Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-09
TROUBLE in THE RANKS.
Dissatisfaction With Speaker Refers
Committee Appointments Increasing
Senator Plumb, of Kansas, Given the Lie
BY Public Printer Defrees-Death of a
COnper
Ortiz and Keifcr.

| GETTING WARM FOR THE LATTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The Republican
members Of the House, who are dissatisfied
with the organization of committees, now
recognize Orth as their leader, and they evil
IDENTIFY mean to make it unpleasant for
Speaker Keller if they can. They admit that
the present organization cannot be upset or
changed, but determined movement for a
change in the method of appointing commit
tees hereafter will be made. 1t will take the
shape of an amendment to the rule relating to
tanned by some that one man cannot
make q rule that will have
| any binding effect upon the succeeding house,
but this is a controverted question. Ex-Speak-
| er Randall holds that the rules of preceding
house are binding upon its successor until the
latter adopts rules of it's own. Orth contem-
plates submitting resolution declaring it the
opinion OF the house that this authority to ap-
point committees was more power than should
properly be vested in one man, and that the
rule should be changed SO as to confer that
power upon the house, and he may yet offer q
resolution to that effect, but it will be supple
mented by an effort to amend the rule SO as to
transfer the power of the committee
house. The proposed change contemplates
the formation of committees by party eau
Gus as is now done in the senate.
The indications are that the Democrats will
generally support the proposed amendment.
A representative of>the House from Tennessee
one of the most influential members of that
side of the house, said to Western Associated
Press reporter tonight: "My opinion is, and
other Democrats with whom I have talked,
agree with me. that there is entirely too much
power conferred upon the speaker. He really
exercises more power over the legislation of
the country than the president. All our leg
islation is effected through committees, and
the speaker can SO constitute them as to direct
and control legislation. He can so form com
mittees as to defeat measures that o
majority of the house may favor. I am in ia
port it. A candidate for speaker could in his
| canvass trade upon the power he would have
over legislation. Mind you, am not saying
this has been done, nor do | mean to imply
that it has. l am talking without any refer
ence to the present house, and aim discussing
this matter as an abstract question. l think
we should appoint our committees as the SEN
ate does"
The cooler headed Republicans deprecate
the unpleasantness that has arisen very much,
while Others ridicule the position taken by
Ortiz and his followers. A prominent western
Republican member says that no efforts to eff
| feet change in the mode of appointing COM
mittees can succeed, and that it will injure
and weaken those who attempt it. He insists
the present house cannot prescribe the mode
of organization that will be obligatory upon
any future house; that even if law were pass
ed by both houses and signed by the president
requiring committees to be appointed in a
certain way, 1t would have no effect because
each house has control of it's own method of
procedure. He says further the animus of
the movement is plainly to annoy the speaker,
and that it will react upon those engaged
in if