The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-13

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec 12.-It has been
widely published that certain represen-
tatives are bound to have the house
rules changed during the present ses-
sion, and Speaker Reed is reported as
willing to let the advocates of the pro-
posed changes come before the commit
tee on rules and plead their own case
On these representations not a few
sanguine souls have founded a hope
that the restrictions which now hold
the house in check will be loosened so
as to let a few Of their pet schemes
through.
Possibly the rules might be altered in
a few minor particulars with advan-
tage; but whoever cherishes the fancy
that the present driver Of the house
coach is going to let the reins and whip
pass out of his hands, or allow the
horses their free will with the bit, is
doomed to disappointment. There is no
such prospect ahead. The trouble with
most Of the members who are clamoring
for a change of rules is that each has
one scheme in mind which he has been
unable to carry out directly on account
Of some obstruction in the rules. Now
they wish to do away with all
such obstructions merely to ac-
complish their single purposes. This is
a dangerous resort. 1t is using too big
a gun to bring down too small game.
Take a single instance in illustration.
The Massachusetts members have for
years been interested in plan for es-
tablishing a naval dry dock at Boston.
So far as anyone knows, it is very
worthy project, and it certainly has the
approval of Secretary Long. Year
after year they have introduced bills
which they have tried to induce the
house to incorporate as amendments in
the general naval appropriation bill.
Each time they have been defeated in
this purpose by point of order raised
under house rule 81, one clause of
which prohibits the incorporat in any
general appropriation bill of an appro-
priation "for an expenditure not pre-
viously authorized by law, unless in
continuation of appropriations for such
public work and objects as are already
in progress" The dry dock not having
been begun, has of course never been a
public work already in progress" and
the amendment has gone down time
after time before the adverse ruling of
the chairman of the committee of the
whole house.
Senate rule 16 is much more elastic.
1t provides simply that mo amend
ment shall be received to any general
appropriation bill, the effect of which
will be to increase an appropriation
already contained in the bill, or to add
a new item of appropriation, unless it
be made to carry out the provision of
some existing law, or treaty, stipulation
or act, or resolution previously passed
by the senate during that session; or
unless the same be moved by direc-
ton Of a standing or select commit
tee of the senate, or proposed and pur-
suant Of the estimate of the head of
some one of the departments"
This is very nearly equivalent to say
ing that anything under the sun may
be put into an appropriation bill in
the senate; for it would be hard to get
a form of new appropriation that could
not be made in some way to meet
these very generous requirements.
This year, in view of the favorable
recommendation by Secretary Long, it