The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-11
A Calendar of Business to Be
Provided For.
The Speaker Will Be Given Power
to Make Appointments.
These Will Include Pages and Door
kecpers-Other Changes Favored.

The committee on rules OF the lower
branch of the General Assembly Of which
Mr.. John l. Remlinss of Providence Is
chairman, is trying hard to introduce
some nineteenth century ideas into the
House OF Representatives. The mem bers
have had frequent sessions since the ad-
journment from Newport and they were
together many hours yesterday afternoon
at the State House engaged in putting
the finishing touches on their report,
which will be made to the House at the
special session next month. The aim OF
the committee is TO remove all the parIia-
mentary dead wood which has encum-
bered legislation, and resulted in lot OF
unnecessary expense In the printing Of the
committee lists for the manuals. AT the
present time there are Ii House commit
tees, six OF which never meet and amount
to absolutely nothing.
Their only utility in the last decade has
been to furnish obscure holes for speakers
to bury unpopular members and his
political opponents In. Several of these
useless committees, those on State
property and unfinished business for in
stance are to be abolished.
Such action wouldn't hurt the feelings
of the men who have been honored by
the appointments made 10 get them out
of the way.
Another change, IL adopted, will more
equally distribute the work among the
committees which do amount 10 some
thing. IL is safe to say that for the last
few years the committee on judiciary has
done al least 10 per cont. of all the work
referred by the House. Its files are never
cleared, snd the work on important
judicial legislation is often hindered by
the consideration OF other matters, which
might properly be handled by the COM
mittees on corporations ana special legis-
lation. This defec. has not been over
looked by the committee on rules.
Heretofore the committee on special
legislation has been underrated and used
principally as repository for theories
of utopian gladness and for the Garvi-
nian measures. 1t Is proposed to give
this committee the responsibility and
privilege OF considering soms really sane
bills in the future,
The committee on rules is also to be
placed on proper basis, where it's true
value may be appreciated.
Another innovation TO be recommended
in September is the daily calendar OF Dusi
ness, something similar to the docket
adopted by the Providence Common
Council of the present year. All measures
must be on the calendar before they can
ken up for action and will then be con-
sidered in the order of their announce
ment. No one will hail this innovation
with more delight than the clerks OF the
House, and the newspaper reporters. Ii
will do away With surprises il 1t is carried
out.
The farcial method of suspending
rules which has been in vogue for SO
long Is also to be uoDe awav with. I'm
der the present system the suspension of
rules by unanimous consent is nm empty
form. The committee on rules recon-
mends that il should reqaire as nigh
nnd digniGed proceeding TO suspend u
rule as the rule is itself. I'm other words,
IT should be necessary TO take the same
preliminary action for the suspension
OF rule Of the House, as is req utred Tor
its amendment or annulnent Therefore
the committee will recommend its report
that q motion to suspend must be made
in writing, and that two-thlrds vote
will be necessary to carry the motion.
The most radical change that is to be
recommended has to do with appoint
ments OF House attendants. Ii is pro-
posed that hereafter the Speaker will
sppo MT the doorkeepor and pages, in
stead of leaving 1t for deals among the
member