The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-04-06
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
NAMES COMMITTEES
MEETING OF DEMOCRATS WAS
NOTEWORTHY FOR ITS
HARMONY.
CHANGES IN The RULES
Controlling Party Adopts Program
Of Procedure for Extra
Session.
CHANGES IN The RULES

Washington.-Th Democratic eau
Gus was noteworthy for its harmony
and the smoothness Of its progress,
and the Democratic members Of the
new house of representatives adopt
ed without change the committee as
signments, the economy program and
the new rules prepared for the COM
ing session by the committees that
have been working during the last
month.
Important changes in procedure
and a general reorganization Of the
house will result from the action OF
the Democrats. The power Of nam.
ing committees was definitely taken
from the speaker by the rules and
lodged in the house itself. Committee
members are to be elected by the
house, not only in the first instance,
but also in the filing of vacancies.
A saving Of $182,000 in the annual
cost of running congress is promised
through the cutting out Of superfiu-
GUS employees and inactive commit.
tees and through the adjustment Of
the time-honored extra months pay. y
Appointive places are all put into the
hands of one committee, a special
body to be known as the committee
on organization.
The important changes in the rules
under which the new congress will
operate are:
The selection Of committees by the
house.
A provision ito prevent flibustering
under the rule giving authority to dis
charge committees from considera'
ton of bills.
A provision permitting amendments
to appropriation bills whenever these
amendments will result in retrench
ment of national expenditures.
Authority for bills to come UP twice
for passage under the unanimous con.
sent privilege.
The rule to prevent filibustering on
motion to discharge COMMITTEES
from custody of bill is the result OF
filibuster conducted in the last sesr
sion by Representative Mann of lii
nois He had the postoffice reorgani'
cation bill placed on the calendar I'M
der this rule and demanded that it be
read completely, an operation that
consumed several days.
The new rule provides that bill
shall be read only by its title and
that its title shall not contain more
than 100 words. 1t prohibits any
member from having before the house
at any one time more than two mo,
tions to discharge committees from
the custody of bills
From the temper OF the Democratic
members after the caucus there is Lit.
tie prospect of a short session.
Here is the program for the SEES.
sion, as contained in resolutions
adopted by the caucus:
Resolved, That the Democratic
members of the various committees
of the house are directed not to re.
port 10 inc uOu50 uu1lHS lHS AISC SSS-
sion of the Sixty-second congress, I'M
less hereafter directed by this caucus,
any legislation except in reference to
the following matters:
/. The election of United Sttaes
senators by the people
2. Legislation relating to the pub
licity Of campaign contributions be-
fore and after elections.
8. The Canadian reciprocity agree
ment, general tariff legislation and
legislation affecting the revenue OF
the government
4. The reapportionment Of the
house Of representatives to conform
to the thirteenth decennial census.
5. Resolutions of inquiry and reso-
lutions touching the action of the ex-
ecutive departments.
g.. The admission of the territories
of New Mexico and Arizona to state
hood.
Z. Any deficiency bills that the ext
gencies Of the government may re-
uuire to be considered at this time
Race Riots In Delaware.