The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26
RULE FOR Ex-SPEAKERS.
THEY ARE NEVER INVITED no
TAKE THE CHAIR IN HOUSE.

Do Not Appeal For DecisiOns-Un-
written Law Governing These
Matters borrowed From the House
of COmmOns-SOme of Those Who
Have Graced the Chair Temperate
~ or as Chairmen in Committee of
the WhOIe--Each Speaker Has Fa-
vOrites For This Latter Function.
Washington, Dec. A.-Great is unwrlt-
ten law in legislation. Its mysteries are
marvellous and its power is astonishing.
1t steals upon congress at times and start
ties it from its reveries. Vague and shad-
owy, it has the force Of habit and the
power of enactment It is as imperative
as the DEGREES of an emperor.
A statement that Speaker Reed has
never honored the venerable Galusha A.
Grow by calling him to the chair of the
House of Representatives has excited con-
siderable comment. Grow was speaker Of
the House at the outbreak of the war
thirty-six years ago. The fact that Gen.
Nathaniel p Banks was treated in the
same way by the same speaker in the
fifty-frst congress added interest to the
in 1856, succeeding Linn Boyd of Ken
lucky Grow made an excellent presiding
officer, and Banks was simply magnificent.
He was the beau ideal of parliamenta-
rian in form, voice and action. Sunset Cox
once said that Banks methods in pre-
siding were like the music of the spheres"
His voice rang out amid the widest COM
One incident in his career at the desk
is worth recalling. It occurred at the
close of the first session OF the Thirty
fourth congress, on Aug. IS, 1856. Both
houses had agreed to adjourn sine die at
y clock on that day A tagging army
appropriation bill was under considers
alton in the Senate when ii became high
noon in the House The roll was being
called upon a joint resolution to prolong
the session, when the hands Of the clock
point to u. Banks arose, saying that
as the House had fixed this day and hour
for the termination Of the session, the
House would now adjourn without day.
At this time Mr. Millson of Virginia was
protesting. AS Banks brought down the
gavel, and was gravely descending the
steps, Millson rushed toward him shout
ing: "Mr. Speaker, Mr.. Speaker, Mr..
Speaker it is p o'clock until it is Il
O'clock"
THAT is very true, sir" Mr. Banks dig
nihedly responded, but it is IL O'Clock
when it is 12," placing a strong accent
upon the word lis" And the House was
adjourned, necessitating an extra session.
which lasted ten days.
Mr.. Reeds action in ignoring Grow and
hA oh, ,..tfz
gave rise to much speeula ton. It certain
ly seemed that no more delicate or grace
full compliment could be paid them than
to have given them an opportunity to
WELD anew the gavel handled so skillfully
nearly half a century ago. His action,
however, is in lire with a custom unva-
ried since the first congress. 1t is
the unwritten law of the House Of Rep
resentatives that an ex-speaker shall not
take the chair. 1t was borrowed from the
unwritten law of the British parliament.
1t was first enunciated in the House by
Henry Clay over seventy years ago. Clay
was speaker seven years. On his re-entry
to the House he refused a reelection to
the chair When afterwards asked by
the speaker to take the chair temporarily
he declined upon the ground that It would
be a violation of the unwritten law. His
example was followed years afterword by
ex-Speaker Robert M. 4. Hunter Of Vir-
ginia, and eX-Speaker Robert &. winthrop
of Massachusetts. Ex-Speaker Banks
also declined a similar honor before the
war
Samuel ]. Randall. another ex-speaker,
was once asked to preside temporarily by
Benton McMillin, who was filing the
chair in the absence Of Speaker Carlisle.
He declined so peremptorialy that McMlllin
fancied he was chagrned because the
democratic caucus had preferred Carlisle
to himself as its candidate for the high
honor. In conversation afterwards, in
the room OF the committee on appropria-
tons Randall recalled the precedent set
by Henry Clay. ard said that 1t would
stand as long as the nation remained in
existence.
II Is also the unwritten law OF the
House that an ex-speaker shall never APP
peal from a decision of the chair. Ex-
SPEAKER James G.. Blaine made this an
nouncement while Michael c. Kerr Of In
diana was speaker. MIR. Kerr was the
frt democratic speaker elected after the
war. The floor had been taken from Mr..
Blaine under the speakers ruling. The
Maine statesman said that though he diff
fered with the speaker as TO the construc-
zion Of the rule, yet Ia harmony with the