Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-01-13

the last session, with following
amendments: Rule IS is amended by
striking out the word ''chair" and insert
ing in the place thereof the word senate
thereby placing the appointment Of com
mitteeS in the hands of the senate inSteaC
of the president: committees on judiciary
on railroads and on warehouses and grain
etc, each enlarged to nine instead of sever
members. Rule 81 stricken Out. Rule 8,
read: "The chair cannot change a commit
tee after it has once been formed, without
the consent of the senate"
Mr.. LAMOURE moved the adoption OF
the report, and that as amended the rules
of the last session constitute the rules OF
the senate.
MI. BlDLADE. on behalf OF Mr.. Hitler
and himself, offered minority report OF
rules, recommending that the rules of
last session be adopted without amend.
ment.
Mr.. KINTER moved as a substitute for
Mr.. l. aMOure's motion that the minority
to his motion, stated that the change pro-
posed by the majority report was so radical
that he felt some explanation should be
given as to the reasons for such changes.
Mr.. LAHORE thought the subject had
been sufficiently ventilated on both sides
by conference and discussion. The change
was offered as an educational measure.
Mr.. klNTER disliked to differ with the
majority of the senate, but could cheerfully
go into the discussion when he believed
himself to be in the right. We have been
for %thirty.ive years practlcing under these
rules. Presiding officers have been uni
versally conceded the right to appoint the
senate committees. There should be some
abundantly good reason for changing this
was elected By a large majority Of
! the people of the state to preside in the
senate and the responsibility for legiSla-
ton in this body is divided and shared by
him. Heretofore this division of response
bility has been recognized by permitting
him to determine the membership of com-
mittees. From time ilnmemorial in this
state and territory. when anything of spec
ial significance, out of the ordinary course
was to happen, the generation of polite
ians have HE'D themselves to st. Paul, and
IN the Hobbies of the Merchants hotel
schemes were arranged to control the legis-
latiOn Of the state. So 1t has heen in this
case. and another notable instance was in
connection with that great swindle. tn; t
scheme Of schemes, the lottery.
MI. LaMOURE raised the
POINT OF ORDER
that the gentleman was not speaking to
MI. KlNTER promised to confine himself
tothe proper subject, but quickly drifted
Mr.. LAMOURE again raised the point
of order aid was sustained by the chair.
Mr.. KlNTER claimed the floor and pro-
ceeded. BY some mysterious and unknown
influence it had come to the minds Of the
majority that the lieutenant governor was
be taken advantage of to circumvent him.
Then these politicians a%ccidently again
met in Bismarck last Monday and pro-
ceeded to provide against this danger. 1t
wa peculiar that all these members should
have been brought to the same conclusion,
as that arrived at in st. Paul, that it wa
necessary to change the rules. His objec-
Elected in no sense upon the integrity Of
any member, but on the broad basis OF bust
ness and good policy, the president should
have the power to select the committees.
He should, from the condition of things, be
supposed better qualified to do so thar a
party or political management. With a
party it is a case of "you tickle me and I'll
tickle yCu."
Mr.. LAMOURE called attention to the
fact that it was purely on educational
grounds and for educational purposes that
the change was proposed. The gentleman
and the other members of the minority
were those who needed such education, to
a point Of appreciation of a legislative
body which selects its own committees
This idea was meyer preached in st. Paul.
1t originated. so far as he knew, at home.
1t was brought up two years ago. The
principle of selecting its own committees
by the senate has been largely adopted by
the states.
Mr.. WORST: Three years ago, when
the senate was strongly republican and
the presiding officer as we'll, this same
ago the same attempt was made under the
same conditions, and under the anne
leadership as row., but they were II to II
and did not succeed. This is in no sense
intended as a snap judgment or a snub to
the lieutenant governor. These commit.
tee appointments are almost identical with
those of the preceding session. Chairmen
OF committees who were members of the
last senate,are assigned toItte same commit
tees as before. The assignments made are
far from unfair. The eleven members con-
shutting the minority have ninety-two
committee appointments, the twenty others
have 119. That is, IS per cent, Of the mem
DeTSLlF receives a per cent. OF the appoint.
ments. and IS per cent. of the membership
receives So per cent. Of the appointments.
In the total this amounts to nineteen more
than their share for the minority and nine
teen less for the majority. He believed
that the senators were III touch with the
people, that they were truly representa-
tive. He believed further that as time
went on it would become apparent that
the majority had no feeling against the
presiding officer and would not be found
lacking in respect or fair treatment toward
him.
Mr.. KlNTER raised a point of order
thai the gentleman was not speaking to
the question.
Mr.. WORST, closing his remarks, urged
that the action of the majority ought not
to be considered a discOurtesy, that the
position of the president of the senate and
speaker of the house differed greatly, the
latter being chosen from among, and as a
legislator, while the former was in no
sense a legislator. unable ever to vote on
any question save in the extreme case OF a
tie.
THE VOTE.
Mr.. FULLER, when his name was
reached on the roll call, explained that,
while lie was a straight republican, he
should vote for the substitute. (Minority
report
The ayes were II, nays IS, and the
motion was lost.