The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-23
THE SPEAKER As DICTATOR.

THE sbEA Elk As DICIAIDh
The ease with which Speaker Reed,
working through % committee OF his
own packing and under rules Of his own
contriying, has been able to defeat sill
yer legislation that was demanded by a
majority Of the house Of represents
tives eerves to call tho attention OF the
country most forcibly to the dangerous
despotism that now controls our leglsla-
ton. In no civilized country on earth,
not even in Russia, have We had such
an exhibition Of one-man power as that
exercised in the American congress dur
ing the past few months. In an article
in the March Atlantic Albert Bushnell
Hart draws a parallel between the pow
ers Of the American speaker and the
speaker OF the House OF Commons in
which he shows that the presiding
officer Of our house OF representatives, is
a premier in the truest sense OF the
word. He is the absolute dictator OF
party policy and nc legislation rs pos
sible which does not suit his autocratic
pleasure. The British wielder OF the
gavel holds his place only SO long as it
pleasss the House OF Commons to let
him; he resigns whenever the house by
a majority vote expresses a lack of con
fdence in him. The American speaker,
on the other hand, sits securely in his
place for two years, defying his OPP
ponents to dislodge him and setting up
his own will against that Of the major
ity, at the dictation OF elf-interest or
for the advantage of men or measures he
may desire to aid.
Where does our American speaker get
such powers? They have not been con
fsrred, except in part, by a vote OF the
house in adopting its rules, nor ex-
pressed in the constitution o in the
acts Of congress, as Mr.. Hart shows. He
concludes that they are a natural
growth, a part OF the tendency through
out the national. state and municipal
systems to put responsibility upon indi-
viduals rather than Upon boards. They
are an extreme reaction from divided
responsibility and lack Of method IN
legislative procedure. Mr.. Hart be-
lieves the one-man power in legislation
has come to stay and that more and
more will the speaker come to be recog-
nized az the party premier, before whom
all smaller leaders must bow.
The senate, he admits, is not bound
to recognize the leadership OF the
speaker Of the hous, OF representatives,
"but even here the e 10 an evident CON
venince in having a party Grief capable
OF laying down a policy OF successive
measures and Of urging those measures
through. Whenever hereafter the two
houses are controlled by the same party.
it is probable that some junto. Of which
the speaker is the leading member, will
arrange a programme Of legislation for
both houses
Mr.. Hart sees some gain from this
evil growth. at secures at least the
consideration OF the measures held by
the leaders Of the majority to be most
important. Those measures MAJ or may
not be for the public good: but under
opportunity to place responsibility upon
those members Of congress who, under
any system, must control it's operations,
namely, the great leaders OF the major
ity. The system is, therefore, likely to
be continued in principle, II not in the
same form, by each party when in the
majority. The powers now exercised by
the speaker will probably be exercised
by each succeeding speaker, and will
somewhat increase. Since the legisla-
tive department III every republic con
stantly tends to gain ground at the
expense Of the executive. the speaker il
likely to become, and perhaps is already,
more powerful, both for good and for
evil, than the president Of the United
States. He is premier in legislation; II
is the business Of his party that he be
also premier in character, in ability, in
leadership and in statesmanship."
We cannot accept Mr.. Harris concIu-
sions that the legislative autocrat has
come 10 stay. The late popular revolt.
which Will result in the retirement oil
Mr.. Reed from the speakers chair one
week from Wednesday next, means, il il
means anything, that the American PEG.
pie propose to continue Il popular form
OF government for d time and that they
are determined that msjorities shall rule
in congress and out Of il. IL Thomas l.
Reed is d fair specimen Of an Ameri.
can premier We will never sec another
The most solemn duty Of the in
coming house of representatives is u
repeal at once every form Of despotisn
in its rules that makes Reeds possible
and to enact a code for its government
that will enable the will Of the majorit,
to find voice in legislation. No NOR
dictatorsl
As an interesting contribution 10 th!