The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-02
HOW SPEAKER CHECKED HOUSE
Review of the Storm Scenes OF Last
Wednesday.

Review of the Storm Scenes Oh Las'
Wednesday.
MIR. Bailey's Attempt to Override the Rules
Was Met BY Brilliant Attack from
Mr.. Reed.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l
WASHINGTON, April LIN the remark
able prooeedings in the House on We'd
nesday. which undoubtedly relieved the
perilous situation for the time, the Speak
or of the House stood like cliff of granite
against the disintegrating influences
within the Republican party and the ag-
gressive assaults from without. In the
short space of an hour or an hour and a
half he suppressed the formidable and
widespread Republican meeting against
the administration, and led the mutineer
to a decisive and crushing defeat Of the
Democrats. Old members of the House,
men who had seen long term Of service
under different Speakers. and had ex-
perienced ali the variety of tumults of
which the House is capable, declared
that never had they seen SO remarkable
an exercise of individual power and
ability at critical moment by an occu-
pant Of the Speakers chair.
What q failure before the Democratic
ASSAULT would have meant has been less
considered than the Importance Of the
contingency deserves. That Republican
division at that moment would have
meant disruption of the party, temper
large share Of the rank and file of the
party would have parted company with
the President at a critical moment and
left divided counsels on the supreme
question of many years.
This deplorable result the Speaker pre-
vented just how he did it is not even
vet fully understood. When the House
met the revolt was in full progress.
When Mr.. Bailey of Texas presented his
resolution, sympathy on the Republican
side was SO open and evident that the
heart of more than one aupportersof the
administration sank, and the Speakers
face took on an expression of sternness
and resolution which betrayed that he
considered the crisis no ordinary one.
In this situation the great influence Of
an Incorporating position backed by
strong will and quick intelligence
showed to the full its effects on a condit-
ion of wavering and uncertainty. The
mutineers-and the term is not intended
as disrespecttul or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
not quite certain. The Speaker was Ger.
tain. !. They were not wholly sure that
their position was the best; he had no
doubt that his was not only the best. but
the only one that great party could
take He took his position promptly
and they knew that there he would stay
if not man in the House stood by him.
And finally there was no feeling of un-
|friendliness between the Speaker and the
dissidents. There was mutual respect
and good will, in many cases strong per-
sonal friendship between the Speaker and
the men who had meditated an uprising
against his ruling. Therefore the person.
al element drew them to him rather than
Propelled them. This consideration, while
apart from the logic of the situation
had it's Importance in the result.
Therefore when the Speaker took his
stand half the battle was won. 1t was
fully won when he stated his side Of
the case, with strength of argument,
and vigor that made the defence real
ly a most dashing attack on the enemy's
position. The case put up by the Demo
cratic leader was shown to be unsound;
and Mr.. Bailey himself was overthrown
in manner very quiet, but so effective
that both sides of the House saw it and
understood it. Mr.. Bailey had brought
forward a precedent that did not fit the
case, and the Speaker sent back to him
one that exactly fitted it. And with it
he sent the suggestion that. it had been
created on point of order made by Mr..
Dockery of Missouri, IAN old and expert
enced member The House at once was
led to the reflection that Mr.. Bailey was
young and inexperienced, and when they
arrived there they laughed and thought
they would not follow 1.-THE boy" as aE
old Democrat afterwards expressed it.
The Speaker had the right on his side
incontestibly. Not only had Demo-
cratic Speaker on similar occasion tax
en- the same position, but it had been the
unbroken practice of the House under
all parties and all Speakers.
The question involved is very simple.
1t is rule Of the House that all business
shall be referred to a committee before it
can come before the House. This rule Is
the result Of Necessity. The House has
not time to consider every proposition
that members might wish to bring for
ward. It has not even time to consider
all the matters which committees con.
slider worthy for its attention. There
fore this rule that matters must first go
to committees is one of the Oldest and
most strictly observed of all the rules of
the House.
But there is an exception to this rule,
There are certain matters which "affect