New-York tribune., 1899-02-27
IMPORTANT TO LEGISLATORS.
MR. HINDss BOOK on PARLIAMENTARY
PRECEDENT

MR.. HINDS's BOOK on PARLIAMENTARY
PRECEDENT
Washington. Feb % (s2ccaD.-One OF the most
important and useful Government publications OF
the year and which National legislators and
persons Interested in National legislation will find
Indispensable. is that entitled "Parlia mentary
Precedents OF the House OF Representatives Of the
United States" compiled by Asher G. Kinds. clerk
at the Speakers table and published by authority
of Congress These preceGents have been collected
from the journals and records OF debates. and ar
ranged with suitable references to the Constitution
and statutes relating 10 the organization and ad-
minis,ration OF the House. the general parliament
airy law and the origin and development OF the
rules OF that body The collection was originally
made for use I'm the work at the Speakers table.
and its arrangement and scope have been carefully
planned with the view OF making Il practical ref
erence book.
In the Introduction the compiler describes the
main features Of the work. Among other things
ne says:
The preceden,s included in This work belong TO
the period from the first organization Of the House
Of Representatives in l7@ 10 the adjournment OF
the second session Of the Lyth Congress in 1888
Not all the decisions OF the speakers lot me 10
years Of the Houses existence are included. ~
the membership has increased from sxty-hye IN
the Ist Congress 10 30 in the LIN ana as ~
volume OF business has grown with the growth
OF the country. the rules and practices nave
changed greatly. that a large proportion or the
very early decisions have become obsolete This
volume Is intended 10 include All those tnal are
still OF \ few Of them date from me lst 'ol-
gress. many from the Congresses during inc zen
years preceding the Civil War, but the larger
portion have been made since the general revision
OF the rules in lsso Nearly II nor quite all. OF the
decisions OF the Speakers since lssv. ana many or
the rulings Of chalrmen OF committees or the
whole for that period arc given.
With the decls are CLASSIFIED some precedents
which are merely proceedings. and others which
are opinions Of Speakers or chairmen given IN re-
sponse 10 parliamentary inquiries Such preced-
ents arc useful, and. athough without 'he alsn,s'
auth hortv have always had certain influence
many OF them being the result Of careful thougnt
on the uart Of presiding officers. But tney shouid
be DISTINGUISHED from the decisions made upon
points OF order. and affirmed by the silent acquires
cence or formal vote OF the House +, -.
AS the rules are constantly referred 70 In the
procedents IL has seemed advisable 20 give each
rule with "A brief account or It's origin ana deNel-
Opment. Certain sections of Jefferson Manual
Of the statutes Of the United States and OF the
Constitution Of the United States have also been
included as they are referred TO frequently.
In the sections relating TO the rules. as wei as 10
those relating the precedents. the footnotes IN
nearly all instances whore IL has been pOssole
carry references 10 the records OF debates. as we'll
as to the Journals Il has been the aim. whenever
possible TO exhibit the reasons underlying each
rule and practice OF the House. The system OF
procedure is a growth. directed in each pcriod In
accordance with what then seemed the wisest
method for remedying difficulties facilitating
public business. The names Of many of America :
wsest and most famous statesmen are associated
with this development
The volume contains thirty-six chapters and
what so many Government publications lack.
copious and satisfactory index.
Mr.. Kinds has done his work with characteristic
thoroughness and consclentiousness.. and the re-
suit will be a monument to his industry and
factory by everybody who has occasion TO con-
suit IL.