The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-04-08

robbed OF their right 10 legislate by the
speaker, TO whom II referred as po-
litical cannibal autocrat"
When the clerk had read the refer
ence to what the speaker, IN MS own
fiowery language calls retrospective
legislation" Dingley interposed an OBJ
Zee Ction that Simpson had not stated any
question OF privilege, but the speaker
decided that the member from Kansas
might continue. The newspaper article
was exceedingly fiery in language, and
when IL had been read, Steele, repuh-
l'Can OF Indiana. jumped TO MS rect
shouting. This is no question Of privi-
lege. and l move the house now ad-
journ."
The republicans were not ready TO ad-
journ and they cried mo. No" Speak
er Reed very calmly ruled on the mo-
tion, saying. THE motion cannot he
entertained at present" When II was
stated i'm the newspapers during the
tffty-tirst congress that members were
seen drunk ON the floor. simpson said
that that was considered a question oi
privilege. The point which he now
raised, he declared, was one OF higher
privilege. Thereupon he waved alott
copy of the Forum and proceeded to read
rapidly from an article by Senator
Hoar, entitled Has the Senate Degen-
| eratedg"
The extract which he quoted follows
THE promptness with which the house
of representatives deals with some Inn
y, rtant questions Is good thing, but
Its capacity for prompt action Is pur-
chased at the price Of the reputation
OF public debts and the supprt sslon ot
| constitutional rights. personal dignity
and the official authority of the great
ness of its members. Gentlemen occu-
py seats there who. from the beginning
to the end OF their term Of service, are
not permitted To make motion or 10
utter word To the assembly of which
they are members. Perhaps wise legis-
lstion may be secured while one house
is conducted on that principle, hut am
afraid free government would not long
endure II IL were applied 10 both
| h, uses"
! simpson read very rapidly and Steele
protested In angry tone. hut the speaker
paid no attention to the member from
Indiana.
| II represent a large district" shouted
the Kansas member. tossing down the
magazine, "and the refusal of the
speaker to appoint committees in this
h, use deprivcs me and my constituents
OF the right to do business. I propose
To rise here and protest against this au-
tociatic dictation. II is reported in the
newspapers that the speaker says that
the trouble is that II committees were
! APPOINTED where one Just claim passed
/ there would be ten unjust ones. IL not
this reflection on this house, ask the
honorable speaker" In the Fifty-first
congress the power OF the minority To
protest had been taken away and the
speaker given the veto power. IL was
unsafe to give one man such power. for
I N 81 t..Ls n.
power wisely the other 80 would prove
bad despots The speaker had come in
To Kansas during the election and had
said on the stump that for four years
the seventh congressional district
tsimpson's) had been represented by
chaos. When the speaker refused to
appoint committees the house was ruled
by chaos. II demand that the speaker
appoint those committees" he shouted
As long as ! am n member of this
house no business shall be done by
Unanimous consent and only In the reg
ular form after opportunity for consid-
GRAFTON by committees. Members OF
this house have given the speaker the
veto power by the adoption of the rules
OF the last congress. People might as
well have saved themselves the expense
OF electing members and given all the
power to the speaker. This is not a leg
isiative body, and insist that its power
be returned TO the house" In conclu-
SION he said that the president had rec
commended that congress enter on linan-
tial legislation, and the returns from
Chicago Cincinnati and Detroit indi-
Gated that the people wanted financial
legislation.
There was profound silence when
Speaker Reed began 10 explain his pol
Icy. He said: THE house will perceive
that the gentleman from Kansas
tSimpson), has made no proposition
whatever upon the subject He has
simply stated his own views and the
chair has thought perhaps IL would he
best that the matter should he stated
and the house consider H. 50 far as
the power OF the speaker is concerned
every one Of whom has made the sub
ject matter of consideration under
stands that his power IN solely the
power Of the house. and the house ear
at any moment change any action
which II sees fit to indulge in The
house has the power at all times. and
while the rules of the house require
certain committees to he appointed.
there has always been allowed to the
chair a reasonable amount of discretion
as To the time when they should be ap-
pointed. Opportunity is always allowed
the chair TO find out something about
the members so that he may do the du-
ties which are imposed upon him in the
most intelligent way OF which he is
capable.
1T is not a rare case that the speaker
has not appointed committees at once.
A congres which was called together
under circumstances something like the
present. the Forty-second, was presided
over by a very eminent man. Mr.. Blaine.
and he declined-not declined. but did
not see fit-to appoint committees. The
matter was brought up in the house.
and he gave his reasons therefor, and
those reasons were approved by the
house: at least no action was taken by
the house on the subject There are
about $50 new members I'm the house.
Under ordinary circumstances the oc-
cupant of the chair has time from the
fourth day OF March until the first
Monday in December To obtain inform.
alton I'm regard Ia his fellow members
but. under the present circumsia 1ces
he has no opportunity. We have been
called together in extraordinary ses.
sion, and the question was what was
the best course for us Ia pursue;
whether We should fail In the appoint
ment OF committees until such times as
We would make the appointments more
suitable. or whether the public service
; was In such a condition that that ought
to be done. Now. the chair has had full
consultation with various members a.
he has met them upon the subject. and
! until this morning he supposed IL was
the unanimous feeling OF the house thai
7 .nsas