New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-30
THE VAIL OF THE HOUSE.

The debate in the House of Representatives
last Monday on the Library Committees pro
posal 10 reduce the size of the present hall
and To remove the desks which now occupy so
much valuable space disclosed some amusing
differences Of opinion. Though a careful com
putation would probably show that the speaker
or the chairman of the committee OF the whole
wastes a week or more at every session III
Rounding for order. there were members VINO
gravely maintained that there was rarely any
disorder of anv sort in the House. Mr.. Nc
Call of Massachusetts. who as chairman or the
Library Committee championed a smaller hail.
had this to say OF the conditions uhueT Whl'h
business is now transacted:
Now. Mr. Speaker there are gentlemen who
have voices sonorous enough to fill this hall II
the House is quiet; but the normal condition Is
enc OF confusion, and then there Is nobody whose
voice entirely fill the hall we nave oIteh
had the experience of taking people to the gal
leries possibly constituents OF ours, possibly
people from other countries who are studying
the workings of American institutions and who
are ready to look sympathetlcaIy upon me
workings of the great representative body of the
American people; and II is almost the invariable
rule that they look down upon a scene or noise
and confusion and are able 10 hear nothing that
is going on. They look down upon scene sim
liar 10 that which the imagination of Milton
pictured in another assembly, very different
where the noise SO great that ii frightened
the reign of Chaos and Old Night"
Yet the uproar which has worked so acutely
on Mr.. McCalrs nerves and senses has appar-
emily not in the least affected the equanimity
of many of his fellow legislators, To some of
them il has grown to be positive comfort Mr.
Clayton. of Alabama. for instance announced
that he would be very reluctant 10 tie the House
down to an arrangement under which any mem
Der who should seek hearing could make him
self heard. AS he put it with genial candOr:
hear them, and DO not hear anybody when
do not want to hear them.
Disorder has merits as we'll as quietude.
But probably not all of the opposition to ere
ating more orderly conditions under which to
work came from Representatives who find
tumut natural and would feel uncomfortable
if the Houses deliberations should be con
Quoted in less strident key. There were those
who deplored the excessive size of the hall, but
were fearful that any contraction in air space
would make ventilation worse than it is. 1t
would be difficult indeed, 10 vtiate the atmos
phere further: and from the point of view of
personal comfort members would probably vel
come access TO the outer air as reform much
more desirable than the mere elimination Of
disorder on the floor. Many who voted against
the Library Committees scheme We're plainly
influenced 10y the fear that smaller hall would
seriously diminish the present too scanty supply
of breathable air
II was pointed out by Mr. Mccall that the
| hall of the House is three times large as
| the hall of the House of Commons, with 61t
members. and more than twice large the
hall of the French Chamber Of Deputies, with
55S members. But the opponents of the reduc
ton project replied that the quorum necessary
10 transact business is larger under our par
namentary system than under the British or
French. and argued-thOugh without much logi-
cal pertinence-that ii would be difficult TO hold
a quorum in the House of Representatives I'M
less members could have in the hall some Of the
comforts of a private office. The defeat of the
Mccall scheme was due in the main TO that
shirt of ultraconservatism which the House
has shown i'm perpeuating its present com
bersome and antiquated parliamentary proceed
ure II is loath 10 change the old for the new
Yet after another increase of membership fol
lowing the enumeration of 1910, ii will probably
be forced against its inclinatiOnS To remove the
desks and adopt a reseating plan conducive to
greater legislative efficiency and better order