New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-24
THE SPEAKERSHIP.
MR. GAMALIEL BRADFORD REPLIES TO MR..
HENRY CABOT LODGE.

REPRESENTATIVES, - ARGUMENTS FOR
ADMISSION OF CABINET OFFICERS
TO DEBATE BUT NOT TO VOTE
IN ooNGREss-NoT THE
ENGLISH SYSTEM.
TO tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir My attention has been called to the article In
your issue OF December 90 (Which had missed on
account OF absence) by the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge
and the subject is OF sufficient importance 10 JUSTIFY
me in asking leave TO make comments upon that
article. | will begin by stating the points. WHICH, AT
east. for the sake Of bcvity, am prepared to con-
code Mr. Lodge saws that there must be some limit
placed TO debate that the limit to the right OF mhe-
ties is fair recognition in discussion, fair treatment IN
committees and reasonable opportunities for DEBATE
The first test of any successful government Is
that II should march, II minority Of the parliament
arv body can prevent all movement that particular
government has ceased to march. The object OF the
reform in the House rules was 10 enable the govern
,nent 10 move The argument simple, but 1t seems
complete Stated I'm that way. the argument Is very
dangerous one, and might be used TO JUSTIFY inc pro
ceedncS Of Napoleon or Napoleon III. But leu ti'a'
pass. We will admit that the power of putting an emu
20 debate and forcing the progress of legislation must
be lodged somewhere We will admit also that that
power has been steadily growing and becoming con-
contracted In the hands OF the speaker. Mr.. Lodge
thinks that this Is natural and proper. think II Is
the worst and most dangerous symptom In the whoic
range of politics, whether National or local Let
us consider what the Office OF the Speaker Is Ills hfS
function is that Of presiding officer over deocfatVo
assembly and the slightest experience OF such Doules
will show that the first qualification OF such an officer
Is impsrtlaty in the enforcement OF parliamentary
rilcs 1t seems 70 me that Mr.. Lodge cuts away his
own standing ground. THE greatest power Of the
Speaker IS the power OF recognition. lie can bar
member from the floor throughout n Congress simply
BY never seeing him. lie can give another member
the floor every day BY always seeing him. This vast
power is inherent in the Office. No rules created IT, ana
no rules can limit It, Its exercise must remain wholly
within the discretion of the Speaker HIMSELF Now
suppose the wlcdcr Of such power that to he fcrcc
and INSCRIPTIONS partisan. Does IL not destroy NJ
once all the value of a delibcralve body Just so
with counting quorum. II Is all very well 10 say
that members present shall be counted t0war
quorum whether voting or not. But II yon put IN
tho hands Of fierce and INSCRIPTIONS partisan inc
power OF deciding whether members are present or NOT
Won reduce parliamentary government 10 little moro
than a name And that the Speaker OF orr House
Of Representatives has become. and must Of necessity
continue morr and more become a fierce and unscrn
pulous partisan In the first place. ho is elected
by strict party vote that IS unless there Is spit
in the party majority. The contest between McsSfs'
Mills and Crisp not between Democrat ana Kc-
publican but between two Democrats. The reason
poRCr utterly foreign to his Office. OF mailing mp tho
standing committees and therefore Of guiding the
whole course OF legislation. BOT only must he make
mp Tho committees 10 suit the party vote. but TO suit
the Views oil IlOSc men who lave been most actV" III
procuring his election. and Is compelled to use his
other powers. such recognizing members ana count
ing ouorImS I'm the same direction. Mr.. Lodge treats
NTH the utmost contempt the talk about the despoSm
OF the Speaker GThc Speaker is in the first place
TIE representative the voice and the leader OF the ma
FORTY. Thee can create and they destroy. He must
carry ont the will Of the House. rs expressed BIZ TIA
majority he Will cease to exist This state OF
things Is not Itself the usual underlying condition
OF a successful dcspotism.' II In tis last sentence
omit tho words not I'm itself the statement Is per
fccy accurate. Surely a student Of history Hike Mr.
Lodge does not need be told that the dcspotism Of
A., majority OF n body Of men is moro cruel and I'M
scrnpulons because more Irresponsible than that OF
any individual and That the worst OF all dcspotsms Is
tina. Of a man Hike Louis Napoleon who T. a blind In
strnment OF the fierce passions OF other men who
stand in tho background md push him on. Take tho
other case quoted by Mr.. Lodge Tho Speaker IS the
head OF the Committee Rules aud. with that com
mittcc acting for IDS party he has tho power 10 say
what measures shall be placed In tho or , per cent
which reach completion. II there Is no authority
anywhere 10 select tho 10 bc passed lcgls-
laton, in ~ present crowded state. becomes n
mere tumble and nobody Is responsible for the
failure or success OF any nfhNuIc WI til1
theory f. would be much simpler and better %
give TO the speaker as far as Tic House s concerned.
the whole power Of legislation. making the House
itz.li a merely advisory BODY. lie cond then at
least be held responsible for H. which as the mere
agent OF dc,potc though irresponsible and imp"r-
sonal majority he cannot now be. To justify Mr..
Lodges position he would need TO show ~ least that
the majority Of the House OF Representatives really
represents at all times the sober and dcbemic wishes
AZ nnpt. ~ Tho nj fedE n
proposition which 1t would DO very difficult to csiab-
lish."
II the power Of supprcslng debate and forcing lcs-
IatIon cannot be safely cf with the speaker. where
can IL be placed The great and irresponsible (cxc pt
to the party majority powers OF tho speaker iHiVo
crown up from the necessity OF some leadership IN
congress A dcIherativc body can no more get on
,lout q leader officers and discipline than regiment
in battle and without the Speaker the House OF Repre-
ee5iativcs would be nothing but dlsorganiAod MOD
all the members being precisely equal mostly suihSeS
tn each other and with nobody having any authority
over ANYBODY else. II the powers devoIVed upon 'ho
eoor arc inconsistent with his proper functions ana
work badly the problem Is TO ina some o'"'r c''''
Mr. Lodge says: "FOr example there arc SOM i'''
excellent people who think that our polu''i SiN""o"
=, hound nm I'm having Cabinet officers or representa-
49, -, ,ho executive on the floor OF Congress. IL
to M difference whether this Is a better system
,,, or- own or not. The American pcopio fc!o''u
:, =, tho outso do not believe IN 1t now ana are h''
onc 10 change the Constitution of the 'ni'o" ''''o
in that direction The hIst en'"So 20
ME sentence can b; en>lS 1 h,.
'"' go, Mr.. Bryce and Mr.. Bagehot nave
20, no,n,cd ont that the American peop1 "''
'o." p fine cabinet system. because they da nD'
noe ., IT, and 1t did not exist The Ensn,n p rou
, r|" did not know of It. 1t has %"ons wifi,
the"s''" ~, ,id not come up for consideration WIZ
up slhce '"' ~, ,ho Constitution at ALL Wh@h MI
,no mat the American people DO not oS'St
LoGsc say :, may fairly be asked upon what authority
he makes such statement" and T c"n..' ~ r% Of the
ncy arc not going to change the 'orcS that on
."y a., e,otes I'm that direction he lo'erU' ' -,
rnca SUI ISL. report was made to the senate OF
February s,a,,s ,s,pnod unanimously BY eght Seh"
tho I n both parties recommending the c'" ro,r nIr
declaring c and arguing at Length ' %no United States
consistent More than this 1t points out t"a' 'no
as 1t s'', ~ayars not merely in Great Britain pu' !"
pracu no. quite every representative "o'e,n',''"'