The Portland daily press., 1893-09-07
Bitter Pills Which the Democrats
Dislike.
STRUGGLE OF THE CRIsPITEs
AGAINST COMMON SENSE.
Mr.. Reed Leader of Strong Element
Even of the Democrats in the Contest
for Business Rules Observation-Disclosures
Democrats Escape Defeat BY Marrow
Squeak
lspecialito the Press.]

Democrats Escape Defeat BY Marrow
Squeak.
[Specialito the Press.]
Washington, September 8. 6.-During the
discussion of the rules which waged in
the House last week, and which will still
occupy the attention of the House for
some little time to come, it became man
ifest to even the most casual observer
that ex-Speaker Thomas B. Reed was as
much leader in the Democratic House
as he had ever been when the Republi-
cans were in the majority. AS an ex-
Speaker and the leading member OF the
minority of the committee on rules, it,
Of course, devolved on him to oppose in
the House any rules reported by that
committee which he did not think
should be engrafted on the new code.
That was natural; and, as matter OF
course, it followed that his own side
would sustain him in anything he dld;
but it was rather peculiar to see Demo-
Gratis Joining with him and supporting
him in opposition to the Speaker and the
majority of the Democratic committee on
rules.
If the Democrats were not so narrow
minded and prejudiced, the salient
features of the Reed rules would be en-
forced during the life of the present Con-
gress. In fact that statement was made
to me by one of the leading Democrats
of the House, who went on to say that
if Mr.. Reed were not now member OF
Congress he felt very certain that the
cloture provision of the rules which
made Mr. Reed SO famous, and which
made the 51st Congress perform such
good work for the country, would be
adopted by the Democrats without much
discussion. But this is too bitter pill for
them to swallow.
They have not yet forgotten how they
taunted Mr.. Reed while he occupied the
Speakers chair, and how they lashed
thems ewes into fury at the mere thought
OF the Speaker having nerve enough TO
prevent filibustering and to impress up
on the House and the country that the
object in sending men to Washington was
not merely to provide places for them
and pay them salaries, but to compel
them to legislate, and to attend to their
duties honestly, and withoutloss OF time.
/ verify believe that the Democrats
have almost reached the stage where they
are prepared to recognize the right OF. the
Speaker to count quorum, and Jhus
deprive the believers in filibustering, OF
the last remaining weapon left IN their
hands, which has heretofore been the
most deadly.
It was significant to observe that all
the amendments made to the report of
the committee were in the line of sugges-
tions offered by Mr.. Reed from time to
time, and that with the object of pre-
venting the obstruction OF legislation
which has grown SO formidable during
the last few years and which has become
such scandal.
For instance what could be more
significant, and showing in the most
marked degree the change of public senti-
naent than that a representative South
ern Democrat should oppose the Speaker
and offer an amendment having TOR It's
purpose the limitation of debate2 That
was what Mr.. Boatner of Louisiana at
tempted to do His proposition was, that
after any subject had been discussed for
two hours it would be permissible Tor
the chairman of the committee to move
that the debate be closed. No one ques--
ions Mr.. Boatner' Democracy or his good
standing in the party. Mr.. Reeds infiu-
ence has been SO greatly felt, that the
lessons he has taught have at last mace
their impressions on even man like the
Louisiana representative, and he was
forced to recognize the necessity OF pre-
venting fillbustering Had any one sug-
gested few years ago that Democrat,
and especially one from the South, would
have offered such resolution, he would
have been laughed to scorn; and had any
one during the 51st Congress suggested
that Democrats would be following the
lead Of Mr.. Reed and voting with him for
such proposition, he would have been
deemed a. fit candidate for the
lunatic asylum. Yet this very thing
happened. Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Boatner,
side by side marshaled their forces and
were able to carry through the amend
ment in it's initial stage. The only thing
which saved it's Adoption was an early
adjournment of the House, which gave
the committee on rules an opportunity to
hustle around and through it's lieu
tenants beat up Democrats enough to de-,
feat the amendment when it came up In
the House again the next morning. 1t
was a narrow squeak, however, and
showed how the sentiment has changed.
If Mr.. Reed had done nothing else since
he has been in Congress than to make
the country understand the necessity of
the reform of the rules of the House and
the transaction of businss in a business
like way. the service he has rendered
would be greater than that of most men
whose names are associated with some. of
the great bills which have passed into
history.