The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-31
RESOLUTION RULED OUT.
The. Speaker Sustained by the Vote
of His Party.

The Speaker Sustained by the Vote
of His Party.
A question Of privilege which concerns
the house is one which concerns the ex-
ercise of its functions in accordance with
the principles which govern parliamentary
bodies.
Every parliamentary body has to have
rules for it's government otherwise 1t wou
have no government at all; and upon adaer-
ence to those rules depends Its success as
parliamentary body. - =.
The rights of the house under the consti-
tuition are in no way to be confounded tn
the privileges of the house and OF every
member in it in the sense in which this
matter is presented here today.
Congress has certain powers conferred
upon it. and in the exercise Of those pow
ers each house is governed by its rules. 1t
is authorized expressly by the constitution
to make rules. and without the authorize
ton Of the constitution it would be at lib
erty to make rules. W
These rules are the protection of the
rights of the house; now it would be
noticed in the constitution. If any gentle
man would turn to it. that there are GER
power to declare war, the power to legi la e
for the general welfare, and a series OF
other enumerated powers.
No man up 10 this date has for an in
slant pretended or suggested that because
the congress has the right to pass laws
upon certain topics that proposals for thoe
before except once, and the chair viii! pre-
sent the decision to the house.
The same language is ussd with refernce
to our relations with foreign nations, that
is used with reference to the creation Of
the courts of law and all other power which
is concerned. 1t is iegis alive power and
is exercised under the constitution by rules
adopted by each body. ,
This is the first preliminary idea that we
ought to have in regard to this matter.
But this proposition in regard to war, or
81 HOS, io0fI
which may or may not be within our pur-
view. do not become questions of privilege
at all because we have a right to pass upon
them because that would make everything
a question of privilege and end by making
nothing question of privilege.
Time of Interest.
Now, let us see what this is founded on.
This Is mater that we, should not have
given any attention to, except in times of
interest, not to say excitement. The gen.
temen from Maine (Mr. Boutelle) some time
ago presented to Speaker Crisp a PROPOSE
ton which had in it certain Clements charg
ing that the executive was interfering with
some of the rights and privileges of the leg
islatve body.
The speaker ruled that it was a question
OF privilege and you will perceive that 1t Is
entirely different from the present PROPOSE
ton, has no aspect like it at all: not the
faintest resemblance to it; but the speaker
ruled that that was a privileged question.
He also ruled that, being privileged ques-
ton, it should go to committee
Well, now, against that doctrine the chair
has always been opposed; and the question,
members who see by turning to the rec
ord. that was put to the house was on that
part of the speakers decision as to whether
it should go to committee or not and If it
appears, as the gentleman from Texas says,
l voted on that subject, voted according to
my rights and voted againstoi it. But he has
omitted to state to you that this other ques-
ton, the same question almost, was put be-
fore Speaker Crisp, and by him promptly
decided to be out of order at an earlier
day. on the 30th of July, 1894.
The gentleman from Maine (Mr BouteI.e)
demanded It's immediate consideration, as
presenting a privileged question and the
gentleman from Missouri. an old and ex
point Of order that the resolution was not
privileged. daughter and applause on the
Republican side.) tf q II
precisely this question. %
Mr.. Bailey-May I inquire7of the chair II
there was any appeal taken on the decision
of the chair?
The Chair-There was no,appeal It was
too clear for an appeal, even. daughter
and applause on the Republican side.)
Mr.. Bailey Immediately appealed
from the decision of the chair.
Significant Statement.
In putting the question on the ap.
peal Speaker Reed made the following
significant and impressive statement:
AS far as any question arising out
Of this matter is concerned, the chair
has not the slightest doubt that the
wisdom Of the house. which has al.
ways been able to arrive at important
questions in a suitable way, will get
at them now and at speedy time fol