Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-17
CUSHMtRS ATTACK
-SgeF
Arraignment Of Speaker and
House Leaders.
btE32
COMMITTEE ON RULES
ITS MEMBERsecoME IN FOR MUCH
CRITICISM.
The System Of Controlling LEGISLATION
COMMITTEE ON RULES
The System Of Controlling Legislation
in the House Held Up
to Ridicule.

to Ridicule.
Representative Cushman Of Washington.
one of the young republicans Of the House,
created sensation this afternoon by an
| arraignment Of the Speaker of the House
and the committee on rules, and other
leaders. 1t was during the debate on the
Cuban reciprocity bill, when Mr.. Cushman
secured the floor to make his attack. For
half an hour or more he held the attention
OF the House and was libs orally appIauded
by the democrats which his attacks upon
the House leadership were keenest.
AT times Mr.. Cushman's remarks were
In good-natured, semi-humorous vein,
and the republicans applauded. especially
when he took occasion to laughngly satir-
lie General Grosvenor Some Of his saIlfes
against the House leadership, however
were not altogether good-natured. and at
those times silence prevailed on the re-
publican side
Mr.. CuShman'S attack upon the Speaker
was not on Mr.. Henderson personally. he
explained, for whom he had a high re-
the legislation of the House. for which he
held the Speaker in part responsible.
Mr.. Cushman's Speech.
confess that it is with a decided degree Of
hesitation that enter the arena OF this
debate-an arena that has been enlightened
by the eoquence and the ability Of gentle
men older in years and of greater expert
ence than myself. 1t Is also with decided
degree of hesitation that 1 differ with and
part company from the distinguished lead
ers or the ways and means committee.
ADDED to that natural embarrassment, 1
q m also suffering Under the nerSOn91 in
convenience of a recent and remarkably
successful vaccination operation. I first
looked upon this as unfortunate. but upon
further consideration l regard it as high
ly happy circumstance, because since free
trade epidemic has broken out on the re-
| publican side Of this chamber there Is no
telling the germs Of what political idiocy
or devastating nfalady a man is likely to
become afflicted with in this chamber
daughter and applause) Take my advice
my friends; follow my example. and protect
yourselves while there is yet time.
Il desire tossay that l will carefully I'M
dergo what slight personal Inconvenience
there might be connected with this opera
ton and will be happy if 1 add my
mite to whatI conceive to be laudable
American industry from becoming inocu-
lated with thesdeadsy and destructive virus
that conceive to be concealed in the tail
OF this measure: daughter and applause)
| "At the outset ef'this proposition we are
confronted with the remarkable fact Of
the way in which this measure got before
this House. When the measure was first
mentioned, 1t was we'll known that the ma
jorty of one side or this chamber at least
were againsttft. Since that time new
facts have come to light to shed their luster
on this proposition. There has been no
change in the condition of the Cubans.
There has Been no change In the stua-
ton of the American industry. But sing
ular as 1t may SEEM there has been a re-
markable change in the attitude of some
| Iar tnru- n tic It'll = L,k
come about? Why. II. my memory serves
me Alright, it came about through the me-
dunn Of five prolonged, continuous highly
harmonious AID. remarkably effective con-
ferences; did 1t not? 1 make the statement
here now that there are not majority OF
the members in this chamber who are in
favor of this bill, although 1t may be that
a majority Of them have been convinced
that it is better for them that they should
not be against it., daughter and applause.)
The House Rules.
I'VE meet in this chamber today a con-
ditiop that challenges the consideration of
every patriotic man. and that is a set of
rules under which this body operates, or
perhaps it would be more nearly correct to
say, under which this body Is operated
Uaughter.)
Mr.. Chairman, deem 1t my duty know
ing as 1 do that this measure could not
have been brought here in the condition
which it is, save and excepting for that
remarkable condition of the rules Of this
bcdy-I deem 1t my duty to pause for a
m2ment or two on the threshold Of this
dJbate and make one or two observations
OF the subject of the rules under which this
body operates.
I'm the first place, in the three years of
my membership In this House, l have en-
deavored to conduct my self with the mod
esty that 1 conceive to be becoming alike
to new member and his constituency. L
represent a congressional district compris-
ing the entire state Of Washington, with
half million Of patriotic people in it. with
vast and varied industries and interests in
commercial branches and in the avenues
of trade. demanding legislation for their
interest and their protection. It is with UNI
speakable humiliation that I stand I'D in
my place here and say that I. as a mem
Der of this body, am entirely unable to
bring up for consideration or for final de-
termination on this floor any measure I'M
less I can first make terms with the
Speaker.
Il make the statement on this floor now
that no member who introduces a bill not
private bill, but public bill, can get 1t
considered or brought forward for final de-
termination unless it suits the Speaker,
and If any one wants to deny that I am
In a personal position and in a peculiarly
happy frame of mind right now to- give
little valuable testimony on that point
applause and laughter)
Power Of the Speaker.
"Who is the Speaker Of this House? Is
he mortal man like the rest of us? Who
is the Speaker of this House that sets up
his immaculate judgment to Judge on every
bill that is introduced. When a member
introduces a bill In this House, not pri-
vate bill. but a public bill. what happens?
1t is referred 70 great committee of this
House.
They pass their Judgment on it. recon-
mend 1t for passage and then it goes on
the calendar. of Caiendar! That Is a mis-
homer. It ought to be called cemetery.
daughter.} For therein lie the whitening
bones of Legislative, hopes, Iaughter)
when the bif1 Is reported, what does the
member who Il introduced 1t and who is
charged by his constituency to secure its
passage dot, Does he consult himself
about his desire to call 1t up? No. Does
he consult the committee that recommend
ed it? No. Does heoconsult the will Of the
majority Of this House? No. What does
he do? wilnneil you what he does He
either consents that that bill may die on
his individualtty In his pocket and goes
leads to where? I'd the Speak rr's room