The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-07-22
WAYS OF CONGRESSMAN.
How They Garry On Legislation
In House and Senate.
Private Pension Bills Are Introduced
Ia, the score. Rut Action Is Had
on Only n Feu-fntc ot
Petitions.

The claim is made tina the house
Of representatives is not constitution
ally in session. Senator Morgan, OF Al
| ALBANIA, a distinguished constitutional
lawyer, has stated III the enatc that
this entire session Of congress is n
constitutional.
The senator claims that, although
the letter of the constitution seems to
be complied with, the spirit OF the in
strument is violated, because the house
of representatives, under a standing
rule, adjourns for three days at a time,
whether II quorum is present or not.
Speaker Reed has never publicly cN-
pressed himself on this subject until
now. He saws: ARTICLE /, section 8 of
the constitution, clause =, says: Each
house may determine the rules of its
proccedings.' This seems to he
plain enough. Under that constitution
al provision. the committee on rules OF
the house of representatives of the
lilty-iifth congress brought In a rule
providing that n~djournmcnts shall be
from Mondays to Thursdays, and from
Thursdays TO Mondays. The constitu-
ton authorizes the house of representa-
,Iyrs 10 determine the rules of its pro-
cecdings.' That is all that the pres
eut house of representatives has done.
We adopted a rule for these conStitu-
tiCnal adjournments; and it is simply
political nonsense to have M constitu-
,;.r,t ,;,,lt q, a., ., r,,p-t,,.l
Whether Senator Morgan is right, or
whether Speaker Reed IS right, must be
determined, If ever, by the supreme
court of the United States; for that
body alone has constitutional power
to interpret disputed questions con
corning the Interpretation of the or
ganio law upon which the republic is
BASED. Correspondents and readers
have their w views, but the supreme
court alone can decide who is right in
this contention.
One thing, however, Is very apparent.
Every mar has u purpose in his public
and private life. What is the purpose of
Speaker Reed. Chairman Dingley and
the other members Of the majority of
the house OF representatives. There
seems to be no doubt upon this sub
ject, for Chairman Dingley announced,
early in March. that there should be no
legislation enacted, except tariff lcgis-
lation. Speaker Reed publicly an
nounced. from his official position at the
speakers desk, that this special session
OF the congress was called by the prcsi-
dent solely for the purpose Of the en-
uctment of revenue or tariff legislation.
That is all very plain; but there is
something back OF it.
Every member Of the house of repre-
sentatives has some constituent, or con
stituents, urging him TO secure special
legislation, Excluding pension claims,
there are revolutionary war claims,
Mexican war claims, civil war claims
and numerous private claims against
the government, amounting in the ag-
gregate to more than 500, 0OO, 900. That
is Il pretty big sun of money, and would
be alarming in It's proportions, even if
the national treasury were not IN a
bankrupt condition.
1t is the determination OF Speaker
Reed that none of these Claims shall
have consideration ut this time. DO
you know why? Because there is
danger that many of them would be
passed, and the government is In no CON
dition to pay even its just obligations.
You read about trusts and combina- |
tons OF rich men, TO accomplish re-
suits, Wen, congressman form comb
nations. too. The statesmen who have
constituents after them, demanding
consideration of their special measures,