The record-union., 1896-01-11


glad to have the bill pressed as rapidly
as possible, and to have it passed at
the earliest possible day. But he had
no desire to cut off any Senator on
either side who wished to discuss it.
And, in view of the fact that he had
been assured by a number of Senators
that they wanted to speak on the bill,
he might say that he would not ask for
a vote for at least several days.
The Senate then, at $50 o'clock, ad-
journed until Monday next.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, JAN 10.-The dis
cussion of the amendments proposed to
be made to the rules of the House by
the Committee on Rules, upon which
the House entered to-day, for time
apparently threatened to extend over a
weeks session. But it was only a di-
version
Hepburn (Rep) of Iowa proposed an
amendment making it obligatory upon
the Speaker to recognize a member
who addresses him in accordance with
the rule, and said the prevailing prac-
tice smacked too much of the school
master in the chair of the House.
The motion was antagouized by Hen
derson (Rep.) of Iowa. in charge of the
committee report, on the ground that
no other custom was practicable than
that which obtained of permitting the
Speaker to determine who should be
recognized and who should not
Bell (Pop) of Colorado expressed his
qualification at Hepburn's motion, il
lustrating what he claimed to be unjust
effects of the present practice by as
serting that not since the session open
ed had Populist member been recog-
nized by the Speaker. He denounced
the committee assignment made by the
Speaker, describing the present organ
ization and management of the House
as that of a body of bosses-a body of
tyranny"
At the conclusion of Bells speech
Hepburn raised a general laugh by
dramatically withdrawing the amend
ment
Henderson Rep.) of Iowa reported
the changes in the rules recommended
by the Committee on Rules. and the
House proceeded to consider them seri-
atm. The first amendment was one
specifically directing the Clerk to pay
officers and employees their salaries, a
provision adopted from the rules of the
Fifty-second and Fifty-third Con-
crosses. 1t was agreed to.
The next amendment struck out the
provision requiring the Sergeant-at-
Arms to give bond in the sum of $50,
600, and was agreed to.
Rule 2. 1t was proposed to amend
in accordance with the rules of the last
Congress, so as to permit the Commit
tee on Rules to sit at any time and to
preclude any dilatory motion upon the
consideration of the report of the COM
mittee (save one, to adjourn) until the
report was disposed of.
Crisp (Dem) of Georgia said that
when that rule was proposed in the
Fifty second Congress gentlemen upon
the Republican side exercised them
selves in denouncing it as the methods
the Democrats proposed for gagging
the minority. He was in favor of the
rule then and was in favor of it now.
and he only wanted to congratulate
the Republicans on having at last come
to that point where they were willing
to admit that a Democratic rule was
proper method of procedure. Oaugh-
ter)
Speaker Reed-I imagine that the
feeling is mutual. (Renewed laughter)
This rule indicated that committees had
leave to report at any time. They are
ten committees-on Rules, Elections,
Ways and Means, Rivers and Harbors,
Public Lands, Territories, Enrolled
Bills, Invalid Pensions, Printing and
Accounts-beside the committees hav-
ing charge of general appropriation
bills.
Walker (Rep) of Massachusetts en-
deavored to secure the same privilege
for the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency, and Bailey OeTn.) of Texas for
the Committee ON Coinage, Weights and
Measures.
This led to a wide discussion of the
relative Importance of the several COM
mittees of the House, but by a nay and
aye vote of III to 1S3 they rejected
Bailey's amendments, Democrats and
Populists voting for it, and Republicans
generally against it, On Walkers
amendment to insert the Committee ON
Banking and Currency, the vote was:
Yeas 112 nays 160. AS in the former
vote. Democrats and Populists voted
for the amendment, and Republicans,
with few exceptions, in opposition
The adoption of the proposition of the
Forty-seventh Congress, to regulate the
ascertainment of a quorum, was dis
cussed on legal lines by several mem
bers. In response to the views of Bailey
of Texas, who maintained that a bill
must receive the affirmative votes of a
majority Of the House in order to pass,
Speaker Reed, who took brief part in
the discussion, said if Bailey's posi-
tion was correct he must hold that no
bill could pass the House receiving less
than eighty-nine affirmative votes
The discussion continued until 4:45
o'clock, when the House adjourned
until tomorrow