The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-23


Mr.. Cannon proposing a special order for
the consideration of the four appropriation
bills, which had been referred two days
before to committees not in existence.
This resolution was referred by the file
clerk to the committee on rules. None but
those specially interested could know that
this had been done without sitting the 704
bills and resolution that had been dump
ed into the basket while the journal was
being read in a ten-nninute session.
On the next day Gen. Henderson re-
ported resolution from the committee on
rules providing for the prompt considera-
ton of these four appropriation bills. The
first, the sundry civil. was to be taken
up Immediately upon the adoption of the
resolution. After forty minutes debate
the bill was to be read, the previous ques-
ton to be considered as ordered and the
final vote taken The other three bills,
the agricultural, Indian and general de-
nciency, were to be considered in the same
manner. Gen. Henderson promptly NOV
ed the previous question on the adoption
of the resolution. Under the rules of the
last House 1t could not be amended, and
debate was limited by the same rules to
forty minutes. The resolution was adopt
ed, yeas, TIA, and nays, III.
The four appropriation bills were passed
by the House in the order named. They
involved an expenditure of $72, 1866 SS9.21.
Such bills have always been in charge of
the chairman of the committee or sub
committee, who reported them to the
House. In this case, however, they had
been referred to non-existng committees
and could not be reported from any COM
mittee Fortunately the chairmen of the
committees who had reported them in the
last congress were all reelected. The
speaker sagaciously placed the bills in
their charge. Nobody objected. They
parceled out the limited time for debate
and piloted them between the shoals of
legislation.
The new members looked dazed. 1t was
swift legislation for them. The seventy
two millions Whizzed by them before they
were aware of what was going on and
how it was going on. OF course the NIL
nority made a great cutlery, but it was
like the cry Of a man swept overheard In
a gale.
The reader should understand that there
was no vital necessity for the immediate
passage Of these bills. They were not APP
preparations for the present fiscal year,
but for the year beginning July /, 1897
With this fact in view, the delay in the
Senate can be readily understood.
More than this, it is worthy of note
that the thirty days within which the
committee on rules was to report a set of
rules expired long ago, and no rules have
yet come from that committee. The rep
resentatives are still acting under the
rules of the last House.
The House passed the sundry civil and
the general deficiency bill on March 49,
and the agricultural and Indian approprI-
alton bills on March 20. 1t informed the
Senate of its action on March p, and the
bills were promptly referred to the Sen
ate committee on appropriations. On
March "a that committee reported the ag-
ricultural bill without amendment. The
bill rested on the Senate calendar until
Anrfl % and WAS then paScad without de-
bate. 1t was the smallest of the four APP
preparation bills. The President promptly
signed it.
The Indian appropriation bill was re-
ported back to the Senate on April 6. 1t
was taken up on April IA and discussed at
odd moments until April 10, when it was
amended and passed. 1t was sent back to
the House with the amendments on April
q. OF course there was no committee to
take charge of it, 1t was, however,
promptly lariated William A. Stone OF
Pennsylvania on the same day placed in
the file clerks basket a resolution maxi
ing the appropriation bills passed by the
Senate and returned to the House privi-
legged, so as to be considered without ref
erence to committee.
The file clerk naturally referred this res
olution to the committee on rules. On
April % that committee reported a special
resolution providing for the consideration
reference to a standing committee imme-
diately after the adoption of it's special
resolution. This resolution was carried
and after a discussion lasting two days
the bill was sent to a conference COM
mittee which the speaker appointed.
The sundry civil bill, which passed the
House on March 10, was reported back to
the Senate on April 6. 1t remained on the
calendar until May 4, when it was taken
up and passed a day or two afterward, as
amended by the committee on appropria-
tons.
The general deficiency bill, which passed
the House on March 10 and reached the
Senate on March %, is buried In the Sem
ate committee at the present writing.
These dry facts are instructive, If not
entertaining. They clearly portray the at
titude Of both Houses. One has driven the
appropriation bills through at lightning
speed without any consideration in COM
mittee; the other has taken its time under
the usual course of procedure, and consid-
cred the bills with the gravity of an ecu
menlcal council. At the same time 1t has
passed bankruptcy and pension measures
and is continuously working in the field
of legislation without regard to the action
of the House. which shut down after the
passage OF the tariff bill.
Amos ]. Cummings.