New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-13
CANNON BREAKS RECORDS
The House Rushes $50 Private
Pension Bills Through.

Washington. Feb. 12.-speaker Cannon to-day
took the DIT in his teeth and ran completely away
WIN legislative precedent in the House. Incident
any ne broke all previous records in the passage
~ private pension bills. Under his guidance so
oi these bills were passed in l55 minutes
When the committee Of the whole had taken
favorable action the bills. Speaker Cannon
adopted new procedure 70 expedite their passage
10y the House. The usual custom has been for the
clerks 20 report each bill by number and title the
speaker then putting the question for its engross
n-ent ana third reading. when the title was again
reported by the clerk The question on the passage
% the bill was then put by the Speaker and the
result Of the vote announced. which invariably
was for passage. To-day Speaker Cannon followed
this procedure with the first bill Then he sud-
denly stopped. and, addressing the House. made
this explanation:
a large number Of bins have been reported from
the committee Of the whole House with a rec
menGauon that they do pass without amend
IsenL gentlemen are aware that the committee
or the whole House has had for some hours these
95lls under consideration Is there c desire upon
ne part Of any member that OF these bills
be considered separately?
Pausing for moment. Mr. Cannon continued:
s The Chair Propounds that query with view to
OF these respective bills be considered read the
numbe l ny the aRd c R2sd upon the reading Of their
After another pause the Speaker repeated with
great elaboration and emphasis on each word: rs
there objection There was stin another pause
a hG
Chair hears none
over one hundred Of these bills were disposed Of
In about five minutes. The bills with amend
T7ents were then reached when the Chair put the
same request
Mr. Finley. Of South Carolina objected with the
statement that he did not consider this mode Of
proceed 're proper for legislative body.
The objection is perfectly proper" replied
speaker cannon. This method Of procedure could
only be done by unanimous consent and the Chair
has been very careful fully TO inform the House.
and II is quite within the power Of any member TO
ohject Then with a note OF disappointment in
his voice he concluded: Objection is made The
clerk will report the first bill"
The first bill contained an amendment. and when
me clerk announced that fact the Speaker inquired
iaoetiously; Does the gentleman from South Caro-
INA desire 10 hear the amendment read?'
IN. no. replied Mr. Finley.
Wen. continued the Speaker. the gentleman
Is Neither does the chair"
he ihen insisted on the reading Of the entire
aIhehuilent, and when this done his announce
ment OF the third reading and passage Of this bill
w. notceahly slow. In the mean time Chairman
'.geiSlaEer or the Pension Committee and several
of Mr Finley's Democratic colleagues went to his
slat 10 demonstrate with him for the objection
After few minutes Mr.. Robinson OF Indiana in
terrupted the proceedings and said he wished to
repeat the previous request for unanimous consent
The Speaker put the request again and no objection
clared passed without even reading their numbers.
ana al previous records Of pension legislation by
Mr. Grosvenor. OF ohio. made what he declared.
with some heat, was his last attempt get day
commission 10 consider the snip subsidy question.
His request was that this measure be made a spe-
had been made and withdrawn Sir. HardwIck. OF
Georgia. Objected because Mr.. Bartlett. his col
Viously made and was not in his seat the time.
The Hous" adjourned until Monday.