it shall be always in
order to call up for consideration a
report from the Committee on Rules.
The working of it will be this:
Suppose that after a month of de-
bate the Committee on Rules reports
that the next Thursday shall be set
aside for vote upon the repeal of the
Sherman act, and moves the previous
question. Setting aside the day will
be of little effect, as that day might
be wasted i'm filibustering, but if the
ajority wishes to do business it can
vote down the motion for the previous
question, which will leave it open to
amendment. An amendment can then
be offered setting the vote for GER
tain hour, and, if carried by the ma.
jority, dilatory motions will be crush
4 bu. LIE IUlC uetldIcS llldt dlbCl thS
report of the committee is made only
one motion to adjourn shall be enter
tained 1t will be as direct and strong
a method of cloture as can be de
vised and / have little doubt of its
adoption. By this course the conduct
t of the business of the House will be
placed entirely in the hands Of the
majority, and upon the majority will
fall the praise or blame. do not sup
, pose that there is member Of the last
House who does not appreciate the
necessity of change in the rules.
r with regard to the sentiment OF
the South concerning the repeal Of the
Sherman act 1 believe that it is in 6
formative state. The people, not only
there, but i'm all sections of the coun
try, are doing more thinking upon this
subject than ever before. Fighter
: months ago the South was strongly
{ in favor of free coinage, but it is ho
so to-day Sentiment is changing. L
u asked to hazard a guess l should say
d that it is now about half and half
l. The cause of sound money has gained
ground very rapidly. Personally
!. favor the repeal of the Sherman law
[ would like to see something in it
place to benefit the country-sOme leg
4 islation more wise and more conserva
n tive, but it should be wiped out 1
needs be, Internationally"