The Ordway new era., 1922-10-13
looking In on Congress From
the House Gallery
THE STORY OF A BILL
By CONGRESSMAN GUY U. HARDY
THE STORY OF A BILL
pv CONGRESSMAN GUY u. HARDY


usually some are adopted. On ona hil,
over oOO amendments were offered
otteh amendments are offered in order
10 weaken the bill and help to defeat
1t. Amendments not supported nv tba
committee have hard shedding and
rev are passed. Occasionally amend.
ments are offered by members merely
to enable them to make u speech tbnt
may please constituents interested. 1t
has been estimated that only about
nve per cent Of the amendments Of.
rered on the floor are adopted.
When the bill is read through for
amendments. which is the second
reading, the committee of the whole
votes on recommending Its passage.
II this Is favorable the committee
then rises" and the speaker takes
the chair and calls the house to order.
The chairman of the committee of
the whole reports the proceedings to
the speaker Then the bin comes up
for third reading. 1t Is read by title
only and voted on without further
remarks or debate.
Fixed Up in Conference.
II 1t is passed, the bill is sent to
| the senate and has the same rocky
road to travel over there. Probably
| 1t will have sundry amendments
tackled to 1t in the senate. Then it
comes back to the house for another
| vote. tf TIE house declines to accept
the amendments put in by the senate,
| the bill Is sent to conference. Tha.
Is, committee nude up Of few
senators and representatives. the
| rankin. members ON the committees
| that reported the bill out, consider all
phases. endeuvOr to compromise G!f-
ferences. and when they agree, their
report goes back TO both houses and
Is usually adopted. Once in awhile
the bill is sent back tU conference
several times before one OF the
houses Is satisfied.
Many proud father of proposed
| legislation does not recognize his
fond offspring when 1t is finally
passed by both houses and is ready
to be sent over for the President )
signature.
There are several other ways of
getting bills up in the house. Those
pertaining to claims, and pensions,
and OF private nature, come up
under "unanimous consent ON con
sent day the father Of the Dill has
good reason to be on the anxious
seat, for single member may "op
ject" ana prevent the consideration
Of the bill. Very seldom does mem
ber object out of spite or on account
of personal enmity. But there are Il
half dozen who make speciality ol
studying these bills and stand ready
TO see that they are properly amend
et or objected to. And many I'm in
nocent looking little bill is choked tc
death on unanimous consent DAY.
Some bills come up under special
rule. The rules committee present
resolution providing a special rule
for consideration of bill. The bonus
bill for Instance, came up uhuer
special rule. Four hours were al
lowed for debate and then the Dill
came up for vote without allowing
any amendments to be offered. fot
had TO take the bin the way II was
or not at all The object, or course
was to prevent unreasonable ant
harmful amendments being oHerea Vi
adopted. Men often vote for al
amendment and then vote agaihs
the bill.
Some think that curb should per
haps be put on the introduction o
so many bills. but that Is hardly pos
dble who would be competent Il
censor? or course the greatest free
dom In this respect must prevail. lie
the congress and the country deeio'
which are worthy and needrul. AS
matter of fact when you come II
think about 1t, the wonder Is una
many more bills are not introduced
for practically every man ana at Nus
every woman In the country mas
his or her system the Idea or som
naw law or laws that In his or ne
opinion ought to be enacted Ma.
of these ideas Of proposed ne" iests
Iet,on find their way in the shape q
hills TO the basket on the clerks des
in the house Of representatives
In the senate. Many start there, ou
very few wind up at the White houS
i, tha Presidents signature.