Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-22
HENDERSON IN THE HOUSE
CONTINUED from Fist Page.)

oNt
of the committee on the bill and considers
1t in connection with the bill itself, and the
statements of the member interested. 1t
often happens, however, that he is not sat
isfed entirely with the evidence in hand
and the bill is then referred to some disin-
terested members. For the latter purpose
the speaker has at hand the members Of the
committee on rules and the chairmen of
the committees Of the house, OF whom there
are some thirty-ive, to whom he often jocu-
larry refers as his cabinet. 1t is his de-
sire to obtain as unprecedented a report on
the bill as possible, so that he usually
makes 1t a point to refer the bill to some
member not connected with the committee
making the report. Some times It is nee
essary to call on the departments for in
formation regarding the bill. When all the
information is at hand the speaker gives
his decision, and in accordance with this
decision the member is recognized or not.
II made up my mind" said the speaker
to the writer last session, that as long as
I was burdened with the responsibility Of
according recognition to the members, I'M
der the rules, l would not permit any bill
to come up before the house until after
had personally investigated its merits and
was satisfied hat 1t was a good bill. OF
odASt a huLnDtI VI measures WHICH are
called up fail to pass, but that is a cues
tion for the house to decide"
why Kicked
Under this system some meritorious meas
ures doubtless fail to get into the house,
but as the speaker is a very reasonable man
and always approachable to members, 1t is
likely that a still larger number of I'M
worthy measures are killed by its opera
ton. 1t was such an instance that called
forth the bitter denunciation on the floor
Of the house during the discussion OF the
Cuban reciprocity bill by representative
Cushman Of Washington OF the speaker, the
committee on rules and the methods Of the
house. Mr.. Cushman had a bill to establish
a mint at Tacoma, Wash, carrying an
appropriation Of $500, 900 for that purpose.
When he sought recognition for 1t from
the speaker the latter was informed by
the Treasury department that the mint was
entirely unnecessary, that the department
did not wan II and that II was altogether
undesirable to establish II. Looking at the
subject from the standpoint OF the interests
OF the country at large, rather than from
that OF Mr.. Cushman and his constituents
who were interested in the establishment
Of the mint at Tacoma, the speaker de-
clined 10 recognize Mr.. Cushman for the
purpose OF calling up this bill and the lat
ter reyenged himself by delivering e TRADE
against the speaker and the committee on
rules. who were proceeding under theiI
legitimate powers conferred upon them by
the house itself. Yet Mr.. Cushman had
received four or i've -recognitions during
the last congress, which was considerably
above the average. especially for new mem
bers.
n Hard Worker.
OF course this care which the speaker ex-
ercised In regard to matters to come be,
fore the house entails upon him a vast
quantity Of work and II is fair to say he
is enabled to transact his business only
by virtue OF having inherited a most rug.
ged Scotch constitution. The speaker is al