The morning news., 1889-03-03
STATESMEN IN THE CHAIR
WELDING THE GAVEL IN COM
MITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Congressman Dockery's Horse Sense
-springer's Pluck and Persistency-
Other N oted Presiding Officers.
(CopuriQht 18s9.)

(Copart0ht 1881
WASHINGTON, March 2-Much of the
business Of the House is filtered through
committees of the whole. The rules and
practice recognize two such committee
The most important is the committee of the
whole House on the state of the union. To
this are referred public bills and public bus
mess. The minor committee is known as
the committee of the whole. II takes action
on private bills and private business. All
motions or propositions involving tax or
charge upon the people are first considered
in a committee of the whole. 1t also sits
proceedings touching appropriations of
money, or bills making appropriations of
money, or property, or requiring such ap-
preparations to be made. Ii takes cogni-
zance of measures authorizing payments out
of appropriations already made, or releas-
ing any liability to the United States for
money or property. The committee of the
whole has its calendar and its privileged
b blsiness. The latter includes bills for rails
ing revenue, general appropriation bills,
and bills for the improvement Of rivers and
barbors. Aside from these, bills on the cal
endar must be taken UP in regular order
The procedure differs from that of the
House, although the committee itself is
rooted in the House. The roots are many,
and all lead to action in open House. For
instance, general debate is unlimited in
committee. When the champion of q meas
ure desires to limit discussion he moves that
the committee rise and The limit is made in
tho open House. The committee then re-
sumes its sitting, and the debate continues
until the hour specified. There are no yea
and nav votes IN committee. Members are
thus frequently enabled to stifle important
amendments, and to take the virility out Of
bill without going upon record. All
amendments made in committee must Sc
cure the anction of the House They are
usually adopted in lump, unless separate
vote on any specific, amendment is desired.
In committee members frequently withdraw
opposition TO special clauses upon the under
standing that yea and nay vote shall be
taken in the House.
1t requires a brainy man to preside in
committee He must have acute percep-
ton, and be cool and determined. lie must
thoroughly understand the relations of the
committee to the Hou-e, and be an adept in
the rules and practice governing both. Mil
hons of dollars may depend upon his rulings
on points of order. Much may rest upon
his recognition of a member seeking the
floor. In sympathy with the bill he can
materially aid its passage, and if hostile to
it can frequently defeat it. The speaker
He is always man Of experience and abil-
ity. The list in the Fiftieth congress appears
to be limited. 1t includes nine members.
Prominent among them is the Hon. Alex
ander Monroe Dockery of Gallatin, Mo.
Mr. Dockery was born in Missouri forty
four years ago. He is a sturdy gentleman,
broad-shouldered and clear-headed. He
has manly face and pleasing eyes. His
hair is dark and inclined to curl, and he has
a Venetian beard and mustache. His attire
is plain but neat, and he is one of tue few
western members who sport a silk hat. Mr..
Dockery is a familiar figure upon Pennsyl-
vania avenue. Like Tom Reed. Gsn. Pat
Collins, Major Mckinley, and other emf
nent Statesmen, he commonly walks to and
from the scene of his public duties. The
smoke Of a fragrant cigar floats behind him.
There is a jaunty air to the set of his tile.
His face is the picture Of good hunor. He
has the walk and the appearance Of a we'll
to-do farmer His mind is of a strictly
judicial turn; vet he is the only presiding
officer in committee of the whole who is not
a lawyer. His decisions are limpid, and
cover all points at issue. They carry no
verDiage, and provoke no appeals. He has
strong horse sense, and thoroughly under
stands the rules. tie would make a far bet
ter judge of the supreme court than ninety
nine average lawyers out of a hundred.
His impartial recognitions and uniform
officer. He maintains strict order, and
handles the gavel as deftly as a xylophonist
uses his drum stick. A vigorous pounding
Is followed by sharp raps with the handle,
and by musi al taps at the side of the mar
bic desk. Mr.. Dockery graduated at a med
ical college. He attended lectures at Belle
yue, New York city, in the winter of 1865.
Upon returning home he practiced medicine
until 1874. He next organized the Farmers
Exchange Bank of GallatIn. While cashier
Of the institution he was elected to congress.
He has been mavor of Gallatin, and chair
man Of a democratic state convention.
Six years has he served in congress In
general debate he figures among the fore
most speakers, and in parliamentary exar-
else he has few rivals D5ckery usually
presldes in committee Of the whole House
on Friday evenings devoted to pension leg
lslatlon. Many worthy veteran is in
deoted for pension to his promptness and
iaclllty IN transacting business while in the
i chair.
Another expert presiding officer in com
mlttee OF the whole is the Hon. William NJ
Springer Of Springfield, Ill. HIS fourteen
years OF service in congress has made him a
parliamentary veteran. He presided during
tne memorable tariff debate. His whole
CHARACTER seems to change when in the chair.
upon the flor, in charge of bill. he is
Jerky and nervous. He springs at unto
4 ""iN uloHleltS ike horse attached 10 a
wagon heavily laden. He would almost
uSck vehicle over a precipice. In the
cnalf however, he is cool and impassive,
ana pulls as steadily in the traces Of com
IlItee as an Old plow-horse. Springer is
CHAIRMAN Of the committee on territories.
No man in the House, outside of Randall,
mas done harder work or been Of more ser
siCe 10 the country. When lis bills are
oelore the House he drives them with the
eueTgy OF man in despair. He Is Just the
So SS!o W Try 70 force a canoe up the falls OF
NaeaIa' he twists ami twiils his bills in
oou1ltteo until the House is dazsd. He
Il %ouu apparently rather begin at the tail
VI Dlll and work towards its head than
aill" IL to take its regular course. If an
eIser, Springer would probably impale his
"orm at the middle and try to work both
1ls over the point of the hook at the same
.ii,e IL would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer
yen now his bills pass the ordeal Of com
lice ot the whole and get through the
t'use' yet they always land in the lap of
Ie senate safe and sound, and usually as
H. wants Them Springer is a native
user lie was born in Sullivan county,
,,tIui, almost tfty-two years ago. He has
W. uaek and hips of Benicia boy, and in
-I youhger days must have been quite an
c,a,eIe' lie is graduate Of the Indiana
9 University and was admitted TO the
n" 'u IoJ9. He was secretary OF the llli-
@ constitutional convention in 1862, AID
iN FVed a term in the state legislature
h.4.s i