The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-09-02

LOT member of congress to do is I
Introduce a bill.
All one needs to do is to write tn
bill out on a piece of paper and put
In the basket on the clerk desk. The
1t has been introduced.
Many bills are introduced. but fe,
are passed. In the last congress 1871
bllls and $50 joint and concurrent res
buttons were introduced in the hous
and 5O52 bills and 3O4 joint and con
current resolutions in the senate.
Out OF all of these, 50 public resolu
tons and 521 bills passed and becam,
laws OF the land. The record for tn,
greatest number Of bills introduced
was made in the Sixty-first congress
When 1883 bills and resolutions were
introduced In the house alone, out OF
which $40 became law.
When the clerk gets hold of the bill
ne refers 1t to the appropriate commit
tee. And there it may rest in peaceful
slumber forever more, or it may be
heard from again If enough pressure
is exterted In it's favor
Out home a good friend Of mine sug-
gested once that he didn't like this
committee system; he thought that
each member should give individual
consideration to every bill introduced.
Imagine 1t, If you can.
No man can read fast enough to
keep up with all bills introduced.
Most committees get more bills re-
ferred to them than can be given in
telligent consideration. SO, naturally,
the bills which have the greatest sup
port IN the country get first considera-
ton. Congress gives first considera-
ton to the appropriation and revenue
bills. These and some other bills Of
nationwide Importance come along
automatically.
Hearings on Bills.
When committee decides to give
consideration to bill, if it concerns
many people or interests, hearings are
held. That is, people interested are
invited to come in and tell the COM
mittee why they think the bill should
vi SiVulu llOl DcCOinc Il INV.
Sometimes these hearings are quite
elaborate affairs. Some last several
weeks and hundreds of people come
from all over the country to testify for
or against the bill. The tariff bill
hearing brought experts and prominent
Of every line Of indus
try to Washington.
The appropriations committee has
85 members, the ways and means Is
members and other important commit
tees have p members each. The men,
Ders sit around a long table and the
witness addresses them. The witness
must know what he Is talking about
Z he would make good impression.
Any member may interrupt him at any
line with any question, and before he
yets through the committee Is likely
o find out all he knows and some he
Doesn't know about his subject. The
are open to the public.
An official reporter takes down ev- |
.rything that is said, and later the |
are printed in paper-bound
'Ook form. Some Of these hearings,
Ike that on the tariff, for instance,
un into thousands Of pages. They
ring out a vast amount Of useful in
and some Of the printed
earrings are practically textbooks on
he subject discussed. The printed
earrings are given to all members, so
hat they may become posted on any
roposed legislation. Others who are
may, at times, get copies.
After the hearings are closed the
ommittee holds executive sessions
nd discusses the bill. 1t may decide
OF to report it out. This practically
Ills a bill. It may decide on some
Z many amendments to the bill, or
may rewrite the bill in another form.
T it may report 1t out as it was in
When the bill is reported out It
pes on the calendar. There are sew
al kinds of calendars, operating for
fferent classes Of bills under differ
It rules.
Debating the Measure.
The big bills come up In the COM
ittee Of the whole house on the state
) the Union. Debate is usually two
four hours, though any amount OF
me may be agreed upon. Sometimes
. or IA hours has been agreed on.
he time is equally divided between
e majority and minority sides. The
eatest fairness as to division and
stribution of time always prevails.
ne time is parceled out by the chair
an of the committee in charge on
e majority side and the ranking
|nority members on the other side. |
The bill is first read. Then comes
o debate, Sometimes members must I
lex to the subject under discussion
d sometimes they are permitted to
TX about anything under the sun.
ere is where campaign speeches I
metimes get in.
After the hours for general debate U
We been used up the bill Is read
ain by sections for amendments, q
lis is termed reading the bill under e
. fiye-minute rule" as no member q
" talk more than five minutes, ex- c
n by unanimous consent. No men,
I can get the floor except to advocate .
oppose an amendment. Members n
often make q motion Ito strike out
, last word" or "last two words.
, in order to get the floor for five
III WV - o.
nutes.
Many amendments are offered ana "