Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-04-18
0ushman of Washington Declares Arbitrary
Power is Vested in Speaker,
SAYS INDIVIDUAL POWERS ARE MENAcED
Appeals TO Republican Associates to
Keep standard of Action on High
PIRne ana Preserve Equal
Rights to Members.

preparing for the final struggle tomorrow.
The democrats are badly split on the
bill.
The opponents Of the bill occupied most
OF the time Of the debate today, the fea-
ture being a vigorous speech by Mr.. Cush-
man, republicsa, of Washington, against
the measure. Mr.. Cushmsn arraigned the
committee on rules and the house leaders
in a breezy and at times a sensational
fashion. portion OF his criticism was
in a semi humorous vein, but some Of It
was decidedly caustic.
Mr. De Almond, one OF the leading demo-
Gratis Of the house, delivered forcible
speech in favor Of tariff reduction on trust
articles.
DIR. Almond II sarcRstic.
Mr. De Armond explained that later on a
motion would be made to amend the bill
to take the different'al off refined sugar
the differential put in the bill for the
benefit of the trust. Then. he said, would
come the beautiful spectacle we have wit
messed so often-the rules would stand In
the way and members would hide behind
the rules
But Mr.. De Armond warned members
that they could not Justify themselves with
such a plea. This will be your chance"
he said, "you are either for this trust, or
you are against 1t. II you are against 1t
do not let a spider web rule stand in your
path. The man who votes to sustain the
chair will stand in history and before his
constituents and this house as opposed to
the proposition he refuses to consider"
Mr. Cushman Of Washington made a
breezy speech against the bill. He de-
clared that a majority Of the republicans
OF the house were today opposed, although
a majority were convinced that 1t would be
better for them to be in favor of it.
BIames Speaker Henderson.
He intimated that the speakers position
was responsible for the change OF attitude
Of many Of the members and followed this
statement with a very outspoken and al
most sensational criticism Of the power
exercised by the speaker.
''I make the statement on this floor now"
said Mr.. Cushman, that no member who
introduces a bill not private bill, can get
Il considered unless II suits the speaker,
and II anyone wants to deny that l am In
q personal position. and in clearly happy
frame of mind to give little valuable
testimony ON that point" (Appisuse and
laughter.)
Mr.. cushman quoted Cassius allusiOn TO
Caesar as the COLOSSUS Of the world, and
continued:
Attacks Rules, Not Individual.
make no onslaught on the individual
have a high regard for the speaker OF this
house personally and for him politically,
OF rules in this body that are an absolute
disgrace to the legislative body. (Applause
on the democrade @ slde dngx are they n are
unAmerican. Applause on the democratic
side) We need TO restore this house TO the
Of the republic placed It; where every in,
dlvidual on this floor stands on an eQuai
and exact plane with every other.
confessedly designed to belitue the hopeS
and dwarf the ambitions OF the lndlVloual
members OF this Cody, and at the same
time we vest more power In the hands OF
one or two men than was ever enjoyed py
I say to you. my friends, that the system
is rotten at both ends. II Is rotten at one
end because 1t robs the individual member
stitution of the United States and his ere
dentials as a member on this floor entitle
cause II vests power in men that have no
right to it, and oft time places on ,ei tnem
Cities that they have no capacity to fulfill
Mr. Chairman, let no man charge me
now with trying to tear down the rgpuo-
the republican, party, but confess that !
sometimes feel that would like TO put my
1 hand
who conceive that they are the republican
| party. Applause and laughter(
/ am a believer in the republican party.
who does not sit idly by and watch his
! party drift into disrepute and toward de-
! struction, but the man who rises up and
| calls attention to the evils that exist.
Quotes Republican Authority.
| Mr.. Cushman then turned his attention
| to the pending measure and its sponsors
After reading the utterances OF Harrison.
Blaine and Mckinley on the subject of
reciprocity, to show that they did not
advocate such reciprocity as was contained
in the pending bill, Mr. Cushman said:
| appeal from the reciprocity OF John
| Congressman Grosyenor TO the reciprocity
of oSranitT %iiaW McKEleS Sf sereSo payne To the
reciprocity of James G. Blaine
'I have been interested as we'll as en-
tertained," he continued, by some peculiar
statements that have been made on this
floor in support of this measure
"The gentleman from New York (Mr.
! Payne) on this side Of the chamber pro-
claimed that this measure was the height
| Of republican protection, and then within
an hour before the sand in the glass had
| run once, Mr.. Mcclellan arose on the
other side and announced that he was go
ing to vote for It because II was a breach
in the wall of protection and step toward
free trade And these two speeches are
printed in parallel columns OF the same
issue OF the Congressional Record.
Draws LudicrOus Picture.
There is a picture. The gentleman
from New York (Mr. Payne) with one foet
planted on the wall of protection. with the
other set firmly on the rampaTts Of free
trade, with the American Sugar Rennins
company in his arms and the platform o,
the republican party in his hip pocket
(Leughterl There is tableau (renswet
laughter) that with the aid Of slow cur,
tain and a little red ire would bring tear
TO the eyes OF an Egyptian mummy
(LAuKhterD
Mr.. Loud of California declared that h
was a republican and followed the leaderI
where he could. many times agginst hi
better judgment. but from this proposi
tion he said he must dissent. He insisted
that there Was no obligation on the Unite.
States to help Cuba at the expense Of oul
own people. Cuba already had cost US on,
way and another q thousand million dol
lars.
Mr.. Lacey OF Iowa, the last speaker. to
day, supported the bill