Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-05
NO CHANGE IN RULES
House Republicans in Caucus Voted
Down Mr.. Hepburn's Motions "A
fractional Row in Democratic
Caucus.

Washington, Dec. Tho Democrat,
House caucus held yesterday uncXpcCt-
eddy turned out to be mere interesting
than the republican House caucus, after.
in each case. the candidates for the Of
fees had been nominated. Speaker Hem
derson, Clerk Mcdowell ana the other in
cumbents Of tho principal House offices
were rcnominattd ~ acclamatiou by the
republicans, and Mr. Richardson Of Ten-
ncssce was rcnominatod for speaker, Mr.
Kerr of Pennsylvania fer clerk and the
ether slated candidates by the democrats
MIR henderson and NJ Richard 'on were
heartily ipplauded wf,n they were
brought into the respective cducuscs, AMI
made eloquent speeches If thanks MIR
Henderson showed lis apprehension of *
traNagaIt appropriations by warning tho
republicans against {! en-.
Tie influence of Speaker henderson on
the one hand ard the stiersth of the
movement for some tariff changes wiich
We aid increase foreign trade on the other,
prevented the thrc. tened attempt or the
tart of the high prCtectionists to bin1 tho
republican party in this preliminary
caucus against any form c. tariff revision.
The opposition to such action had grown
SO strong that the men who had talked
of it saw the wisdom of abandoning ii. All
questions of patty policy were, therefore.
deferred, to be settled later as events
shape themselves and after informal con-
ference.
But the republicans spent nearly two
hours voting down the resolutions of Rep
rcscntative Hepburn for the amendment
Of the Reed rules so as to decrease the
power of the speaker and increase the
power of the individual members. There
was an overwhelming majority against
Mr. Hepburn, who could never muster
more than Al votes, and the majority
voted down even his proposition that the
old rules should be adopted for 10 legisla-
tive days only, 50 that the 90 new mem
bcrs of the House might get trial of
them, after which amendments might be
considered Representative Dal2ell. who
led the fight for tho old rules which the
republican caucus finally directed him to
offer in the House treated the Hepburn
proposition with sCant ceremony and Rep
rcstntatiVc II apbur1 retorted rather
warmly but the contest was not "a very
Interesting one, because it's result was a
fore gone conclusion.
The New York delegation in tn" demo-
cratic caucus after comforting. stirred w
- lively row by trying to commit the party
90 a policy of Eastern prime iplcs as they
were called by tn" indignant friends Of tht
Kansas City platform. who houN oppos' d
the effort. Mr.. George b. Mcclellan. ir.
and Mr.. Fitzgerald. selected as tn" 50 kos
man Of the New Workers, had lively tl
with Representative Ball OF Texas. ano
others. which Mr.. Richardson himself ha'
to qurll. At his suggestion. these ana al
the other resolutions offered We're rct,rreI
to a committee of T. to report at a caH
Gus Ia be held Jan. 10. But it is not be-
licvcd that the committee will report thoa'
resolutions or any others that aro Hltcl'
to split the democratic party more openl!
than Is now the case.
The only resolution offered which tn
committee might report favorhbly Is tina
of Nh Finley of South Carolina, proVid
ing Tor "A steering committee. with Mi
Richardson at the head of it. to deter
mine the party policy from time to time.