The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-19
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
Lentz Claimed that His Speech Had
Been Kept Out.
(St. Louis Globe-Democrat Washington
letter.

est. Louis Globe-Democrat Washington
Letter.
Lentz of Ohio broke into the public
prints during the week through his as
sault against the speaker and his claim
that he had not been treated justly in MS
exercising of the right of leave TO
print He rose to u question OF personal
privilege and declared that a speech
which he had wanted in the Congress
SfOnal Record had been Withheld by
Speaker Henderson and handed TO Gros-
Vsnor of Ohio tor Getting
1t has long been known that the speak
er exercises authority over the Record
with members of both sides, but the nght
which grew out OF the incident was
bitter one, the Democrats Tallying solidly
behind tho OhiOan. The incident brought
to attention Il practice which has been IN
vogue long time with all presiding OFF,
GERS of the house. That is, of delegating
to certain members duties which he can
not carry out himself in the pressure OF
business. While Richardson and Lentz
were urging the adoption of the resolu-
ton OF censure on the speaker, senator
Stewart came over from the senate wing
of the capitol and urged the speaker to
give recognition for the passage OF a
measure in which he was interested
Promptly the speaker explained that he
did not have time with the multiplicity
of duties pressing upon him, to attend to
the matter He referred the senator to
Congressman Steele. ranking member Of
the house committee on the celebration
of the centennial of the Louisiana pur-
chase ana stated LIdI II MI OAttlt- dANfA
looking into tie matter. approved 1t, ne,
the speaker, would recognize a member
for it TO be placed on passage.
Congressman Lloyd of Missouri mad a
similar experience during the week He
sought recognition of the speaker to ask
unanimous consent for the considerat ton
of bill to correct the military record of
a constituent The speaker said: I Will
not do 1t until 1 refer it to a critical
all right, I will do So" The next day
the bill was handed back with several
proposed amendments and then marked
.. X. by Congressman Steele. Inc
speaker told Lloyd if he would agree to
embody. the amendments IN the bill he
would be recognized 10 ask unanimous
consent. otherwise ne would not.
The incidents bring out conditions
which have been in vogue in the house
for years back. To the visitor in the gal
leries the proceedings on the floor seem
to be conducted without order or system
and during a reign of confusion. Nothing
could be further from. the truth. Not
man is recognized by the speaker except
by previous arrangement, and possibly an
arrangement which was perfected days
before he gets recognition. during which
he patiently awaits his turn Even in
general debate the speaker only recog-
nizes those whom he chooses. If a men,
Der interrupts another who has the floor
the speaker promptly asks: For what
the member is obliged to state what his
object Is.
If it displeases the speaker he turns
quickly lTOiD the ADtluDSI anu say MI
Blank is recognized" completely taking
the floor out from under the member who
is on his feet to address the house on a
matter which the speaker does not wish
considered. On the speakers desk is a
little blank book, and there each day can
be found the names OF those whom he
wishes to recognize during the day. As
fast as they get the floor and dispose Of
the business they have in hand their
names are checked off by the speaker
Instances have occurred in the present
session where the names of members
have been reached and they failed to de-
mand the floor. and the speaker has had
to cali their attention to the fact that ne
will recognize them. During the terms of
Mr.. Reed as speaker it is known that one
member served two terms i'm congress.
and, because of hostility toward him by
the speaker, he was never recognized,
and hence never uttered a word on the
floor of the house that went into the rec
ord of the proceedings. While the power
exercised by the speaker is apparently
arbitrary and despOtic, members of both
majority and minority agree in saying
that its exercise is the only possible
means of diSpOSing of business in so large
q BODY.