New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-08
THE RIFLES or THE HOUSE.

Secretary Herbert who is visiting the
Worlds Fair, has been talking briefly for pub
LEGATION about the extra session. His remarks
are not so interesting as they might be if he
were not a member of the Cabinet. He frankly
says that he cannot properly speak without
restraint but he feels no hesitation III express
ing the hope that the silver Purchase act VIII
be repealed. lnaSmuch as this would naturally
have been assured if he had remained silent.
the declaration is not Of great importance; but
what the Secretary SAYS about the necessity OF
n change in the rules is well worth hearing.
The length of the session will depend, he
thinks, upon the progress and result of the
debate that question. " The rules OF the
last House" he says, gave altogether too
much power to the ilbuStcrs. There will be
an effort TO cut off this sort Of tactics in the
next Congress though doubtless determined
effort will be made by the minority to keep
the present rules in force
We suppose that no wcll-informcd observer
of political conditions will question the ac
culacy of Secretary llerbcrts forecast. The
first fight viii be waged over the rules. Mem
bcIs Of the House of both parties who desire
TO have something useful done for the country
at the extra session see plainly that rule
enabling the majority TO control legislation i
an imperative necessity, and they VIII take
their seats with a firm determination 10 adopt
such rule. The mean, OF tranSaCing bust
ness which speaker Reed applied so SagaciouSI\
and successfully must be employed again; en-
ploycd in all probability not only for the pur-
pose of passing bills. but prior to that at the
outset for the purpose of passing the rules
themselves To the accomplishment Of this
essential object great majority of the best
men of both parties Will devote their efforts.
And whatever influence the newspapers pos
,css will generally be exercised Tor the sane
end
1t will inevitably happen. under these cir
clmStanccs. that many prominent persons III
Congress and ont, and large number OF con
spicuous journals, will be found defending and
advocating with all their power method Of
procedure which two OF three years ago they
expended much time and labor IN dcnounclng
as tyrannical, brutal and altogether odiou> and
ntolclablc. And in thus reversing themselves
they will be doing just what they ought To do.
They will declare, possibly not in specific
terms but in effect, that speaker Reed was
right that he was SaGaciou> patriotic far
sighted level headed that be- di,ccrncd IN
advance even Of many of hi, strongest sup
polt4rs the intrinsic absurdt, Of permitting tho
minority to control legislative body J.,
ar,ificc of allowing a member of Congress t.
be human being one minute and ghost the
next.
They will do well 10 make this bclatcd ac-
Nobody would wish them 10
save their consistency al the expense Of their
common sense. But though the thing they do
will be useful il is not 80 certain that then
way Of doing il will hc entirely prai,cWothl
and satisfactory. Some mcmbcrs of Congress
and some newspapers will greatly surprise the
public if, frankly and humbly and conirit"iy
they make the sort Of confession that l. good
for the soul. It is 10 be feared that they Will
FRY to spare their own feelings. pretend that
the circumstances have changed. possibly even
s,oop to declare that the rule they want to
adopt is not the cars rule because II wears
the thin disguise of a new phrascolog}. But
let lis all hope for the best Cur disposition |
is Sanguinc and kind. and we shall promptly
and checrfully record and commend ever! |
manly rctIaction and apology.