The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-13


the House and by the Postomcs Depart
msnt- The Lottery OF Drawing For
Seats.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 49, Especial. =
There seems To be little doubt that a seri-
Gus effort TO institute important changes
In the methods of doing business In the
house of Representatives will be made dur
ing the coming year. Not.onlv Is Speaker
Reed In favor Of some reforms-and what
the speaker has to say carries great deal
Of weight-but many of the most infiuen-
tial members think some improvements are
In order It Is now proposed to have AN
architectural commission take up the ques-
ton Of reducing the size Of the hall SO as
TO permit the deliberations Of the house to
be carried ON In chamber about one half
the size of the one now used, wherein the
members should not have desks, only seats
The British System.
Some of the members are In favor of go
ing still farther. Mr. Towne of St. Paul.
one of the most studious and observing of
the younger members of the house, tells
me he is convinced the day will come when
in the American house we shall have the
British system of interrogations of the
ministry. AS is we'll known, members of
the imperial cabinet take seats on the floor
of the house of commons, and in person
answer the questions which may be put
to them by members concerning the affairs
of the government. Mr. Towne thinks il
too early TO attempt TO engraft his system
upon our government, but that 1t will
come some day he has no doubt. 1t would
make a picturesque and interesting addi-
ton TO our machinery of government IL
we could have cabinet officers seated on the
floor answering conundrums propounded
by the statesmen of that body. Ii this rule
were 10 obtain in America, 1 fancy some
men who are now eager for appointment
to cabinet posts would not be so anxious to
undertake daily ordeal on the floor of the
house While the English practice is to
have all questions served the day before
the answer to them Is expected, thus Civ
ing the ministers time To prepare them
selves, it often happens that questions are
asked orally which are not easily answered.
The cabinet officer who should undertake
to go upon the floor of the American house
and meet the keen lawyers OF the opposi-
tion party there lying in wait for him
would need to be pretty thoroughly master
of himself and his facts.
Mr.. Towne suggests one improvement
which ought to be made at an early day
In the biennial lottery for seats on the
opening day of congress some of the best
prizes were drawn by the new and obscure
members, while number of the veteran
members and chairmen Of important COM
mittees were compelled to get along the
best they could with back seats, or with
seats SO far to one side of the speaker s
chair that TO catch his eye is matter of
the greatest difficulty. The house of rep
resentatives, as now organized is big,
unwieldy body whose politics and legisla-
ton are virtually in the hands of a few
men. 1t is an axiom that legislation Is
effected in committee rooms, and not upon
the floor and yet in the event of a close
contest in the house possession of a good
seat by the chairman in charge Is of much
importance. Generally it Is bad policy
to have the experienced members sitting
far from the center Of the house, and Mr..
Towne's very sensible suggestion Is that
hereafter the chairmen of important com
mittees be permitted to select their seats
in advance of the main body OF representa-
tives, as was done by ex-Speakers Grow
and Crisp, by unanimous consent, on
opening day.
nnn ind .f Vatt