The Washington times., 1902-06-24
Veteran Ohio Republican
Pays Tribute to
The Speaker.
REPLIES TO Mr.. CUSHMAN
Denies That Committee Has Ever At
tempted to Strangle legislation
Words of Praise for Mr.. Carlisle, Mr..
Crisp, and Mr.. Reed, Former Speakers

While the Philippine civil government
bill was under general debate in the
House yesterday, General Grosvenor. a
member of the Committee on Rules. tool,
the floor to reply to the famous "as-
bestos and hand grenade attack upon
sentative Cushman tRep., Wash.).
In doing so he also referred sarcas-
tically to his colleague, Representative
Gill (Rep., Ohio), who has also eriti-
cised the rules. and as General Gros-
venor said. had made the statement that
the House had under the operations of
its rules become an oligarchy, and that
1t was impossible for member to bring
any measure, no matter how important,
before the House for action.
Friendly to Mr. Cushman.
Personally, he said, he was friendly to
Mr.. Cushman. and had contributed ma
terially toward his election In every way
possible. He then proceeded to enum-
crate the number of bills which Mr..
Cushman had introduced, those that had
been reported and become laws, and
her OF times both Mr.. Cushman and Mr.
Gill had been absent when the roll was
called.
Neither Mr.. Cushman nor Mr.. Gill
was present. but MIR. Jones OF Wash
ington at times interrupted General
Grosvenor in defense of his colleague,
and was arRiauded.
Under the old methods by which the
House operated 1t became powerless TO
transact business The House must be
by rules, or there would be
chaos. He inserted as a part OF his re-
marks carefully prepared defense Of
the rules written by Mr.. Hines, the
clerk to Speaker Henderson. whom GEN
aral Grosvenor declared amid the ap-
plause of the House was the best posted
man on parliamentary law In the eoun-
Try. and one to whom he would refer
and defer rather than any other.
General Grcsvenor pointed out that
Mr.. Cushman had voted for the rules.
He denies that the Committee on Rules
lad ever attempted to strangle legisla-
ion in the House That committee, he
;aid. had reported resolutions for the
of the oleo bill the Pacific
:abls. and the irrigation bill. when not
more than one member of the commit
ee had voted for any of these measures
n the House.
General Grosvenor warmly defended
speaker Henderson and declared that he
lad always been fair in his treatment
II members. and challenged contradic-
ion of the statement.
Il have served in the House under
our Speakers" said Mr.. Grosvenor.
Among. them was Mr. Carlisle, than
shom no fairer minded or abler man
or lad i,,
d chair. Then there was Mr.. Tom
Reed. the great parliamentary leader,
he able man, the patriotic man; then
DR. Crisp. man l loved. a man whose
ovable characteristics impressed them
elves upon the House: man without
he experience of Carlisle and Reed, but
man with mind to grasp those ques-
ions. and he and they were foremost
nd always ready to do the fair thing.
Il could select out of that trio of
reat men a marked difference in their
reatment of the members of the House,
ut that is not important.
Praise for,the Speaker.
Il say, and l challenge contradiction,
hat the present Speaker Of the House
as been indefatigable, untiring in his
urpose to treat all sides of this House |
nd all the membership of this House
18th absolute fairness. Applause J.
Go over his decisions and find, If you
an, one that is not justified under par
law and the parliamentary
istory of our country. He is fair
linded and careful.
1T is said you must go to him with \
Ill in order to get the right to call it
p by unanimous consent. Upon his
wn motion, with his long experience in
he House. he has adopted the system
nder which we are acting. which is
lis:
He will &c: recognize any man to
SIX unanimous consent for a bill twice
yer unless there is some good reason
lown in the merit of the bill itself;
nd in order to ascertain that he must
sad the bill and read the report, and
llk with the member.
Was there ever a member of this
ouse. now in the sound Of my voice,
ho went to the Speaker and asked him
allow a bill to be called up by unani-
ous consent that the Speaker refused
examine into the merits of the bill
lat he brought to him.