The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-04
REED WRITES A BOOK.
Hts Treatise on Parliamentary Law
Soon To be Issued.

Soon to be IssuFd.
Ex-Speaker Reed has written a BOOK
II is the first book he ever wrote, but
Will hardly be the last. The reasons
which have induced him to ignore the
Scriptural warning may never De Iuny
set forth. but the essential fact remains
that he has vritten a book, and II wiz
be given to the world within a few weeks
1t Is a treatise on parliamentary laW,
and will be issued from the press OF
Chicago publishers. IL viii be a duodeci-
mo Of about 10 pages, a convenient hoIih
and size.
The treatise is entirely free from con-
troversiai form, and win be known as
Reeds Rules" The author did not name
his bantling. but the happy suggestion
came from his publishers. AS a successor
in a sense 10 "Je1erson's Manual
"Cushing's Manual " and Roberts Rules
Of Order" the name is decidedly appro-
pirate, and should not be taken as an in
dicauon that the ex-Speaker intends TO
thrust upon the public any partisan pub
LEGATION to be used 10 usurp the well-es-
tablished rules Of parliamentary law.
The scope Of the work may be best set
forth by giving the preface In full. 1t
runs as follows;
1T should be understood at once that
lNlS UlhILdi mas AokilhS ~ W. N+NH ~
political differences which have existed
as 70 the rules Of the House OF Represen-
t%atives, except so far as any treatise
would incidentally refer 10 them.
"The object Of this book is to present
the rules Of general parliamentary law IN
such a way that the system can be com
pretended by persons who may be called
upon to preside over meetings Of ceiibera-
tive bodies, and by those who may desire
10 participate in the proceedings. The aim
has been to so explain each motion that
Il may be understood by itself and also
in its relations 10 other motions. Para
graphs also have been inserted to show
the changes made in general parliamen-
tary law by the rules and usages Of the
United States House Of Representatives.
This, it was thought, would be useful to
enable those who desired so TO do 10 COM
p: enend, IN a general way, the practice OF
that body.
Forms and suggestions have been add
ed. II It should seem to any one versed
I'm parliamentary law that many Of the
forms are too simple to need printing,
the author ventures to suggest that a be
ginner does not know the simpler things,
and needs them the most.
III the student has once fixed In his
mind the idea that parliamentary law is
not a series Of arbitrary rules, but a
plain, consistent system, founded on com
mon sense and sanctioned by the expert
ence Of mankind he viii have gone far
toward understanding II. That this lit
tie volume viii complete his education Is
too much 10 hope for. but that It will aid
and assist the learner is the hope Of the
author. J. i. REED,
portland, Me-, October, 1893"
As this announcement Of the book Is
informal ana in advance Of the publish
ers' intention. there can be no set review;
but enough is known of its contents TO
assure the public that it will prove a val
liable addition 10 existing publications on
the subject Of parliamentary law. one
of it's chief points Of value will be found
to be its explanation Of the history ana
reason for each rule and the notifications
that nave developed in parliamentary
| laws. Mir. Reed takes up, for instance,
the previous question, and shows how II
has changed its nature into a fundament-
ally different motion from its original
/ intent. He has brought together many
interesting facts which may be incorpor-
ated In the form of notes. For instance
the Roman Senate used TO have a simple
bur effective form Of flibustering, and
that may be Incorporated. There will
be a discussion of the duties Of presid-
ing officers I'm suppressing disorder ana
preventing hlibustering. The bearing OF
certain rules under peculiar conditions
viii he set forth, as, for instance. th7
laying Of q bill on the table, which in the
House of Representatives Is equivalent
TO its defeat. as there is no time in which
It will be IN order to take il up.
The student of parliamentary law will
be given the underlying principle which
justihes each law. instead OF being told
that il is the law because the precedents
are thus and so. There is an explanation
Of the variations which are made neces-
sary In the laws to adapt them 10 the
needs Of bodies Of different characters.
The main characteristic OF the whole
work is its perfect lucidity. There is a
clear and succinct reason for everything
In the book. and while numerous extracts
are made from existing books on parlia-
mentary law, 50 far as the main body
of the work is concerned, Mr.. Reed has
used his own language and put the rules
into the English which best expresses
the necessary idea. It may be called a
undermining and codiication Of the body
Of parliamentary laW.-WashingtOn Past.