Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01
Washington. D. c.. April %

is being gored.
1t is doubtful if this trite old saw
could be better illustrated in real life
than is the case this afternoon in the
house of representatives in connection
with the consideration of the bill carry
ing appropriations for public buildings
and grounds. The point to which ref
erence is made is the rule" under
which this bill is being considered and
which will enable the house to pass
the bill, carrying s16,OO0,0OO just three
hours after its introduction
| have previously upon several &C.
casions directed attenetion to the COM
plants made on both sides of the
chamber to the arbitrary-so-called-
rules in connection with the con-
sideration of public measures, the
limiting of debate and bar to amend
ment. The action of the committee
on rules, consisting of three republic
cans and two democrats, in prescrib-
ing these limitations and restrictions,
has been characterized as scandalous,
arbitrary, un-American, desrotic, ty-
rannlcal, and all other terms in the
vocabulary of scathing criticism. The
speaker, the floor leader of the house.
the committee on rules and the mem
bership who blindly followed this lead
ershlp have been generously roasted
by considerable number of republic.
ans, who, themselves were compelled
to follow the same lead or become
boilers. While voting to sustain these
rules these republicans have privately
given expression to their views in
most nmnhatin +ol> l.,
Suage. They yearned and longed
and ached to kick over the traces but
feared to do so.
Behold the change. l could call by
name dozen republicans in the house,
congressman who within the past three
months have torn their hair and swat.
ted the ambient with their clenched
fists and Kissed between closed teeth
because of the gag imposed by the
committee upon rules. l could name in
this connection one distinguished
Iowa CONGRESSMAN who has persistent
ly fought the rules and acclaimed in
opposition to the enormous power of
the speaker, and all but refused to be
governed by the decision of the ma.
jority, and who a week ago did actual
ly vote to sustain an appeal from the
chair. Not one of these last named
congressman are paving up the dust
today. They move about the house
chamber with look of restful content,
ment pictured upon their features. The
rules seem to suit them perfectly. At
this particular juncture their OK is
not being gored. And yet, reinforced
by personal observation, at short
range, covering five sessions of con-
gress, will venture the statement that
not since the days of the Inauguration
of the original Reed rules in the
house, has a rule more drastic, restrict.
i've, iron-bound and gagging in its ten.
dency, been presented to the house OF
representatives, than the one reported
yesterday and under which the public
buildings bill is being discussed this
afternoon.
1t must not be assumed this is nee
essarily a criticism of the rule or the
system; it is merely statement of
fact In this particular instance pos
sibly debate Of an extended nature
would not be profitable or productive
of any good. For year the commit
tee has been giving it's attention ex-
clusively to consideration OF claims
of the various municipalities through
out the country desiring appropria-
tons for the erection of public build
ings. The committee has provided
hearings for all cities, at which time
the merits of the claim We're set forth.
Supplied with all the available light
the committee has gone ahead and
framed bill recommending appropria-
tons for certain cities. From the en-
tire number asked for the most merit
orious have been chosen. 1t is not
difficult to believe that the committee
is furnished with information enabling
them to better determine the relative
merits of the contending sections than
would be the entire house which is
without specific information. OF
course, il week We're to be given to
debate the facts might be brought out,
but in that event possibly certain cit
les upon the slate might be wiped off
and others substituted and this might
be the beginning of strife.
On the other hand there will be
those--perhaps hundred congress
men-who have faileG to connect with
public building appropriation, who
would very much like to be heard and