New-York tribune., 1899-11-14
TO EXPEDITE LEGISLATION.
PLANS TO PERFECT RULES OF THE
LOWER HOUSE OF CONGRESS-
COMMENTS ON THE HEPBURN PLAN-AN-
OTHER ONE OUTLINED TO SUP
LY AN INITIATIVE.
tnr rr,rnRArn TO TIE TRIBrNE.l J

my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
Washington. Nov. 13.-It is not the judgment
Of the closest observers here that any raui0"'
changes will be made in what have populals
become known as the Reed rules by 'he AN'l,
Congress soon TO convene. Nevertheless e00"
Saa1 bas heen said by certain prominent mem
hers which indicates on their part, at least a
desire TO reform the procedure II cannot oe
denied that there has always been some oppo-
siticn not wholly OF a partisan charac'ei ~
some of the rules OF the House. THIS opposi'io"'
however has usually come from interesteu per
CONS whose particular measures have been kept
in the background by reason OF the opera'on =.
the ruIes. The general sentiment has favored
the continuance OF the system OF rules ana the
constant perfection of them rather than their
abolition or radical amendment. An expert III
parliamentary rule and practice said to Irio-
une correspondent to-day:
The rules will remain practically as they are
Any modification OF them VIII be III M tne ''T NJ ~
perfectng, not Of materially altering theIl. "ii
Hepturn's idea Of requiring lHe SPVoNet.
recognlze the first man who addressed the chdir
would not work at all. II would put tne HOUSE use
the mercy of few feHows hlloDe .''7,IS a nree
and amply endowed with cheek. who wouio pte-
ernpt the floor and hold it. The rules are SUM-
ciently flexible If we are 10 do business
This authority then discussed the various
propositions Of publicists TO expedite anu coh-
solidate legislation, while improving its quality
He said:
Would Bryce's and Woodrow Wilson's sug-
eestlon 10 give the Administration initiative
Sistinctlv in the line of parliamentary govern
,nent answer the purpose? / do not thlnK SO
IL doesn't suit Congressional government AT an;
The committee system works fairy well anu
gives as good results as are secured anywhere.
Compared with some of the legislatures IN the
States, the methods OF business in Congress are
vastly superior in both honesty ana eflclenCy.
] would not materially change them What
would do would be to restore TO It's pristine
vigor the party caucus. Bllls OF lnportante i me
should be reported to the caucus ana thelr Iate
settled there The caucus itself. with the ald
Of TIE committees. can do more good WORK ana
do 1t more quickly than any steering commit
tee or enlarger committee on rules.
ANOTHER PLAN OUTLINED.
Mr.. Hepburns conception of a large Commit
tee on Rules is not the first scheme Of the kind
by any means although it is the most recent
that has been prominently exploited Before
he broached IL another plan was discussed IN
private circles here Of which the following is
mere outline. The House in the form Of an Ex-
ecutive Committee of not less than eleven nor
more than fifteen members having parliament
ary experience a certain number Of whom snail
be chairmen of leading committees, is compe-
tent to govern itself and initiate and promote
necessary legislation. TINS great &c conmIeee araset
should discharge the functions OF the present
Committee on Rules. Of the chairman OF the
Ways and Means Committee. who is the moor
manager Of the dominant party ana llKe"ise
caucus, which Usually is not created until near
the close of the session.
Besides 1t might be clothed with the powers
of a committee revision Of all bllls ana JOINT
resolutions before their final passage Such
committee Of revision was contemplated py
some Of the most practical legislators IN -dn t1e
Federal Convention at Philadelphia in 1Ie9
The use Of the Executive Committee woulu pe
TO take charge of all bills reported from the
various ordinary committees Of the House, pIlng
them up for action after their phraseology nad
been determined and press them betore the
House Just as the British Government presses
measures before the Parliament.
The proposition worked out was something
like this: In caucus the Republican party we
will say, chooses eleven men as the EXecutitte t
Ncans because unity of action is desired FIVE
Of them are chairmen Of the Leading commit
tees Of the House-Ways ana means APpIopa PpIpaiid Ia
tons, Judiciary and two others elther Inv anu anu
Pensions and Interstate and Foreign Commerce
or Military and Naval Affairs or Postofices.
Elections as involving matters Of the hlghest
privilege might be included in place Of one of
these. The rule would prescribe that the other
six members should be Representatives VINO
had served not less than Two terms III Oo"-
gTess.
WHAT COMMITTEE WOULD DO.
All bills reported from any committee Of the
House would be revised as 10 verbiage by the
Executive Committee This committee would
have leave to sit If necessary, during the ses-
sions Of the House. although this privilege
would have 10 be exercised with caution, be.
cause the committee would in its leadership or
the House will find II necessary usually 10 be
present while the House was sitting. Its chair
man would, rather than see the chairman or the
Ways and Means Committee, be the leader or
the House corresponding TO the Prime Minister
IN Parliamentary government
One objection and only has been raised
70 this plan by practical legislators Of wide read
ing and penetrating minds. Governor Oates OF
Alabama long a prominent Representative in
Congress- said that II would work all right II Il
could be adopted But in his opinion the chair
men of committees would never consent 10 give
up sufficient powers TO enable the scheme to be
put successfully into practice. AS matter Of
fact they are compelled 10 yield some Of their
powers 10 the Steering Committee Of the caucus,
and the Committee Rules now reports the
order Of business which. when il is ratified by
the House. commands obedience.
The British system has the advantage over
the present system Of the American Congress in
that IL has a definite initiative. The promoters
of the plan declare that their scheme will
supply an initiative in consonance. not with
British, but with American government. The
discussion may rot be settled with the LVlth
Congress- as that body will have so much to do
in practical legislation that ii may not care to
occupy itself with methods Of business beyond
the most urgent necessities. But that II is Of
more than academic interest is evident from the
consideration paid to IL in Congress circles.
AS for the immediate matter of organizing the
House the present orgaT ration in the main
will be preserved Il is we'll understood. The
only probable change among the important off,
GERS is the substitution of Mr.. Casson, Of Wis
consin for Mr.. Russell. Of Missouri, for SER
geant at arms.
TO DRIVE OFT INDIANS FROM COLORADO.
Denver. Nov 13-Game Warden Lee is organiz-
ing a posse here 10 expel from Colorado several
hundred Indians who are encamped at the head
waters of Yellow Creek. between Pielance and
11zr