Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-22
LITTLE OF INTEREST DONE.
The House Talks About ketrenchment
In the Matter OF Committee Clerks,

The House Talks About ketrenchment
In the Matter OF Committee Clerks,
WASHINGTON, d. c.. September 2l.-
By good deal Of effort the Democrats
barely succeeded in mastering quo
rum, and the previous question was or
dered, It's TO 4. Under the rule thirty
minutes we're allowed for debate. In
stead OF devoting this time to discus
sion OF the order OF the measure 1t per-
tained TO, ex-Speaksr Reed opened
the debate on the correct
ness OF Speaker Crisp's ruling
Yesterday. He said his motives Ia lee
turing the House had bsen impugned
and misunderstood. He declared he
was actuated by desire TO establish an
honest system OF parliamentary prac-
tice. Referring 70 the error In this
mornings journal, be said that there
would soon be before the House a prop
Osition to expunge from the Journal
ruling Enormously reported by the
Journal clerk, which he believed should
stand.
81 know" said be. "that the Demo
cratic party has no desire TO establish
one-man power. but the proposition es-
tabIished by the Speakers ruling yes
terdav, giving the committee on rules
pOwer 20 originate legislation and max
ing &c unavoidable by the House, has
no parallel, except under the First Con-
sulate 10 France. That gave the Con-
sui the right 20 originate legislation
which the legislative body was CON-
PEELED 70 accept or reject uualtered."
Gen. CatChings, in strong reply,
pointed out that Mr.. Reed misunder-
stood the meaning and intent OF the
rules adopted by the House. While he
was supporting the rulings OF yester-
day, tue Speaker had read ruling
made by the late Speaker Randall which
he said was Identical with his own.
The vote was then taken on the adop-
tion Of the report and 1t was adopted.
Yeas 10, nays 3.
The House then passed to less I'm
portant business. Chairman RusE,
frou, the committee on accounts, pre-
sented a report assigning clerks by
committees. This WAS the signal for
the regular biennial effort in the In
terest OF economy and retrenchment
The chalrmSn's report gave clerks per
diem or annual clerks 10 all committees.
A minority Of the committee consisting
OF Painter, OF kentucEy, Mutchler, OF
Pennsylvania, had prepared a minority
report against providing with clerks
the committees on expenditures in the
different departments and the commit
tee on alcoholic liquor traffic, educa-
ton, immigration, improvements OF the
Mississippi river, mileage, militia, ven
tflation and acoustics. IL was claimed
that they never met and that 81, $50 per
month would be saved without inter
fering with the public business. The
minority report was not presented,
however. aud those who Intend ed TO
make the fight for economy and retrench-
ment found themselves in an embar-
RAISING situation. A long debate en-
sued.
Mr.. Painter offered a substitute for
the majority report, aboiishing the
clerks 10 the committees named. The
vote was taken first on the substitute.
The substitute was carried, 10 70 rs.
Mr.. Grain, Of Texas, moved 10 recon
slider the vote by which the substitute
was carried.
Pending that motion the Speaker laid
before the House the corrections he had
noted 10 the jOHrnsl. He pointed out
that on four distinct occasions the jour
nal clerk had assigned reasons for rul-
lngs which be (the Speaker had not
given. The journal, be said, ought TO
reflect the exact truth as TO the pro-
ceedtnRs Of the House.
Mr. Reed said be had no idea OF TAX
ing advantage Of the error made by the
journal CLERK 70 embarrass the Speaker.
After some further expression OF his
opinion as 50 Why in bis judgment the
Speaker shtuld allow the alterations OF
his rulings 10 stand. as he claimed, In
the Interest Of honest parliamentary
practice. the corrections were made and
the House aejoarned, leaving Mr..
CraiR's Motor ending.