The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-07-15
rs or con REsSM
How They Garry on Legislation
Ii House and Senate.

Especial washington Letter

Especial Washington Letter.l
The claim 10 made that the house
OF representatives. is not constitution
ally in session. Senator Morgan, Of Az
ALBANIA, distinguished constitutional
lawyer, has stated in the senate that
this entire session Of congress Il un-
constitutional.
The senator claims that, although
the letter Of the constitution seems to
be complied with, the spirit Of the in
strument IL violated, because the house
Of representatives, under standing
rule, adjourns for three days at = time.
whether quorum is present or not.
Speaker Reed has never publicly ex-
pressed himself on this subject until
now. He says: Article 1, section Of
the constitution, clause 2, says: Each
house may determine the rules Of its
proceedings This seems to be
plain enough. Under that constitution
al provision, the committee on rules Of
the house Of representatives Of the
Fifty-fiftf congress brought in rule
providing that adjournments shall be
from Mondays to Thursdays, and from
Thursdays to Mondays. The constitu-
ton authorizes the house Of represents
tives to determine the rules Of its pro-
seedlings. That is all that the pres.
emit house Of representatives has done.
We adopted a rule for these constitu-
ticnal adjournments; and it is simply
political nonsense to have our constitu-
tional right to do 50 questioned"
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
ganic law upon which the republic is
based. Correspondents and readers
have their own views, but the supreme
court alone can decide who is right in
this contention. 81 ~. * -
One thing, however. is very apparent
Every man has 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 nc
legislation enacted. except tariff legis
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 presi.
dent solely for the purpose of the en-.
If <or. E loo; lott
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, 100000. That
is pretty big sum of money, and would
be alarming in its proportions, even il
the national treasury were not in q
bankrupt condition. 49, r. r.
It is the determination of Speaker
Reed that none, of these claims shall
have consideration at this time. Dc
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. Well, congressman form comb
nations, too. The statesmen who have
constituents after them, demanding
consideration of their special measures