The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-02-16
..Catehlng tIle Speaker,s Eve. |, !.
Lspringfled (Alass.1 Repabllcan.l


[springiled (Alass.1 Republican,
The controversy between Congress
man Bedford, Of Colorado, and Speak,
er Randall over the latter's alleged
refusal to recognize" the western
Stateman, calls attention TO the enor.
nous power welded by the presiding
officer To a very great degree the
House is at his mercy. The discre.
ton lodged with him enables him to
guide the whole course Of legislation
outside the.ordinary routine measu.
res. There are always scores Of
members anxious TO secure action
upon bills on the calender in which
they are interested, and the speaker
holds.in the first instant the absolute
power Of deciding whom among the
crowd he shall recognize, so that the
matter may come before the House at
all. No matter how early or loudly
"the gentleman from" one State may
shout "Mr. Speaker" he has no re.
dress if the speaker passes him by for
the gentleman from another State
whose measure the presiding officer
considers more meritorous. Then
after the member is once recognized
there is great difference the way
the Speaker treats his MEASURE
Most Of the bills can only be consider.
ed by unanimous consent and sin
gle objection is fatal. A close obser.
yer Will notice that Mr.. Randall has
two nethodsrof putting the question.
II he favors the measure after it is
read he is very apt to exclaim, "The
chair hears no objection" and go
right on TO ask vote upon it. If
on the other hand, he is opposed to
the bill, he inquiries with delib.
GRAFTON and emphasis and often in a
tone that almost seems to invite a
response, SIS there objection to the
present consideration of this bill?"
Now, in body Of 800 members there
is almost sure to be somebody who is
opposed on general principles to any
measure that may be proposed, and
it makes all the difference in the
world whether the Speaker avoids or
invites an expression of this opposi-
ton. There are countless ways in
which the Speaker can obstruct o.
facilitate the passage of n bill by
stretching the rules one way or the
other. 1t is true that the House
possesses the reserved power to appeal
from The Speakers decision and over
rule his action in any case, but ordi-
narily few members are especially
interested in any one Of these bills,
and nobody feels like making fuss.
AS to the recognition Of members,
the Speakers authority is supreme.
No power exists which can compel
him to let any particular member
"catch the Speakers eye," if he has
made up his mind the member shan't
do it. This is the GROUNDED Belford's
complaint, and be makes out quite a
strong case. Randall is a strong
partisan, and in the long run Demo.
Gratis fare better with him than Re.
publicans. ButfaI. minded Republi.
cans generality give him credit for a
good degree of impartiallty. And
there is one thing that deserves 10 be
said about Randall, he always op.
poses jobs and stretches bis authority
to the uttermost to protect the public
treasury against steal. He has the
enimity of all the jobbers and strik-
ers, and that is, after all, the highest
compliment that could be paid a
Speaker.
Gross AssAuLT.-Last evening
in Middltport, John A. Myers, a