The Washington herald., 1911-04-02
DEMOCRATS ADOPT
RULES FOR HOUSE
ReVisers Praised for Their
Excellent Work.
COALITION HAS ITS RESULTS
Prompt Action in Accepting Laws
Which Will Govern Proceedings
Proves Surprise of Caucus-AH
Committees Must he Elected and
No Vacancy Filled by Designation.

One of the agreeable surprises of the
Democratic caucus in the House yester-
day was the prompt manner in which
a decision was reached as to the rules of
that body which are to be in force during
the Skty-second Congress
Not more than two weeks ago the
newly appointed Democratic contingent
of the Committee on Rules attacked the
job of revision. Chairman Henry brought
forward the -esult of the committee's s
labors yesterday and saw the recon-
nendations adopted after comparatively
short debate.
Several of the prominent parliamenta-
rians of the body, not members of the
committee, complimented their colleagues
on the excellent work they had done
Due to the Coalition.
In brief, the Democrats adopted all
the amendments to the rules made dur
ing the last couple of years as a result
of the persistent activity of the Repub-
lican insurgents and of the coalition be-
tween these insurgents and the Demo-
Gratis For instance. several changes made
in the rule relating to the discharge OF
q refractory committee from conSiGera-
ton of bill and the taking up of the
measure IN IlS HOUSE. uuEoSSlOle
repetition of the tilbuster conducted last
year by Representative Mann, of Hi
nois. when, with one bill of 800 pages. he
made the discharge rule absolutely in
operative for the entire session.
This committee discharge rule. as
amended. provides that no bill on the
discharge calendar shall be read the first
time except the title shall not contain
more than one hundred words, and that
I,au blN-,
discharge motions on the calendar at the
same time.
Hut undoubtedly the most important
amendment TO the rules IS the re-eDact-
mcnt of the SO-called Holman amend
nent, originated back in the ForU-fourth
Congress by Representative William ).
Holman, OF Indiana. who was later chair
man OF the Appropriations Committee,
and who is known TO history the first
watchdog of the Treasury
This Holman amendment. which was
embodied in the rules OF the House in
the Forty-fourth, Forty-f1fth. and Forty
sixth Democratic Congresses, the Forty-seV-
Cnth Republican Congress and the Forty
eighth Democratic Congrt IS, but which
vas repealed 10y the Democrats when
they secured control of all the govern
ment machinery at the beginning of the
first Cleveland administration, is admit
ted to be a most important factor IN
keeping down the total of appropriations
made by Congress. In general the Hol-
man amendment permits general IegIs-
lation on any and all appropriation bills
even TO the extent of changing existing
law. where the object of the legislation
IS retrenchment in the annual expendi-
lures Of the government.
Saving of $4O,OOO.OOO
In the first session of the Forty-fourth
Congress, the first in which tie Holman
amendment operated, it resulted in a
saving of 100000 The total appropri-
atiors; for the session were 800 GI1,Goo If
this same ratio prevails curing the next
regular session. which begins in Decem-
Der. and during which the Holman
amendment Will be a part of the rules
the saving viii amount to someth hing
like 500, 10000
Democratic leaders fer laSt rirht,r