New-York tribune., 1906-04-29

Of g a S oR ags gsaas the
JOHN H STEPHENS 18th Texas Diserict-I am
strongly In favor of changing the rules of the
House so that the majority of the House can gov
ern its legislation. I think these rules should be
so changed that the House would become a de-
Lucrative body. and should adopt rules similar to
the rules now enforced IN the Senate. The House
now is practically under the control of ono man
the Speaker. He appoints the Committee on Rules
controls the House. and the House of Representa-
tives Is no longer a deliberative body. and under
9s lawmail1lPg body. This can only be restored
by changing The rules as above indicated.
Z. H. HINsHAW. 9TH Nebraska District-It is
not true. as general proposition. that the House
of Representatives simply registers the Will OF the
Speaker. That he has great power is true. but
unless he has substantially harmonious majority
or the House In sympathy with his projects he
cannot, by sheer force, compel the enactment of
his views into law The unwieldy numbers of the
House make II necessary that there should be
some effective method OF closing a debate As an
Improvement on the present procedure an enlarre
ment OF the Committee Rules and the selection
OF It's members by caucuses Of the respective mar
ues tle w would doubtless result in legislation upon
don ba sssd fht now never reach oonsidera
ator to pass bill simply by his request and with
IN The House Prolonged debate mlO otrSoton
and little legislation would result II reported bills
as or right. There must be lodged somewhere the
power OF 1udicious selection rule cannot be
adopted unless majority OF the House so decides
The statement that those opposed TO the adoption
9oserTaton. untrue, AS long there are nearly
four hundred members of the House whicheyer
party controls it will be obliged in mere seif-de-
fence to maintain substantially the present rules
Of the House more inclined TO lenency In the en-
ToFcenent or necessary discipline and rules of pr
ceedng than Mr.. Cannon.
o. w. UNDERWOOD. eth Alabama D,strio,-
Answering the criticism that tho House OF Repre-
sentatVes registers the VIII or only a few men
rather than It's own deliberate Judgment will say
that this question does not fairy go to tho merits
OF the case. which Is rather Has the Individual
member lost the power to initiate direct amana or
control important legisationP Under ths existing
plan of government OF the House think No o,s
can deny that he has Theoretically thar, q. uva,,
In which all legislation may be passed unon bv q
majority OF tho House. practically there 90 No ra~
In which new legislation be taken nm a,,H ~
sidered by majority OF the House II tie Speaksr
may be presumed by the unlnit;ated that the sn.st
srs ACTIONS conform TO the win OF the majority
but THIS IS not So have Served In siT Con.
gresses, and at time a member OF ths p1i..
known a Speaker to surrender his personal onnosi.
tion to an important measure and allow IL 10 ha
may transact It's business In orderly and ak
pedittous way the power to direct its dAifbexatona
must be lodged In some governing body, but In my
cuses and elected by the House. and they had
power 70 nominate TO the House for election che
othec committees ths s0saksr @Sould become