The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-08
Consolidated Aug. 9. 1881.
DEMOCRATIC RULES REFORM.
ADOPT CODE BASED ON RULFS
or PREVIOUS CONGRESSES.
Two Important Amendments Provide
for Calendar "Wednesday ana Dls-
charging Committees.

Washington. April 5.-Both houses
Of congress listened today to Presl-
dent rafrs biref message urging the
adoption OF the reciprocity agreement
with Canada.
Then. with the senate adjourned.
tho Democratic house proceeded
further with It's Organization by
adopting a new set OF rules. To a
great extent the new rules are repe-
titions OF those that have been
handed down by many congresses In
tho past Tho Democrats claim that
their creates; reform is In taking
away from the speaker his power to
appoint committees and to designate
the chairman OF each committee. The
new rules provided for the election Of
committees and their chairman.
The second reform Ii return to
the former Democratic practice of
permitting legislation on appropria-
ton bills when the legislation tends
To reduce the expenditures of the gov
eminent.
The Democratic rules continue
Calendar Wednesday" and the unan-
imous consent calendar and seek to
perfect the rule for the discharge OF
committees.
This latter rule. the Democrats de-
clare effectively does away with the
practice OF stiflIng legislation in COM
mittees.
A special order passed by the Dem
scrats. limiting debate on tho bills
to four hours Immediately brought
out a cry OF gag" from tho Repub-
leans
+ The speeches which followed were
AN more or less OF a political nature
and there was no serious fight on the
rules themselves. The Republicans
Gained they were debarred from
riaking such fight because OF the
further provision OF the special or
o thar only one substftutes SET Of
rules couil be offered by the minor
M E,t even a roll call was de-
manded by the Republicans on the
adoption OF the rule.
The political battle was but fore
taste OF others to come during the
session. which arc expected to make
the present congress notable. Repre-
sentative Mann, the Republican
leader. was ably seconded by Former
Speaker Cannon and Representatives
Daizell and olmstead. with one or
two Republican insurgents thrown in
for good measure.
The latter assisted their brothers of
the minority by portesting against the
action OF the Democrats In adopt
ing the 'tyrannical method of former
majority In cutting Off debate and the
opportunity for amendment"
Mr.. Mann charged the Democrats
with insincerity In much they said In
praise of the rules. and declared that
they had no purpose TO take away
themselvs as majority the right to
control legislation. He characterized
the new rule for the discharge of
committee as an utter absurdity. not
20 say idiocy.'
Mr.. Henry. chairman OF the new
rules committee. retorted that the
rules thus characterized had called
out the most doieful speech from Mr..
Mann that ne had ever heard that
gentleman make. Mr.. Henry further
said that the fault the American peo-
pie had found In tho past was not so
much with the house rules as the bad
administration OF those rules
MIR. Cannon's speech was easily the
feature. He was greeted with APP
piause from both parties when ne
arose Co make his maiden address OF
the session.
II want TO say here and now" ne
declared. chat substantially the rules
proposed are an Endorsement Of
nearly all tina. IS good In the rules
that have evoluted since the adop-
tion OF the constitution. and, there.
fore, I am not going To criticise tho
rules merely because the majority oi
the house proposes to adopt them
Sometimes mljoritics and mlnoritic.
tear passion TO tatters, and appca
from the standpoint Of dcmagogucr,
and Clap-trap to people that woul,
not know rule or code Of rules j.
thoy met In tho middle of the street
Now II is sojd that We have a unani
nous consent calendar. { admit tina
we have. Along with that Is the say