Morris tribune., 1911-01-20

Rules. Fearful of further fights anC
further publicity there were con-
sultations and then the decision that
public opinion was an influence toe
powerful to be opposed by politicians
in their untenable position. Accord,
ingly the Rules Committee recomend
ed for adoption three of the vital re
forms demanded by the progressives
Two insurgents. Kerry C. Conley Of
Rochester and W. A. Campbell OF
Minneapolis, championed amendments
intended to end the loose business
methods that have prevailed in the
purchasing of supplies for the House.
For years the Chief Clerk has operat-
ed. almost without check of any kind,
under the following order from the
House:
"Resolved, That the Chief Clerk
be and is hereby instructed to pur.
chase such supplies as are necessary
for expediting the business of the
House, including copy of the an
notated statutes.''
The new rules contemplated nc
change in this condition and Mr.. Con-
ley secured the adoption of an amend
ment requiring the Chief Clerk to get
an itemized invoice in triplicate of
all supplies purchased by him and file
one with the State Auditor for each
bill paid. Mr.. Campbell's amend
ment was of the same nature. It
provides that no bill for supplies shall
be paid until audited and approved by
the Committee on Legislative Expen-
ses, and requires this Committee tc
keep a public record Of its meetings.
These two important amendments
marked the first onslaught on the new
rules. and their adoption was the first
real victory won by the insurgents.
Next came an honest concession in
reference to the concession" discuss
ed last week. 1t will be remember
ed that the progressives insisted upon
a rule limiting the time committees
could hold business from the House.
The Committee on Rules conceded"
this reform and reported a rule on
the subject which contained no less
than four jokers. as follows:
l. It was to apply only to bills,
emitting resolutions.
2. 1t was interpreted by good
parliamentarians to mean that it
would require a two-thirds vote to
force bill from committee within
twenty days after it was referred.
3. 1t was not automatically oper-
ative, but bill could be forced out
! five days after member demaned it..
| if he made the demanded after the
twenty-day limit.
4. When bill is forced out of a
committee, under this marvellous rule,
instead of taxing its regular course,
it snail 'lie on the table,, which
has little parliamentary advantage
! over O6lHS III q committee.
Knowing that W. A. Campbell had
an amendment ready and that a gen
eral attack on Rule 20 was pending.
the Committee on Rules themselves
backfired by reporting an amendmet
which removes joker No. 2. This
concession clearly establishes the
right of majority to recall a bill
from a committee at any time and is
. of the greatest Importance. Perhaps
the progre5sives will be satisfied with
this, but the other antiquities of the
Rule 20 should be removed.
The third victory of the progress
sives was more clear cut and decisive.
1t was undeniably due to the power
, of publicity. The politicians did not
dare to face another roll call on the
question. Here is the story.
After the amendment to the rules
requiring committees to keep a record
of their actions had been defeated, 46
to 81 the vote was given last week.
w. |. Nolan kept up the fight by
offering the following, which was of
course referred to the Committee on
Rules:
"Resolved. That each Committee
of the House shall keep record of
its meetings. which shall include a
roll call on all final action on bills
and the names of members present
Any member who is unable to attend
committee meeting can have his
reasons for not being present made a
part of the record. The record of all
committee meetings shall be filed for
! public use with the Chief Clerk with
in twenty-four hours after the com
mittee has met and at the close of the
ses sion shall be filed with the Secret
ary of State for public use. Any
part of the record of the committee
meeting shall be made a part of the
journal of the House uDon raollest of