Year: 1879

- Us EoPphth NO" W


the House.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 3d.-One of
the most important of the new
rules which the Committee on
Rules of the House of Representa-
tives has adopted, in their revision,
will be welcomed by those who
wish to have all business before the
House to stand on an equality and
have an equal opportunity for con-
sideration. Under the present
rules a majority of the House can
set apart u day, or a number of
days, for the consideration of a par
ticular bill, to the disadvantage of
other business, and measures upon
which a working majority do not
wish to consider can be kept in the
dark and their consideration pre-
vented. Under the new rules, if
they are adopted, all bills shall have
their places upon the calendar in
the ordar in which they are report
ed from committees, and this order
shall be followed in the business of
the House except by vote of two.
thirds, in which event any particu-
lar bill may be set aside or any
other bill may be taken up. This
rule will not apply to appropria-
tion bills, which shall have prece-
dence over all other business. In
this way no measures can be smoth-
cred, except by u two-thirds vote,
and it is not often that two.thirds
of the House will consent to the
neglect of a good bill. One great
advantage OF this new rule will be
to hasten business in committees,
for every committee will be ambi-
place on the calendar.


Another rule that will be adopt
ed is to keep the "morning hour'
exclusively for reports from COM
mittees, such reports to be placed
upon the calendar without action,
and when there are no reports to
be submitted in the morning hour
the calendar shall be taken up and
proceeded with. Under these rules
every committee and every bill has
fair and equal chance for the at
tention of the House, which has
never been the case before. Every
session of Congress the small bills
are crowded into the background
by the big ones, and the advantages
given to some committees under
the existing rules permit them to
monopoliZe the time of the House.
The chinese Question.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2l.-Pacific
coast members OF Congress find
very little ground for encourage
ment in the Presidents statement
concerning the negotiations with
the Chinese Government in regard
to the subject of restricting Mongo-
lian immigration. They remark
that this portion of the message is
so extremely general and diplo-
matte in its form of expression,
that although it may mean some-
thing practical, it may also mean
practically nothing. They intend.
therefore, to seek for clear inter-
probation from its author, and if it
be not satisfactory, to mature their
plans accordingly.


Democratic Senatorial GAUGES.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 3d.-Demo-
cratic Senators met in caucus yes
terday. There was a large attend
ance. Senator Wallace. the Chair
man announced that a meeting
had been called as usual at the be-
ginning of the session to consider
the subject of revising Democratic
membership OF committees prior to
e-appointment by the Senate. No
vacancies having been created by
death or resignation in Democratic
membership during the recess OF
Congress and there being no appli-
cations presented for exchanges it
was resolved that the minority rep
resentation shall remain as fixed at
the extra session, and the Chair
man was directed to notify Repub.
licans that the committee positions
occupied by the late Senator
Chandler are at the disposal of the
minority. A somewhat general
discussion then ensued concerning
the distribution of Senate patron
age. Several Senators complained
that it had not been equitably dis
tributed, and said that when oflic-
ers of the Senate were spoken to on
the subject they referred to the eau
Gus resolutions of last year which
bound them to retain certain en-