The Washington times., 1902-04-18
Mr.. CuShnan's Attack on
the AutOcratic Power
of the Speaker.
UNDEM0CRATIC; UNAMERICAN
Holy Of Eelies in King Solomon's Temple
Like Thirty Cents" Compared to the
Speakers Rooni-House Proceedings
Likened to a Farce Performance.


forceful and thoroughly in earnest. Rep
resentative Cushman of Washington arose
in his seat on the Republican side of the
House of Representatives yesterday and
delivered a ffty-minute speech which, for
brilliancy candor and daring. has not
been equaled at this session OF Congress.
1t was an attack upon the Speaker as
an officer of the House, and upon the
rules governing that body, preliminary to
caustic remarks in opposition to the Gu
ban reciprocity bill.
His delivery was somewhat rough and
uncouth. with no effort to be dramatic or
affected but his utterances were brilliant
and powerful. He at cnce established
himself as past master of sarcasm, and
proved that he had few peers and no su-
periors as a humorist.
Onslaught on the Sacred Rules.
Once before during the last session of
Congress MIR. Cushman gave an exhibition
of his powers as a speechmaker- At that
time he discussed the river and harbof
bill Yesterday, however. he had the te-
merity TO make an onslaught upon the
sacred rules OF the House, and in doing
so he Jared not the Speaker. He quali-
fled his statements in declaring that indi-
vidually. personally, and politically he
had admiration fer the present Speaker.
and that it was cply the system which he
attacked.
The speech created a sensation, and
time and again Mr.. Cushman was inter
Nd In, all
their railings against the rules no Dem
ocrat has ever SO numerically lashed
them as did this fearless young orator
from the Pacific Coast.
Mr.. Cushraan began in a matter of fact
way, stepping out into the aisle as he
started cut, and walked back and forth
while he fayed the Republican leaders
and their rules without pity.
Speech Closely Followed.
He mad not uttered half a dozen sem
tences before he had the undivided atten-
tion of every member On the floor as well
as every person in the galleries. Soon
members began to come in from the cloak
rooms and committee rooms.
The speech was delightful morsel for
tilt bSAArtlotS. Gnu even NlG iktpuDllCdH
majority could not at times but manifest
its amusement, if not its approval.
He concluded his remarkable delivery
by declaring that at some future time be-
fore the close of the session he would
have something further to say upon the
subject CT the rules. and he promised that
ii would be so hot that it would have to
be printed On asbestos. This was after he
had declared that the rules were rotten,
Unrcpublican, undemocratic. un-Ameri-
can and disgrace TO any representative
BODY
Mr.. Cushman followed Mr.. De Armond
In opposition to the Cuban reciprocity bill.
He said that he found himself not only
embarrassed by the novelty of the situa-
tion, but suffering from the effects of q
recently remarkably successful yaccina-
tion.
And yet, on second thought. he said. he
congratulated himself that he was thus
probed, for he did not know what germs
OF political idiocy were threatening the
Republicans. He advised his political as
sociates to so and do likewise that they
might avoid the poison which he feared
would be found in the tail OF the pending
measure.
A Remarkable Situation
"At the outset of this proposition we are
confronted with the remarkable fact of
the way in which this. measure got before
this House. When the measure was first
mentioned it was well known that the
majority OF one side OF this chamber at
least were against it. Since that time no
new facts have come TO light to shed their
luster on this proposition. There has been
no change in the condition OF the Cubans.
hos Eaa 81. IN, tt,o e;+,
tion OF the American industry. But, sin
gular as il may seem. there has been a re-
markable change in the attitude OF some
members toward this bill. How did that
come about? Why, il my memory serves
me Alright, il came about through the me-
dium of five prolonged. continuous, highly
harmonious and remarkably effective con-
ferences; did it not?
Il make the statement on this floor
now" he said. that no member who in
iroduces a bill-noJ private bill, but a
public bill-can get 1t considered or
brought forward for final determination
unless il suits the Speaker, and if any
one wants 10 deny that. am in personal
position, and in a peculiarly happy frame
OF mind right now, TO give a little yalu-
able testimony On that point Applause
and laughter.l
Is the Speaker Mortal?
"Who is the Speaker Of this House? Is
he mortal man, like the rest ef Us? VINO
is the Speaker of this House that he sets
up his immaculate judgment on every bill
that is introduced?
When a member introduces a bill In
this House-not a private bill, but pub
lie bill-what haprens2 II IS referred to a
great committee Of this House. They pass
their judgment on it. recommend it for
passage, and then it gees on the calendar
Calendar That Is q misnomer; IT
ought 10 lie called cemetery liaUehterI |
for therein JIG the whitening bones or leg
islatiye hopes. lLaughtcr.l
When the bill is reported what dG5s
the member who Introduced ii and who |
is charged by his constituency 10 secure |
its passage do2 Does he consult himself |
about his desire 20 call il up? No. Does
he consult the committee hat recon- |
mended it2 No Does he consult the viii |
of the majority Of the House? No. What |
does he do?
Il will tell you what he does. He either |
consents HAT that lii may die on the |
calendar, or be puts his manhood and |
his individuality in his pocket and goes
trotting down that little pathway that |
leads to-whoTc2-tbe Speakers room. |
Ah. the Speakers room All the glory that |
clustered around the holy OF holies in |
King Solomon's Temple looked like 80 |
cents-[prolonged laughter and npplausel |
yes; looked like % cents--compared with |
that 5obbing department of this Govern |
ment. Applause and laughter.I
81 make no onslaught on the individual |
have a high regard for the Speaker ot !
this House. personally and for him DO |