The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28

ANUS j. ~ MMl-NIS.
House The voice is resonant and pow
erful. Every word Is distinctly heard.
Door IS 'dough-ar,' and bill is "be-ill
The drawl is pronounced. and so ef-
fective that it would produce a tintnna-
buiation in a group of very thin tumb-
lers. II is said that this remarkable
clearness Of enunciaton and pronuncia-
ton is the result OF a powerful will, ex-
erted to prevent stammering.
II the owner Of the voice should be-
come angry or excited the old boysh
habit Of suffering might force itself 10
the front and regain control
Certain it Is that the most remarka-
bic thing about the personality Of Tnom-
as b. Reed is his voice. his accent and
his entire sclf-control. He never loses
the latter, even when he bangs the desk
with the gaveL.
Members must take their seats (bang,
bang. BANG, and gentlemen in CONVEX
satlon must retire to the cloak-rooms"
(Oang, bang. bang.
The voice itself seems to reach the
hearts of the recusants. and they in
stlnctivoly find either their own seats. or
sink in the unoccupied seats OF their
colleagues.
ABSOLUTE CONTROL.
No speaker ever had as strong a per-
.onality as Thomas 3. Reed. No face
like his, or even remotely resembling his,
can be found in the gallery Of the por-
traits of the Speakers. IT IS face
typical OF the power reached by its pos
SCISSOR.
The Speaker is practically no longer
the servant Of the House. he is its mas
ter and proprietor lie disposes Of less-
lative baronies and feoffs and eXacts
-s.f- Iatr "a 30
committee rooms. and the feoffs are the
legislation referred to the committees.
No Roman emperor ever had more alb
solute control. In former DAYS the
House was practically ruled by the COM
mittees In these days. however. the
committees can report their bills, but
the Speaker places them upon the ca.en-
dar. and the committees are thereafter
powerless.
with slight exceptions. no consideration
can be reached without the fiat Of the
Speaker. Singular TO relate the House
itself is responsible for these rules.
The Fiftieth Congress will long be re-
mcmbered as the hlibustering Congress.
John G.. Carlisle was Speaker. The rules
favored the personal rights Of the MEM
bers. and gave the committees power TO
bring before the House measures which
they had dleested. The personal rights
secured to the members however, inter-
fered at times with the exercise OF the
power Of the committees.
One or two members had the power,
by simple parliamentary motions. 10 de-
feat the consideration Of any ill report
ed from any committee. BY such ex-
pedients James y. Weaver, of Iowa, CHI
ton r. Breckenridge OF Arkansas, and
others held the House by the throat for
days, and even weeks. 10 prevent the pas
sage OF measures vital to the interests Of
the republic.
At times members. piqued because they
could not secure the passage OF some
private bill. revcnged themselves upon
the House by flibustering. BY this course
they could delay. II not defeat. appropria-
ton bills and all privileged measures.
They brought on and dragged out night
sessions 10 unseemly hours. and some
times continued legislative day for
week or more.
A RADICAL CHANGE.
With the advent Of the Fifty-frst Con-
gress and the election OF Thomas b.
Reed as Speaker a change was effected.
This was made audaciously and effect
lively BY refusing to adopt the rules OF
the preceding House until new rules could
be reported the House was left under
general parliamentary law. The Speaker
construed general parliamentary law. He
began 10 count quorum. and refused
TO entertain motions 10 adjourn or 10
take n recess.
For two days he refused 10 entertain an
appeal from his decision as 10 his right
to count a quorum but when by the
rebuke OF Major Mckinley, he did enter
tain an appeal, the House sustained him
I'm his action. This gave him ground
work for the change contemplated.
As his exposition OF parliamentary law
had been sustained by the House. 1t was
parliamentary law for the House
The new rules were drawn up by the
majority OF the committee on rules That
majority was Thomas b. Reed, william
Mckinley. and Joseph G.. Cannon.
Major Mckinley In speech on the
floor OF the House said that the rules
were drawn up 10 give the House an OPP
portunity TO DO business. The Fifty
first Congress did its business and adj
iourned.
In attempting 10 curtail the personal
power OF the members. so as 10 protect
the power OF the committees. the House
overreached ITSELF The next two Con-
crosses were Democratic. They attempt
ed 10 restore the equilibrium. They sup
pressed nlibustering by giving the Speak
err enlarged powers.
II was possible for committees 70 get
their work before the House under the
rules, but the Speaker had the power az