Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-03

guished It's beginning, is a good sign Of
future efficiency.
The returns Of the last municipal cleo
ton are to be taken Of course, as the
sentiment Of the majority OF our clh-
gems. That has placed in power the
representatives Of a great political
party. II Is therefore TO be expected
that we shall have that kind Of an ad-
ministration The minority should view
the matter IN that light and take Il
as pleasantly as they can, and they
should not seek In any way, TO OBJ
struct the course Of the majority But
1t must not be forgotten that minorl-
ties have rights and that they should
be respected
The minority Of the city Council repre-
sent r large portion Of the people OF
this city Indeed the population IS
pretty evenly divided in party politics.
While It is to be expected that tho
Representatives Of the party now In
authority win exercise the right OF self
preservation and party advantage,
they should not close their eyes TO the
possibilities Of the future. nor TO the
present interests Of the whole munich
pality Their course will be watched
with critical eyes. and they should be
wise enough not to give any real oc-
caslon for animaaverslon,
Much that was done in the city
Council on Tuesday viii meet the APP
prevail Of the general public. But one
step was taken which In our opinion.
was unwise and unnecessary. We re-
fer to the action by which 1t was de-
termlned that a suspension Of the
rules can be effected by a majority
vote. This Is so strongly partisan that
81 gives occasion for unfayorable COM
ment Just and intelligent people
among the supporters OF the party in
power, viii be Just as strong in their
criticisms Of that step as viii fair
minded men Of the opposite party We
do not know Of any set Of parliament
tary rules which includes such an ar
bltrary and unfair provision, II ylrtu-
ally shuts out the minority from taking
practical part In the city affairs. No
such gag rule. so FAR as we are aware.
was ever adopted In legislative body.
In all the works on rules Of order,
the principle OF the two-thirds vote as
requisite for the suspension Of rules,
Is set forth and emphasized. The rules
Of the British Parliament and those Of
the Congress OF the United states. and
also Of State legislatures, municipal
bodies, societies, corporations and asso-
Citations Of every Kind, uniformly 50
far as we are aware, require q two
thirds vote for this purpose. Even un-
der the revised rules Of the House OF
Representatives which, under Speaker
Reed occasioned so much objection,
this rule remained intact,
We have before us the Rules and
Practice Of the House Of Representa-
tlyes in the Fifty-hfth Congress. pub
llshed at the government printing office
In 1895 from which we quote the fol-
lowing:
"l-No rule shall be suspended ex-
cept by a vote OF two-thirds OF the
members voting, a quorum being pres
ent, nor shall the Speaker entertain
motion to suspend the rules, except
on the first and third Mondays OF each
month, preference being given on the
first Monday 10 individuals, and on the
third Monday 10 committees. and dur
ing the last six days Of the session.
"2-All motions to suspend the rules
shall, before being submitted 10 the
House, be seconded by a majority by
tellers II demanded.
"3-When a motion to suspend the
rules has been seconded, Il shall be in
order before the final vote Is taken
thereon to debate the proposition to be
voted upon for forty minutes; one half
Of such time 10 be given TO debate In
favor Of, and one half to debate In OPP
position to such proposition, and the
same right OF debate shall be allowed
whenever the previous question has
been ordered, on any proposition on
which there has been no debate"
We think that rule should form a
good guide to the present City Council.
II is not and should not be a party
question In any sense whatever. 1t is
recognized, and has been from time
immemorial, as just and proper regu-
lation, as II gives an opportunity for
both sides Of a question to be fully
presented. Anything in the shape OF a
gag is obnoxious and will not rebound
to the benefit Of those who resort TO it.
The rule should be changed TO be in
conformity with those Of other legls-
latiye bodies.
We hope and expect that the present
City Council will be measurably, II not
entirely free, from the unseemly con-
tentons which, to some extent, de-
priyed the late City Council Of It's dig
nifty and the respect which should be
felt for so important body by the gen.
eral public. The Deseret News will
sustain all measures and movements in
tended for the public benefit, and trusts
1t will not have occasion to find further
fault The promotion Of the general
welfare is beyond all petty and party
motives and purposes, and this paper
IS for the people and not for any fac
ton or class we wish the new city ad-
mlnistratlon full and complete success.
THAT FENIAN PLOT.