The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-14

INSURGENTS
ARE BUSY
Some Effect is Already
Shown
THE HOUSE PROCEEDED
Close and Picturesque Fight on Question
Of Aliens Rights-House Rules TO
Be Changed This Session. If
Possible.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE agitation
against Speaker Cannon and the rules OF
the House Is already having effect. The
present session is only six days old, yet
in that time there have been three gen.
eral calls of committees, or, according 20
the record kept by ono Of the "insur'
gcnts,p Just three times as many such
calls as there have been in the last three
years. The infrequency of these calls, by
which committees are enabled to bring
up bills which they have favorahly con
sdered, has been one of the chief
grounds of complaint. Moved by the
wave of criticism, Speaker Cannon has
evidently determined TO make a show OF
more benevolent despotism in the effort
TO demonstrate that he Is not so black
rs he has been painted or the rules 20
much in need Of reform. The result Is
that the House has worn almost the APP
pearance of deliberative body.
Saturday, instead Of being made to
adjourn, TO keep il out Of mischief in the
absence of an appropriation bill or some
convenient and harmless stop-gap, the
House was allowed to proved 70 bust
ness. An important debate quickly de-
yeloped, and resulted in a close and pic.
turesque light. A bill was brought up by
the judiciary committee. which provides
a maximum fine Of $4,000 or maximum
imprisonment of 10 years for conspiracy
on the part of two or more persons TO
iniure ANY alien in the free exercise or
enjoyment OF any right secured 20 him
under any treaty Of the United States
The power OF the federal government TO
protect aliens residing in the separate
states would thus be materially strength
ened. The members from the Pacific
coast, with fresh remembrance of the
japanese question, Immediately rallied
in opposition TO the bill and found allies
among the Southern Democrats although
the original author OF the measure was
Representative Sherley, a brilliant young
Democrat from Kentucky. The vote on
the bill as first announced was 100 ayes
70 90 neos. But on demand for
recapitulation, an error was discovered,
leaving the vote tie at %. Speaker
Cannon thereupon broSe the tie and cast
his vote in favor of the bill A protest
was made, but the speaker upheld his ac-
tion, in which he was undoubtedly night,
by citing presidents. An appeal from
his decision was taken, but was cut short
by the successful motion to adjourn.
The select committee appointed Fri
day to consider the offending paragraphs
. L. n -
Saturday as expected and win probably
hold its first session to-day The Senate
committee may not be appointed until
Tuesday. II seems 10 be now generally
believed that the committees will recon-
mend laying the offending paragraphs on
the table.
Congressman Hepburn. the leader of
the insurgents" on the House rules, fol-
lowing up Friday nights meeting, has
announced the membership of com
mittee of five which is to make report
to another conference OF the insurgents"
on Tuesday night The members OF this
ain addition to Col Hepburn,
arc Messrs. Foster Of Vermont, Hayes OF
California, Townsend of Michigan and
Cooper Of Wisconsin. The insurgents
are believed to must ahour 50, although
some estimates put their strength much
higher, at the same time that the blan
dishments Of the speaker are to be feared |
in picking of stragglers. It is now pro
posed to put through the changes in the
rules al this session, II possible. It is
felt that the matter is at present fresh |
IN the minds of the people and nncompli.
Gated by other issues, whereas in the |
hasty organization Of the new House the
might be lost. When the in.
surgent have drawn up their program, il /
will probably be taken to the speaker to
zee il basis for compromise cannot be
reached.