Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-20
to eight before the House met, by the cleo
ton Of Congressman from the new states.
Rise of the Gear.

ton Of Congressman from the new states.
Rise of the Gear.
Thomas B. Reed was elected Speaker He
took the chair with the evident determine
ton of suppressing individual filibusterers.
His reign marked a new era in the legisla
ton of the House. He went to extreme
lengths. Not only did he suppress the indi
vidual filibusterer, under his interpreta-
ton Of parliamentary law, but he took the
silent filibusterers by the throat. He count
ed those present but not voting, as TO
make a quorum.
an appeal from his rulings was secured, the
republican majority of the House sustained
him. His action was further confirmed by
the adoption of new rules giving him the
authority which he had claimed under gen.
eral parliamentary law.
Thus the silent hlibusterer was squelched.
The more noisy and active fellow received
dinerent treatment. The committee on
rules were empowered to bring in a cloture
resolution at any time, and under the rules
prompt vote was taken. 1t was thus that
the Mckinley bill and the Lodge bill were
passed. BY similar action eight demo-
Gratis were unseated, and the republican
majority increased to twenty-five. But
business was business. as Maj Mckinley
frequently remarked upon the floor of the
House. The croaking of the filibustering
frogs was no longer heard; and the bust
ness capacity of the House in the Fifty
nrst Congress was signally developed. In
fact, 1t was over developed, the fall
election demonstrated. The people resented
the arbitrary action of the majority in the
F1fty-hrst Congress, more than they had
resented the insane filbusterng folly of
the Fiftieth Congress. They sent nearly
100 democratic majority to the Fifty-second
Congress.
Charles F. Crisp succeeded Mr.. Reed as
speaker. In a caucus to consider the pro-
posed new rules. disposition to resume the
OLD lnane practice was evinced. A battle
royal followed. 1t lasted for hours. The
more conservative Of the democrats did not
like the idea of treading in Tom Reeds
footsteps. They also seemed to fear that
II they adopted rules under which individ-
ual hlibusterers could be suppressed all
other filibustering might go under The
newly elected Speaker finally took the floor
and made mastery speech in favor of
giving the committee on rules the power Of
cloture. His argument was so telling that
the caucus adopted the cloture rule 1t was
done, however, with the understanding that
the power should not be exercised unless
the majority of the democrats of the House
demanded 1t.
How well the business of the Fifty-second
Congress was conducted the Record shows.
While suppressing individual ilibusterers
with the lever of the committee on rules
the democrats made no effort to suppress
the silent filibusterer-the man who sits
In his seat and smiles, but does not vote.
me democratic majority, however was so
great that the, silent filibusterer had very
few opportunities to make himself felt
There was no necessity to count those pres
ent but not voting to secure a quorum
The committee on rules were also very con-
sentative in using cloture. 1t was never
brought in unless absolutely necessary AT
one time, majority of the members of the
| House signed petition for a cloture TO
secure action on a bridge Dill The COM
mittee on rules however pa rleyed with the
member presenting the request. They dis
| liked the precedent it would establish. Ac-
ton was secured in another way. and all
were satisfied.
The people apparently recognized the wis
dom of the course taken. They sent nearly
a hundred democratic majority to .he
Fffty-third Congress. 1t adopted new rules
and made manifest the fact that cloture in
| legislation has come to stay. The power
| of the committee on rules was confirmed
! and without the understanding that it
| should be exercised only at the request of
| the majority of the democratic members.
| The committee. however, have never taken
action unless it was clear that a majority
demanded IL.
NYhe reduction of the democratic ina ioritv
| in the House with the increase in member
| ship. however, brought the silent filibuster-
| er again to the front. He appears now in
all his glory. and Speaker Reed takes great
pleasure in exhibiting him. believing that
the exhibition sustains his action in count
ing quorum as present and not voting
The republican, frequently refrain from
voting, thus forcing the democrats to show
quorum of their own members.
What Might he Done.
1t was this action that blocked the way
of the tariff bill for days after the holiday
| recess. Properly worked by the individual
democrats who are opposed to the Wilson
tariff bill. it might defeat it. 1t would not
take more than forty democratic votes to
| recommit the bill. 1t can be DELAYED in
definitely by the absence of less than that
| number as long as the republicans refuse
to vote
Before the holiday recess the. power of