The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-11

STATISTICS as N1r. HaZletine presents.
1t Is impossible to compare conditions
existing in different countries. 1t is
pointed out that the right of interpella-
ton gives certain privileges of debate in
Europe; but even these privileges are
hedged about by certain restrictions not
under control Of the members themselves.
In the American House in general, all
debate, save upon questions like the mo-
ton to adjourn, is in the control of the
members themselves. Interpretations
are impossible with us since our Cabinet
ministers do not have seats in our House.
| There is nothing to show that, consider
ing the difference in the quorum required
to be present to do business, the individ-
ual has less freedom of debate In the
House of Representatives than in the
House of Commons. IF only forty MEM
bers were required in our House, the
privileges of the individual would I'M
| doubtedly be far greater than now, when
| 179 are compelled to be present, and there
| fore are encouraged to occupy time. Ey-
cry Maine citizen knows that he has a
better chance to get a word in when
there are forty out at town meeting than
when there are two hundred.
1t is very old cry among politicians
that their opponents are sitting debate
| in the House. The Democrats raise 1t
when their opponents are in, and then
use the same methods when they come in
themselves. Ought not this fact to cause
q thoughtful mind to inquire we'll before
taking up with everylfresh rumor?
| 1t is in one sense true that the MEM
| bership of the House Of Commons is
about..twice as large as that of our House.
But it is the size of the quorum which
determines to q large extent the working
power of a Legislative body like these,
and not the number of members, just as
the quality of muscle and not the bulk of
fat determines the working power of the
man. The English leaders, to do bust
ness, must retain in their House only
forty members Our leaders must keep
in the hall 179. A man experienced in
legislative matters will understand at
once what handicap this is to our
House. Furthermore we have the insti-
tuition of the yeas and nays, one of the
most potent consumers of time known to
legislative procedure. The English do
not have this
Mr.. Hazeltine dwells at length upon
the European system of choosing commit
tees, which he seems to favor rather than
the American. AS the American system
has been in use for many years, and has
nothing to do with the controversy over
the alleged suppression of debate, this d.
gression is interesting and instructive,
but hardly germane to the argument.
| 1t is true that Henry Clay in 1911 gave
up his seat in the Senate to go into the
House. But it is hard to see why the fact
that this example is not followed now
should be used to the disadvantage of the
House. Most statesmen prefer five
thousand dollar contract Of six years to
one of two years. AS good fact in ia
vor of the House as the Clay incident is
against it. is that in these times the
American people take for their Presidents
men who have won fame in the House
rather than in the Senate. When has a
man who has been at the time an occu-
pant of the seat in the United States
Senate been elected PRESIDENT Men of
| fame won in the House were the promi-
nent candidates on both sides in the cam
paign Of 1896.