New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-15
MR.. REED ANSWERS CRlTlCo.
A LIVELY DEBATE ON THE RULES of
THE HOUSE.

THE SPEAKERS SARCASTIC REPLY TO MR. DE
ARMoNp-MR HENDERSON ANGRY
Washington, Dec IA brief but interesting de-
ho,o n, the rules vas preciptated In the House
TODAY by Mr. Grow, Of Pennsylvania MI DE
Almond of Missouri. made a speech on the
decadence Of the privilege OF debate In the House.
and held Speaker Reed responsible for the fact thi
the House had no opportunity to ADOPT "a he" syn
tenn OF rules AT this session. Mr.. DE Almond was
exceedingly ronical In his reference 10 the ue
cadence Of the odme privilege Of full debate IL
had become the fashion. he said to bring In repres
sve rules to cut off debate on every important
question.
The Speaker replied as follows:
"The gentleman from Missouri has permitted
himself to make statements in regard to the Tela-
lions between the Speaker and the other members
of the Committee or. Rules that. / am happy 20
state, not justified by the facts The House
must feel itself to have been treated TO- an
unusual discourse upon the lack of liberty given to
the citizen. 1t so happens In this world that there
are many citizens. 1t so happens that In the House
of Represen aives there are many members. ana
that while In theory every man can occupy all the
time In discourse, in actual practice he has to
occupy IL In subordnaton to the rights of every
other member. to the rights Of the body itself ana
to the prosecution of public business. In actual
practice. also. the House may have noticed that
however much dcspotism is exercised by the rules
the earth beneath that has not been discussed even
I'm this present Congress. Q.aughterD
Now, If the gentleman from Missouri Will turn
to the annals Of Congress away back In 1916, during
the period Of liberty such az he thinks he desires
he Will find that John Randolph. who certainly
heard enough to become famous for century,
complaining about the despoism OF the ilies
at that period, and was also complaining thdt even
the arch-nqulsitor himself would have been sat
isned with the wckenness of them. so you see
that human nature is the same in all tiIne.
daughter and applause on the RepIbican sipe.)
Mr. Grow made short historical address D!
unanimous consent on the origin OF the Committee
OF the Whole the State of the Union. In when
there limit on the latitude of debate
Mr. Grows remarks caused Mr.. Robinson, OF IN
diana. 10 reprOach the majority because no new
code Of rules had been prepared for this Con-
grcss He charged that Mr. Henderson, Of Iowa.
had promised. when the old rules were Temporarily
adopted at the first session. that a code OF rules
would be presented within thirty days.
Mr.. Henderson Indignantly denied the charge
He pointed out that he had only expressed ms
opinion that code of rules would be pre-
scented within thirty days. He had expected II
then, and he had not wanted the House to ad-
journ the last session without adopting ne"
rules. That had been his wish. 81 urged It, he
said emphatically, "and don't want this charge
thrown into my teeth now because the commit
tee Of which am member did not agree with me.
1t Is cowardly thing to do