The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-12-11

see that the rules will be changed,
so that no man who may occupy the
chair of the speaker shall have such
imperial power in this republic. 1t
is barely possible that the house will
name its own committees, as the SEN
ate does; but that reform is not so
imminent.
SO long as the speaker is permit
ted to name the committees and dole
out the chairmanships there will be
deals possible in contests for the
speakership. For example, four
years ago, a New York man was a
candidate for the speakership, and,
if he had succeeded. a Kansas man
would have taken his place as chair
man of the committee on Indian af-
fairs. Naturally enough the Kan
sas man supported the New York
man for the speakership, and there
by consulted his own self interests.
Under existing rules no representa-
tive of the people is allowed to lift his
voice in debate, no matter what out
RACES according to his opinion) may
be under contemplation. The speaker
sits in his exalted position, and never
sees nor hears any representative of
the people who may clamor for recog-
milton, unless the representative shall
have previously called and stated his
business and secured permission from
the speaker to address the house. In
that event, if the speaker fully under
stands the situation and agrees to
"give recognition" as they term it,
the representative of the sovereign
people may be recognized and heard.
1t will be news to majority of
readers that the representatives of the
people do not present anything at all
under existing rules in the house of
representatives The member of con-
gress is regarded as great man at
home, but as he nears Washington he
shrinks. When he gets here, he finds
that he is only one of a small herd of
individuals who have no rights what
ever, except which are accorded char
itably by the older members and the
speaker
Under existing rules every bill Of
fered is referred to an appropriate
committee for consideration. That
looks well on paper But the presiding
officer scans the bills, and informs the
chairman of each committee which
bills shall be considered and which
shall not be considered. To such an
autocratic condition have the rules
brought the house that not even be-
fore a committee of the house does
representative of the people have
any chance of success, without the
consent of the speaker For example,
you or some friend may have a bill
providing for the payment of claim
arising out of the civil war. A bill
is introduced and referred to the com
mittee- on war claims. Your bill may
not amount to more than 81 900, and it
may be just claim. But the speaker
tells the chairman of the committee
that the claims in all similar bills
amount TO upwards of 100000 and
that none of those bills shall be re-
ported. The chairman, who was APP
pointed by the speaker, does as he is
ordered; and your bill dies with all
others by that peremptory order
no matter whether right and justice
are on your side.
After the damnable outrage of the
centuries, the villiany of all cycles of
civilization, the explosion of the bat
tleship Maine in Havana harbor, while
all of our people were clamoring for
vengeance, determined upon war to
drive from this continent the nation
that had requited our friendly visit
with assassination, Speaker Reed re-
fused the petitioners of the house per-
mission to consider resolutions for the
declaration of war. On that occasion
the people rode over the speaker and
all rules. because the provocation was
so great.
But, ordinarily, the speaker rules
congress, and the time is not far dis
tant when those rules must be
changed SMITH D. FRY.