New-York tribune., 1899-05-07
REEDS POWER AS SPEAKER.
COMMENT ON HIS REFUSAL TO SIGN A
RESOLUTION.
DIVISION OF OPINION AS TO WHETHER HE
ACTED WITHIN HIS AUTHORITY


ACTED WITHIN HIS AUTHORITY.
tpY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSEl
1,ashinxton May 6-The discovery Of the joint
sutton passed by the two houses OF the last
nress in the closing hours OF the first session.
"a which was never sent to the President for his
nroval because OF the refusal OF Speaker Reed
80 s,sn 1t on the part OF the House has attracted
,hi,c attention and been ihe subject or more or
~. comment There is a division Of sentiment
~ the course pursued by Mr.. Reed. Some OF his
..ds contend that II is questionable whether he
"a the authority to sIgr a bill which was carried
rsr from one session 10 another. 1t Is also SAID
Nat the signing Of the resolution by the Nice-Pres-
~, first was Irregular and nullifed the action OF
me two houses
THIS second contention is said by those skilled IN
,,s parliamentary practices Of the two houses 10
xogrerated beycnd the Importance OF the rule
y hitch q Is based The rule stipulating that tne
sror Of the House shall sign bills and resou-
- arst was adopted by the first Congress ana
" IN IN force Vice-President Hobart, when ne
.ore into office found that this practice was III
80 - hut was not satisfied that II was correct
Noeu hoa the subject looked up. and learned
IL n.o came the authority which gave the Speaker
w. nrivileee The clerks of the Senate say 'hat
- a. &c impossible without much research W
W. nrecedent. yet 1t Is known that years ago
- or two occasions, In order 10 save 'ihie' ''e
U On rresident did sign some measures nrs'' anu
.Hn
C. ,ar as the first reason advanced lof MI
- course is concerned, the Speaker IN the
NJ. congress established a precedent which MS
% .' :. have overlooked. In the second session the
- rossed House BIZ No 1926. making appro-
',ous % execute certain provisions OF the ACT
w. protection OF the people OF the lh1ian
Iol Inv The bill was passed at CLOCK on iue
1toiS'or 81 July g. 1S9S the afternoon the session
dtonrned The bill was taken over 70 me tbe
rived there too late to be lald peiore 'ne
Sut SSu,or e. The clerk reached the chamber JUST as
Manos adjourned. The bill was replaced IN
M eins of the Senate end again sent over Wheh
tt.rress tIo reassembed in the following DecemDei'
IohheI beer enrolled under the caption OF second,
nfIi II had been reenrolled as bill OF the thi,u
session contending that 1t was not IN reah!
snassed' by the House until he had signed IL.
xo further action was taken by either the House
~ the Senate The records show that IL was
oaesed on the last day OF the second session. MT
NE bill became a law by the Presidents approVai
on December q. 1895 Thus Mr. Reed has hlfnseI
refued the assertion that bills coming over from
one session to another cannot he signed by the
presiding officers OF the two houses without iurther
action OF the House or Senate.
The strict letter Of the rules has sometimes not
teen followed when public business demanded
small measure OF elasticity. Just as the second
session of the Lid Congress was adJourning Tor
the holiday recess several bills were sent 10 the
Of them in the recess, and Informed Congress Wnen
il reassembed that he had approved them. tIle
tll which was alleged to be of doubtful characN
was vetoed through what is known as the 'pocket
process the President saying that he could not re
fur IL to the House within the constitutional limit
OF ten days No good reason appears 10 nave peer
discovered why measure properly passed by poth
houses shold not he signed by the presiding omcers