New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-28
MANY MEMBERS FAVOR
CHANGES.
Hould Lessen Speakers authority
and Responsibility at
Opening of GIst Congress.
From The TrIeune Bureau.


authority and responsibility on the Speaker, for
Il is well known that many members have in the
past been content to shirk responsibilities which
properly attach TO their position by comforting
sIl power on the Speaker and then seeking TO
throw all blame for things done and undone on
that Official
A carefully planned and determined effort to
change the rules SO as 20 obviate much that has
afforded ground for the complaint that indi-
yidual rather than majority rule prevails in the
House Is practically assured. On the other
hand the prediction that a determined effort
Uiu he made 10 prevent Mr.. Cannon from sue
ceedins himself Speaker and that President
Taft will be a party 10 such fight is
founded In so far the rules are concerned.
Sneaker Cannon has pointed out more than
=. OCCASION that the majority makes the rules.
.r5 - -sai dissatisfaction with the in
which legislation in the House is conducted ex-
..,ed the majority possessed ample power to
alter them.
REPRESENTATIVE Gardner, Of Massachusetts.
whose reputation for aggressive fighting was
considerably increased by the determined con-
test he made TO obtain Taft delegates in his
state last spring. and the success which at
tended his efforts. is the first Of the many
members committed TO the policy Of altering
the ru-5 10 say openly and TO permit his
comments TO be quoted
I shall not decide how 10 vote on the Speak
ership'- Mr. Gardner said to-day. until I know
the names Of the candidates. but personally I
an much more interested in a change in the
--es than in the Speakership. If members
Of the House continue 10 adopt rules abandon
ing our power and shifting our responsibilities
70 the Speakers shoulders We must not go back
10 our constituents and plead the baby act be
cause he accepts that power. when we cheer
fully leave him to bear all the responsibility.
Heretofore the rules have been prescribed by
the majority IN the party caucus-in other
words. oy a majority Of the majority-and the
motive power has been supplied by a still
smaller subdivision Of the House. The time has
nov come when those Of US who are dissatisfied
must 60 one Of three things-we must carry the
PARTY caucus: we must refuse 10 caucus on the
rules all. must shut up. 1 believe
that our best chance Of success lies IN the sec
ond Ire Of procedure"
Captain Gardner takes the apparently logical
position that 70 authorize the Speaker TO ap-
point 4 Committee on Rules. which IS TO control
tie action Of himself and the House is merely
10 invest the Speaker with absolute power.
which should be vested only in the majority Of
tie House and be administered only by a COM
rittee the members OF which are indebted TO
the House for their appointment and tenure Of
Office M Gardner does not favor a coalition
were the fight against the existing rules made
n open House instead Of in party caucus. the
support q the minority could be counted on
President-elect Taft is said TO be in sympathy
with the suggestion that the rules Of the House
be 50 changed as 20 transfer the responsibility
for legislation from the Speaker to the majority
Of the House where. in his opinion it properly
belongs and TO be convinced that between those
members who are sincerely in favor Of the pro-
the nd
would not dare oppose them were they deprived
Of the privilege Of escaping responsibility by
hiding behind the Speaker the will Of the ma
5ority Of Republican voters would prevail in the
House precisely as intended by the trainers
of the Constitution. Moreover, the President
elect would, as has already been indicated in
these dispatches. welcome a method which would
insure the supremacy Of progressive Republican
ism without involving fight on Mr.. Cannon.
MEMBERS WHO FAVOR CHANGE.
No less able and conservative a man than
Colonel Hepburn, of Iowa, has frequently pro-
tested against the existing rules Unfortunately.
Mr Hepburn will not be in the next Congress TO
lead the fight. but if Mr. Burton is not elected
Senator in the mean time, he VIII cheerfully
espouse the cause. Others who. while fearful Of
gaining the enrnity Of M Cannon If they ex-
press their views for publication. are ready TO
vote for a revision OF the rules. are MessTs.
setts. Hill and Henry, Of Connecticut; Repre-
sentative-elect Plumley. Of Vermont; majority
Of the Minnesota. Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin
and California delegations Messrs- Perkins.
Driscou and Waldo. Of New York, with the pos
sible addition Of Messrs Parsons, Bennett and
ether New Workers although Messrs. Payne and
Nreeland would oppose change The North
and South Dakota delegations will vote for a
change viii probably the Washington dele
cation, and Messrs. BrUnm and Lafean, Of
Pennsylvania: Hubbard Of West Virginia;
Fowler Of New Jersey; Rowland, Of Ohio, and
Prince. Of Illinois Il is doubtful if even Mr
Tawney, in the face OF the sentiment in Mime
sofa would vote against change.
Representative Charles Davis. Of Minnesota. |
who arrived here this evening, announced that |
ne would support d change Of the rules, and |
mat, moreover he would be glad to vote for |
any candidate for Speaker except Mr.. Cannon.
Most Of the men who would fight for a change |
ot the rules friends Of the Speaker and will |
support him for reelection but they will advo- |
cate changed rules on conscientious grounds. |
While definite programme for revising the |
rules has been adopted, the changes discussed |
are the election OF the members Of the Rules |
Committee By the whole House. the election by |
each committee Of its chairman. the allot-
'neHt o. a fixed time for each committee 10 re |
port and ask the consideration Of measures and |
tic further curtailrlent Of the recognizing
power Of the Speaker
Incidentally II may be remarked that no such /
absoiCtism prevails in the Senate as exists in
TIE House
The advocates Of changed House rules are
''rTineed that ny stating the purposes Of the
Increment sufficiently in advance Of the organ
'zaiion ~ the next House they VIII obtain