The Rock Island Argus

A Practice Which Should be Changed.

Every one knows that under the present method of conducting the legislature of the country everything depends upon the committees, and these committees are the creations of the speaker of the house. He is chosen by the majority of the house; he represents in fact the majority of that majority, and upon him as such falls the task of selecting the committees who are to prepare business for the house. At all times the committees to whom the business coming before a legislative body is thus referred are of great importance, because upon their report often depends the favor of the whole body and the fortune of a measure; but under the evil practice that he who selects the committees controls the whole legislation of the house. The practice we speak of is not only to refer measures to the proper committees, but to allow each committee to control and monopolize the debate in open house on its reports, and thus to practically exclude in the majority of cases from the discussion, all other members. no matter how well fitted they are by study or information to shed light on the subject, This was not always the custom of the house, If any one will look into the congressional reports of a quarter of a century ago he will discover that the committees then played a minor part in the work of legislation; measures were prepared and reported by them; but when they came thus before the house they were, if of sufficient interest and importance. referred to the committee of the whole House and there became the subject of general debate, in which any members who chose took part, and which was not cut short after a few hours as has been the practice since, by moving the "previous question." In those days fewer laws were enacted and much more time was spent in debate than has been the case in more recent years. But a legislative body is never so usefully employed as when it is discussing measures; a great and able debate, which must necessarily be of considerable duration. informs the country, attracts its attention and enables it to exercise a reflex influence on congress which is always wholesome. The "previous question," as it has long been used in the house, is only a gag law, useful mainly to advance jobs and legislation which would not bear discussion. Parties are so nearly balanced in the present house that there is likely to be an uncommon tendency to debate and we have examined Mr. Randall's committees with some curiosity, not only to see in what direction they seem to favor legislation but also. if possible. to see if he has framed them with any desire that they shall encourage rather than cut off debate on their reports. It seems to us that while the important committees have a sufficiently positive character to show what the speaker means by them and what are his ideas of the requirements of the country, he has still, wisely, as we think, so framed many of them, at least. that if the abler members of both parties desire it they can easily bring back into the house the old and good custom of thorough discussion in committee of the whole.