The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-03

Washington, November 30.-The eau
Gus of the republican members of the
house was held in the hall of represen-
tatives this afternoon and lasted about
three hours. Speaker Henderson and
the old officers of the house were made
the unanimous choice Of the caucus,
and the major portion of the time was
devoted to efforts, led by Representa-
tive Hepburn, of Iowa, to effect some
changes in the rules Iof the last house.
Mr.. Hepburn has made a similar fight
for the liberalizing of the rules at the
opening of each congress for a number
| of years, but without success, and to-
day he was again unsuccessful.
There were 146 of the 1913 republican
members of the house present.
Mr.. Lacy, of Iowa. placed General
Henderson in nomination for speaker
| and he was unanimously chosen as the
candidate of the caucus.
Mr.. sherman. of New York, then Of
fered an omnibus resolution for the re-
| election of the old officers of the house,
which was unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, offered
a resolution for the adoption Of the
old rules with certain prescribed
1 changes, which, however, did not alter
| the operation OF the rules themselves
| Mr.. Hepburn Immediately offered an
| amendment providing that the rules
should be adopted temporarily for forty
| days at the end of which time they
| should be placed before the house fol
| consideration. He made a very earneS
| argument in favor Of this temporary
| action in the course of which he point
g., II, ,s1I, =,
| believed should be made in the rules as
they have existed for several con
| crosses. One Of these was to provide
| that the right of recognition, now LODGED
in the speaker, should be given to thu
| first member addressing the chair; thu
| second was to provide for four suspen
sion days a month instead of two; thu
third was to provide for the revival o
| the old morning hour" as it existed
before the first congress of which MI
Reed was speaker, and the fourth wa
| to provide that senate amendmentS t
house bills should be subjected to tn
same points Of order to which the.
would be subject had the amendmen
originated in the house.
Mr.. Hepburn contended that the pres
, ent rules gave the speaker entirely to
: much power, and in the course of hi
| remarks made the point that there wa
| nothing in the constitution which re
=, quired that the presiding officer, chosel
by the house, should be a member o
that body.
Mr. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, reptile
, at considerable length to Mr.. Hep
, burns argument. contending that tn
. present rules were an evolution an
, had worked so admirably in facilitat
ing the transaction of business tina
the democrats. despite their outer
| against them during the Fifty-first con
: gresS, had not dared to materially mod
1 ify them when they came back int
power in the Fifty-second congress
When Mr.. Hepburns S motion was pu
) 1t was defeated by an overwhelmin
vote. about three to one.
; Mr.. Hepburn then offered in success
sion as distinct amendments the fou
notifications of the rules which he ha
suggested in his argument. These wer
, in turn voted down. The highest vot
which any of them received was Al. \
question of policy was broached at tn
|, caucus today. Hf -'