Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-23

speaker was mere parliamentary
moderator. Now, as Mr.. Crumpacker
remarks, the speaker instead of being
the servant of the house, seeking to do
It's will, has come to be its master. with
power to make 1t do his Will"
The Speakers s Discretion
rule Of the house adopted over a
hundred years ago gives the Jeaker
tne dlscretlon to recognize any one of
TWO or more members who rise to adj
dress the chair at one time This rule
mas been found to he very valuable
ala in controlling and directing legisla
ton It enables the speaker to control
the business Of the house and carry ont
lhe dally program determined upon be-
tore each sitting. REPRESENTATIVE
Srumpacker, who should know, says lit
rs hardly possible now to secure recop
milton from the chair without arrans-
ing FOR 1t In advance, and the speaker
must Know and approve of the purpose
Tor which the member desires to secure
the floor"
An amusing instance of the rigidity
and completeness of the parliamentary
mechanism of the house was by acct
dent revealed to the galleries the other
uay. Members were rising with ini-
tatton spontaneity to catch the sbeals
er's eye. Those sitting above could see
that Mr.. Cannon had on his desk a
written list of the persons to be recog-
nized. Presently he said:
Inc gentleman from New York, Mr..
Waldo" "
Mr. Waldo was sitting at his desk
absorbed In meditation. He was not
paying the faintest attention to the pro-
ceedings. He had not addressed the
chair. He did not even know that the
chair had addressed him. The speaker
hammered his desk with the gavel and
inquired Grossly:
Did not the gentleman from New
York ask for recognition on Fl. r.. 10
606?" ~ 10
Mr.. Waldo came to life. He jumped
up and began to tumble in his pockets,
but found he did not have a COPY of the
bill with him. Mr.. Cannon glared Tbe
house Uttered. The speaker reached i'm
his pocket, pulled out copy of the bill,
handed 1t to the reading clerk. and
said:
"The gentleman from New York
moves the present consideration of the
Following bill" 1t was read, Mr.. Waldo
explained it, it was passed and the
Wheel OF representative government
The speaker, through his unqualified
power to appoint committees, can con-
troll the legislative policy of the house
ana does. He can easily learn how
members who are under consideration
Tor assignment to a particular com
mittee, stand upon a measure which
may be referred to that committee. and
with this knowledge the committee may
be organized so it will report for action
bills the speaker thinks ought to be
considered, and consign to the tombs
bill that, in his opinion, deserve that
fate.
Political Organization of the House
The speaker, as chairman, and his two
party associates on the committee on
rules constitutes the political organiza-
tion of the house. That committee de-
termines what Legislation of a non-par-
liamentary character shall be consid-
cred and what shall not, and it fixes
the terms under which important meas
ures may be considered, the time for de-
bate, and whether amendments and
motions shall be in order. The state
hood bill was considered under a
special order limiting debate to
a few hours, and providing for
vote on the bill just as 1t was reported
by the committee, without the right of
amendment or recommitment. That
very important measure, nearly fifty
pages long, was reported for action
under a special order before the MEM
bers had time to obtain printed copies
of the bill and read them over.
Many Republicans said at the time
that the house ought to have the right,
at least, to propose amendments to SO
important a measure and that right
was denied. A Republican representa-
tive said to your correspondent today:
Il am entirely safe in saying that that
bill passed the house without one men,
Der in twenty having even read it. But
what was the use of reading it? There
was no right to propose amendments,
and every member knew that it pro-
vided for the creation of two states out
of four territories
1t is regarded as rank party treach-
cry for a member of the party to vote
against a decision of the committee on
rules. A member who does that takes
his political life in his hands. He is
stigmatized as a kicker" a "bolter,"
an "insurgent," and political and par
S&L% NfE +h1 R~