New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-16
TO CUT Speakers POWER
IMPORTANT CHANGES PROBABLE IN
THE RULES FOR THE NEXT HOUSE.
AUTHORITY TO REFUSE RECOGNITION TO A
MEMBER TO BE TAKEN AwAY-THE
SPEAKER ALSO TO BE OUsTED
FROM THE COMMITTEE
ON RULES.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSE.l

tDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Washington. Nov. 15.-It Is now practicahy
certain that the next House of representatives
will readopt the rules of the last House with not
more than three important amendments Ihese
will be one taking from the Speaker the power
to refuse to recognize member, another en-
larging the powers OF committee chairmen 10
call up measures. and the third changing the
constitution Of the Committee on Rules Among
Representatives now in the CITY, including many
leaders, there is no feeling In favor OF a more
radical modification. and In many cases the
opinion is expressed that even these changes go
too far The Reed Rules" whereby quorum
can be counted and consideration OF motions can
be refused on the ground that they are dilatory.
will certainly not be modified.
AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT.
The most important Of the changes is the first
named. The present rules say that any mehoer
desiring to speak shall address the Speaker anu
ION being recognized" shall proceed IL Is pro-
posed to strike out the words ION being recog-
nized" which have been interpreted to give the
Speaker power TO refuse to recognize MEMBER
For instance, Mr.. Reed would ASK FOR what
purpose does the gentleman riseY' ana IL ne u'u
not ul,a the answer he would refuse to permit
the member to speak. with THESE "oroS
stricken out the Speaker would nave 10 recos-
nize n member demanding the floor II there
were no other member holding 1t. Or COURSE IL
the member brought up matter not germane 10
the discussion he could be suppressed as no"'
by a point OF order; but the fact that ne was
not speaking to the point would have 10 develop
itself in his speech, and an appeal against the
point Of order would lie to the House. instead
of the whole power to decide being lodged IN an
autocratc Speaker !.
The present rule is not one Of the "Reed
rules" It was adopted in the HLVlth Coh-
gress by a number OF leaders on both Sides VINO
desired to monopolize the privileges OF the hoor'
1t has always been easy for any prominent
member TO secure the floor provided no one else
had it. Consequently, to shut out the majority
of the members at the pleasure OF the speaker
was to increase the opportunity of the leaders
and clnch their leadership.
The second modification extends the powers
Of the committee chalrmen. At present, under
call of committees. the chairmen have the power
to call up any measures on the House calendar.
1t is proposed to give them power to call any
measures on the union calendar as well. and
possibly on the private calendar. Mosl OF the
important measures, Including all approprla.tiiTUl
bills. are on the union calendar, while the Dlns
the House calendar are FOR the most pai1
comparatively insignificant.
NO LONGER TO DOMINATE THE COMMITTEE.
The third proposed change will be to reconsti-
tute the Committee on Rules, which is now COM
posed OF the Speaker, two Democrats and two
Republicans The minority representation Is a
mere farce at the best and the committee Is
really the Speaker, for he holds the balance OF
power and can impose his will. The new COM
mittee proposed is to consist Of five members,
all Republicans and the Speaker Is to be In
eligible Probably the committee. unlike other
committees, will be elected by the House instead
OF being named by the Speaker. and will thus
not be under his personal domination as at
present. 1t will really be sort OF Republican
steering committee, except that 1t Will be clothed
with all the powers of1other committees or the
House.
SO far as can be learned there will be no real
attempt to change the only two essentially
Reed rules that the House now has. The
power of the Speaker TO count a quorum is
based on common sense, and has been approved
by Democrats rs we'll Republicans, and there
will probably be no effort at all to change 1t. IL
there be any. 1t will be feeble The right to re-
fuse datory motions may be seriously attacked
by some OF the Democrats but If honestly ad-
ministered It Is considered strictly justitlabe
by the Republicans and by many Democrats.
If any objection - made TO IT in framing the
new rules, the objection will be party one, and
the rule will stand especially appeal to
the House lies against 1t and the power Of the
Speaker Is not arbitrary.