The San Francisco call., 1897-04-09
THE REED RULES.

The attack OF Jerry Simpson upon the
rules under which the House of Repre-
sentatives does business is not wholly to
be regretted. As Speaker Reed himself
said, it is just as well to have the subject
brought up for consideration in order that
the people may understand it and if any
thing wrong be discovered the rem edy
applied promptly by Congress.
Mr. Simpson began his attack by read
ing an article from Washington news
paper and an extract from an article in
the current number of the Forum by Sem
ator Hoar to which we called attention a
few days ago. These articles, accordin q
to Mr.. Simpson, afforded him authority
for declaring tnat the present rules Of the
House are subversive of the independence
OF the members and deprive them OF the
power OF rightly representing their con-
stituents. Using them as texts he deliv-
cred a harangue in which he alternately
denounced the Speaker as a czar and the
House as body OF cringing slaves.
The article by Senator Hoar affords Mr..
Simpson no authority for his assertion,
although some passages in it could be
selected which seem to do so. The gen.
eral tenor OF the article is that it would be
impossible for the House to transact busi-
ness at all without the new rules which
have been adopted, and which are so Wig
orously enforced by Speaker Reed. Sena-
tor Hoar points out that obstruction in
the Senate is as nothing when compared
to the obstruction practiced in the House
whenever it is permitted.
Under the former rules of the House it
g. 4
tering to render 1t impossible for ma
Iority to carry out any legislation what
ever. What Senator Hoar said about the
new rules, therefore, was not intended by
him and would not be construed by any
intelligent reader as a condemnation either
of the Speaker or of the majority in the
House. His whole object was to show
that the House is not better legislative
body than the Senate and that current
criticisms on Senatorial proceedings which
account them as inferior to the method OF
procedure in the House are unjust, un-
fair and not supported by facts
The reply OF Mr.. Reed to the attack of
the member from Kansas was exactly
what it should have been. Clearly and
coolly the Speaker called attention to the
fact that be is simply the agent of the
House, entrusted with the duty OF execut-
ing the rules which the House itself has
adopted. He has no power to exercise
except that which has been given him by
the majority. That power, he has reason
to believe, is not seriously objected to by
any considerable number, even among the
members of the opposition.
Leaders of the House of all parties
recognize the necessity OF the new rules
for the transaction of business. This was
shown by the manner with which Mr..
Simpsons attack was received. 1t found
no support from any man of weight and
influence on either side of the House.
while on the other hand the defense of
the Speaker was greeted with general ap-
plause. The sentiment of the country is
the same as that of Congress. The people
desire that public business shall be
promptly transacted, and by enforcing the
rules which enable the House OF Repre-
sentatives to fulfill this desire Mr.. Reed
has made himself the most popular
Speaker since the days of James G. Blaine.