The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-15
REEDS RULES
They Will BE Retained by the House
Senate Methods.

Washington Special to Chicago Post.
As the time draws near for Congress to
meet testimony accumulates in support Of
the statement made in this column many
weeks ago that there would be no impor-
tant changes in the rules Of the House. The
solemn truth is the House leaders on neither
side want the rules changed. They were
framed for the facilitation of business and
represent the expression of more than
hundred years. They We're not adopted,
as many have been led to believe, to confer
upon Speaker Reed czarike powers for the
suppression or repression of individuality
but to enable the majority TO make head
way with legislation and to choke off fill
clustering. If it were not for them a faction
could block business for an indefinite time
to suit its pleasure or caprice. Indeed, one
man could hold the House by the throat.
"Old Bill Holman, of Indiana, made a
national reputation for that very thing.
His death is said to have been FASTENED by
disappointment over his inability to OBJ
struct legislation under the Reed rules as
he formerly did.
The Democrats had four years in which to
amend the Reed rules and take the sting out
of them, but they did not do it, although
they had previously ragged and fused at the
horrible tyranny made possible under the
operation Of the obnoxious provisions. These
rules are serving many useful purposes be-
sides enabling the majority to transact
business without a sinful waste of time.
They furnish an excuse for the nonpassage
OF legislation, of which lame and lazy MEM
bers are swift to avail themselves. Count
less are the times, since the Reed rules went
into effect ten years ago, that members
have written to or told complaining or in
dignant constituents that they were pre-
vented by the prethdiced enforcement of the
rules from getting through desired legisla-
ton. when, If the truth had been known, no
effort had been made to crowd for action.
The rules have served we'll a kicking
post, and as the active agent for their en-
forcement the speaker has come in for an
unmerited share of abuse. Few veterans
got out of scrapes by blaming the speaker
Tor their own failures, and ii was really
mark OF greenness or defective Judgment for
and not the speaker was to blame, and the
system was what the majority needed for
its own government as well as for the
the sense of the House" Curtail the
speakers power and Generalization is like
~ to ensue. Slacken the reins and the
House will be free any minute to run away
with the speaker and make mess of every
thing. Liberty will be construed as license.
The work of the speaker will be quadrupled
and trouble breeders will rule the rooSt.
Business will come to a standstill.
In the Senate courtesy takes the place
of cast-iron rules for the limitation OF de-
bate and the suppression of an unruly
minority or faction. Sometimes courtesy
has been strained to the swapping point, but
at critical moments when majorities are
tempted to take the bit in their teeth wise
counsels prevail and obstreperous senators
are cOaXed off or dragged Off Pressure is
applied in hundred ways, and eventually
obstructionists learn the lesson. They find
out that If they violate the ethics of the
club in this matter of senatorial courtesy"
they are blacklisted. They cannot get any,
thing through They do not always en-
that method of discipline is seldom applied.
The blacklisted member finds himself sur
rounded by an impenetrabe india rubber
wall of inertia a mile thick. After a time
he realizes his EelplessneSS, and If he shows
the proper spirit of cOntrition is taken back
into fellowship on probation. If he kicks
and fumes or gets mulish and makes an
Ishmaelite of himself he dooms himself to
utter and absolute failure Sometimes 1t
takes two terms for senator to learn that
the smooth way is the best way and that
the oil of courtesy Is the only stock in trade
that counts in the north end of the Capitol.
His usefulness and standing N the Senate
are in proportion to the thoroughness with
which he understands the value of the
courtesy policy and acts in accordance
Herewith. When he takes all the degrees
he gets everything in sight he can decently
ask for and let's every brother senator do
the same, always bearing in mind q few
that no gentleman can be hog and that
when senator presses the limit of good
behavior he is taking long chances OF REIN
statement on the dreaded blacklist.