Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-25
]. F. LACEY TALKS
Say Tariff Not in Speakers
Hands.
LATTER HAS NO CONTROL OVER IT
Babcock's Power Idle Talk-Iowa Del
egation in Congress Has Full Quota
of Committee Assienments-Stat
Position Net So Formidable.

Des Moines. Nov. 21.-"There was a
good deal of talk before Babcocl with
drew from the race for speaker about
his being able to do thus and so with
the tariff il he chose" says Congress
man Lacey, when as a matter of fact
he could only have done what the
house wanted him to do. The speaker
is supposed to name the committees.
AS a matter of fact he only fills the
vacancies, making few other changes
of Importance. 1t is seldom that there
are more than two or three on any of
the important committees. 1t would
therefore be impossible for him to
exert any great influence through the
committee. If the house wants to re-
wise the tariff it will do so. If it does
not it will not do so no matter what
the speaker wants"
Congressman Lacey says that the
talk regarding the power of the speak
er of the national house of represen-
tatives is much exaggerated. 1T is
true that the speaker has a great deal
of power" said he in speaking of the
matter. Sometimes he appears to be
arbitrary and it would appear from
the reports that go out concerning his
actions that the house has no redress.
This is not the case, as will be seen in
looking into the matter. All of the
power the speaker receives is from
the house and it can override him
whenever it sees fit. He is supreme
in minor matters, in which but few
members are interested. When any
really important question comes up
the power of the speaker is nothing
unless backed up by the power OF the
house.
Tom Reeds Title of Gear"
"Take Tom Reed, for instance. He
was given the title of 'czar" and it
is supposed yet throughout the coun-
try that he absolutely ruled the house.
Some people actually believe that he
was the only member who had any
power The instance Of his magnify
ing his authority most often given by
those who talk of it, is his action in
counting quorum when quorum was
not present. Mr. Reed in converse
ton regarding this act of his, once
said:
For thirty minutes my action in
counting quorum was my ruling
After that it was the ruling of the
house
What he meant was that he could
only follow up such a policy with the
consent of the house. The house could
have overruled him at any time that
it saw fit, and had it not recognized
the wisdom of his action. he would
have been overruled The same rule
holds good in everything. When ever
there is a subject of sufficient import
in hn
power is at an end unless the house
agrees with him. 1t generally does
but that does not alter. the fact. The
speaker appears sometimes to carry
things on with high hand, but he on
1y does this as long as the house is
willing for him to do So"
The Iowa delegation is little late
in getting in line for Cannon fol-
speaker. This was due largely to what
now appears to be an i'll advised effort
of certain faction to stampede the
state for Babcock, when he never real
ly stood any chance. The origina,
Cannon men are now feeling quite
joyful over the outcome. Judge Smith
Of Council Bluffs is one of them. He
stood for Cannon from the first, ant
will probably have reason to be glat
that he did. He is man of great abil
ity and Speaker Cannon will hardly
neglest him in making his committee
assignments. He is a congressman
whom Iowa will be glad to see push
ed to the front, and he. is certainly
well advanced in that direction al
ready.
Iowa Committee Assignments.
In connection with the speal,ershir
1t may not be amiss to note what com