The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-03

of Pennsylvania, the father of the house." and in turn the speaker admin istered the oath to the members, who lined up in front of his desk in groups of %.
 The taking of the oaths proceeded without any special occurrence until Ok lahoma was called. The democrats could not restrain themselves, and loudly ap- plauded the representatives from the new state, who bowed their acknowledg- ments.
 Messrs. Butter of Pennsylvania and COX of New York, having conscientious scruples against taking of oaths, "af firmed' their allegiance to the govern ment. The republican and democratic caucus appointments of house officials were then presented by Messrs. Hep burn Qowa) and Clayton (Alabama), re- spectively. with the result that the nom- inees of the republicans were elected and qualified
 The usual resolutions appointing com nittees to notify the senate and Presi- dent that the house was in session were passed and the speaker named Payne Jew Yorh) Tawney CMinnesota) and Williams Mississippi as the committee , to advise the President. First Fight Started. The first fight of the session was in augurated by Representative Williams, who protested against the adoption of a resolution making the rules of the last house the governing laws of the present house MT. Williams declared that he thought there was entirely too much power concentrated in the hands of the speaker.
 To the surprise of those present and Il delight of the democrats, Represen- tative Cooper (Rep) of Wisconsin ex- pressed his approval of what MT. Will hams haG said.
 MT. Cooper insisted that the power given the speaker was both unrepublican and undemocratic. He caused general amusement by referring to his unsuc- cessful efforts in the past to get recog milton from the speaker or the commit tee on rules.
 MT. DeArmond (MissourD rose.
 How much does the gentleman want?" inquired MT. Dalzell,
 'I want recognition in my own right as a member of this house. said MT. lJcArmond.
 Speaker Cannon declared that Mir. Dal- zell had the floor and MT. DeArmond reluctantly received at MT. Dalzelr s hands 20 minutes time to attack the rules.
 MT. DrArmond asked the members why they desired to enslave themselves under such rules. "It i1 proposed to shackle the house by rules about which @ good many know nothing and a good many others know a good deal" he said. Time To Change. Now was the time to change the rules. he continued, so that members "as cow ards and cravens" need not go back to their homes and fend themselves upon miserable mere preteXt that these rules , had controlled them and they could do nothing else.
 MT. Dalzell could not conceive of any thing more unnecessary than a dozen of tn rules before the house. They had been discussed at every session and were rules of the last Congress and the Fifty first Congress. both republican, and sub stantially of the Fifty-second and Fifty third congresses, both democratic. Di- recting his remarks to Representatives Cooper and DeArmond, MT. Dalzell said that it was not unusual for a man with a grievance to denounce the power of the speaker, whose power had existed as it does today for 100 years.
 Speaker Cannon at some length, ex plained to the House the parliamentary system at the time of the request of MT. DeArmond for recognition in his own right and also in reply to MT. Cooper, who thought the speaker should occupy a seat on the floor. The practice had grown up. he said. that gentlemen seek the chair and the chair exercised his right as member to say