The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-20
THE SPEAKERS POWER.
nH OAN CONTROL ALL
THE HOUSE LEGISLATION.
New Members and Recognition--They
First Get vexed But Finally submit to
Custom-The Title of Gar.

the action Of the caucus and count a
quorum was an expression Of gratitude
from the other representatives, OF Mr.
Crisp's party for his generosity in letting
the majority Of that party carry out lts
wishes. The greater number OF those
who read about the proceedings OF the
caucus may have wondered that 1t was
necessary in settling the affairs OF the
House in the family councils Of the doini-
nant party 10 obtain the consent OF one
man to the program agreed upon. IL Is
a fact that If Mr.. Crisp had been Wiling
TO put his own judgment above the Judg-
ment of his party associates they would
have been powerless TO carry on the bust
ness of the House except as he wished
10 have Il conducted. The tide Of "cZar
was not popular when Mr.. Reed sat IN
the Speakers chair. But il is title APP
plicable TO the Speaker OF the house
since the establishment Of Congress. MT.
Crisp and Mr. Carlisle were "cZarS ana
II they were not known by this title II
was because they chose 70 carry out
their ideas Of government in the House
In a less aggressive way than Mr.. Reed
saw fit to adopt
When Mr.. Reed was Speaker OF the
House OF Representatives / had some
conversation with him about writnS an
article for a syndicate OF newspapers
and suggested as the subject for 1t The
Power Of the Speaker Of the House OIL
REPRESENTATIVES" MI Reed shook f-s
head. He was perfectly willing to write
for the newspaper: bat not on that topic
he believed that Il was unwise 10 dlrecI
attention TO the enormous power TOT sood
or evil which lies I'm the Speaker MINUS
CRISP NOT so CAUTIOUS.
NJ C-,en In q conversation which ]
had with him on the occasion OF ms re-
election to the Speakership was less
guarded. He admitted that the Speaker
,,,rtualIv controlled the business Of the
House and argued that it was necessary
that there should be some such hrak' O''
legislation or the majority might take the
hin in It's teeth some day and run away
with the treasury or do something equal
" undesirable. The House, said Mr.
Crisp. could consider only small pro-
norton of the measures brought before
| il. II was necessary thatssome one make
| selection among them This power
the Speaker, Mr.. Crisp said, was great
| trust for which the House held him TO a
strict accountability.
The Speaker has control Of legislation
| n
| MACE he has so many ways of showing
| favor TO members that they hesitate 10
! anger or displease him. In the second
| Mace when he appoints the members OF
| the House TO committee places, ne can
| constitute a committee so that 1t snail ne
| onposed to a measure which Is pretty
| sure 10 come before il or so that 1t may
| fovor that measure. In the third place,
| &C y member of the committee on rules
| corposed of five members, he holds the
balance Of power. In the fourth place.
| a member who desires 10 call up a meas
ure must obtain the Speakers permis-
| sion or he cannot even claim the moor
THr NEW MrMBERs' sXP' rI,NcF.
Tho new member of the House, unfa-
niliar with its customs, 10 very likely III
the exuberance of Ignorance to rise anu
| address the chair for the purpose OF
obtaining consideration for some Dill III
| ,,bicb no &c interested. He - panied as
Wei as surprised to find that the Speaker
Invariably recognizes someone else. FER
hans he goes direct to the Speaker why
wouldn't YOU recognize me this after
noon?" he says TO the Speaker win
| some feeling. l.,
Recognize you?" says the Speaker IN
| Great eurprise. II did not agree 10 rec
ognize you" ~,
| "NIust have an agreement with you
savs the new member. n little angered
at this infringement Of his independence
as n legislator.
certainly" says the Speaker. IF you
will come to me tomorrow morning l
will tell you whether / will recognize you
not"
The new member goes away lnalsild"''
Rut he realizes his position after time
| the Sneaker
TO recognize him. as he learns by a
Study of the rules 4 member without
RECOGNITION is a ftth wheel 70 the legls-
Iative cart. So the new member pockets
his Indignation and goes TO the Speaker
the next day before the House assemblies
az have come to make that arrange
ment," he says.
| "Arrangement?'
yes To be recognized. you know.
| would like TO be recognized this morning
| when the House meets
con. yes" says the Speaker; "well
what do you want to call up?'
| The new member looks something pro-
| fame. Perhaps he says 1t. He Is thihkihl
AT least. in the familiar vernacular oil
tho average Congre ssman: IT'S none OF
your id business" Possibly ne re-
strains his feelings. and says: Must
| tell you what / want TO call up
ooh yes" SAYS the Speaker III you
don't tell me I will not recognize you
Then the new member goes away al
by himself to think the matter over, and
again his helplessness appeals TO him
So he goes back to the Speakers room
lust before the House Is called TO order
holding a copy Of a bill in his hand. !
want 10 call up that bill" he says.
The Speaker examines the bill carefuHy
Presently he says: II think that THIS
is a bad bill. l think that it should not
be passed I will not recognize you &c
call II up"
Then the new member wants 10 Know
/ II he has any rights as an American
citizen and a representative Of the SOW
| ereign people, and he finds that in this
particular matter he has not. And M
exhorts his felow-members to rebellion
against the whole vicious system, Vtlici
gives TO one man the right to contro
the action Of 355 others. And the othei
members laugh at him or reason witt
him. And in time he becomes accus-
toned TO the hopeless situation. and
grows silent But he IS not reconcile'
10 the condition Of affairs until he ha'
become one OF the old members, or pos
sibly is Speaker of the House himself.
The seriousness Of the position OF IN
House becomes apparent 10 you whei
Won stop to think that all legislation re
lating to the revenue must originate II
the House. and that the control OF IN
conduct Of the House Is virtually IN III
4 A. lNaF