The Irish standard., 1902-04-26
He Castigates Speaker Henderson and the
Republican Leaders at the
National Capital.
Compares Them To Oriental Despots and
Draws Storm Of Applause
From Colleagues.

On April II the House of Represen-
tatives heard itself criticised in most
pointed and forcible way by Mr.. Cush-
man, Of Washington. The review of
it's failing and shortcomings was
made during the general debate on
Cuban reciprocity. Mr.. Cushman is a
Republican and stout party adherent,
but took occasion to tell his party that
it was becoming overconfident and
careless. He wanted to impress upon
his associates that they were not in
fallible, and, from the Speaker down,
were likely to make many mistakes
Mr.. Cushman arraigned the Com
mittee on Rules and the House lead
ers in a sensational fashion. A por
ton of his criticism was in semi
humorous vein, but some of it was de-
cidedly caustic.
Mr.. Cushman declared that ma
jority of the Republicans of the House
were opposed to the Cuban reciprocity
bill, although majority were also
convinced that it would be better for
them to be in favor of it. He inti-
mated that the Speakers position was
responsible for the change Of attitude
of many of the members, and followed
this statement with an outspoken and
almost sensational criticism Of the
power exercised by the Speaker.
II make the statement on this floor
now," said Mr.. Cushman, "that no
member who introduces bill, not
private bill, can get it considered un-
less it suits the Speaker, and if any
one wants to deny that, am in a per-
sonal position and in a peculiarly hap
py frame Of mind right now to give a
little valuable testimony on that point.
WHO is the speaker Of this House? Is
he mortal like the rest Of us? Who is
the Speaker of this House that sets
up his immaculate judgment to Judge
on every bill that is introduced?
when member introduces a pub
lie bill in this House what happens?
It Is referred to great committee of
this House. They pass their judgment
on it, recommend it for passage, and
then it goes on the calendar. Calen-
dar! That is misnomer. 1t ought to
be called a cemetery. For therein lie
the whitening bones of legislative
hopes. When the bill is reported,
what does the member who introduced
it and who is charged by his con-
stituency to secure its passage do?
Does he consult himself about his de-
sire to call it up? No. Does he con-
suit the committee that recommended
it: No. Does he consult the will Of
the majority Of this House? No.
IT will tell you what he does. He
either consents that that bill may die
on the calendar or he puts his man
hood and his individuality in his pock-
ct and goes trotting down that little
pathway that leads to the Speakers
room. All the glory that clustered
around the holy of holies in King Sol
omons temple looked like 80 cents
yes, looked like 20 cents-compared
with that jobbing department of this
government"
Mr.. Cushman then quoted Cassius'
allusion to Caesar as the Colossus of
the world, and continued:
II make no onslaught on the ind1-
vidual. I have a high regard for the
Speaker of this House personally and
for him politically, but the fact is that
we have adopted set of rules in this
body that are an absolute disgrace to
the legislative body Of any republic.
They are unrepublican, they are un-
democratic, they are un-American.' we
need to restore this House to the great
patriotic plane on which the fathers OF
the republic placed it, where every In
dividual on this floor stands on an
equal and an exact plane with every
other.
we operate here under set OF
rules confessedly designed to belittle
the hopes and dwarf the ambitions OF
the individual members of this body