Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-09
CURB TO SPEAKERS POWER
Congressman Norris Has Plan for a
New Committee on Rules.
ALL AGREE CHANGE IS NEEDED
Autocratic Control of Legislation in
Hands of One Man Must he
Checked, Say Members
of Congress.
(From a staff Correspondent

OF congress-
(From Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March S.-CspeciaL)-
There is a growing group Of republican
representatives in congress who believe
the time is not far distant when the rules
Of the lower branch of congress must be
changed and the enormous power of the
speaker abridged. The agitation which Is
going on today to broaden the scope of
legislation. rather than TO limit II, is the
result of years CT calm and dispassionate
discussion looking TO a modification OF
the power now placed in the hands OF the
speaker and his committee of rules. In
the last couple OF weeks there has been
heard more discussion over the inability
Of members to secure consideration for
their bills than in the whole of the fifty
ninth congress. The discussion in no sense
took on a criticism of the distinguished
occupant of the speakers chair, but was
in the nature Of a protest against the
enormous power which the speaker wields
over legislation.
Suspension day, as a day wherein bills
on the calendar. other than money bills,
may be considered has become a day
wherein the speaker is supreme. A repre-
SENTATIVE III GOubItSH WIN nus q piiA eRNA'
the calendar and who may be permitted
to pass his bill under suspension OF the
rules-hence the name suspension day
must first see the speaker OF the house
and secure his consent to recognition
before the bill stands the ghost of a show
for consideration. The speaker of the
house examines into the merits of the
measure and although 1t may have the
unanimous report of a committee at it's
back the speaker may yet decide the
| legislation is unwise and consequently the
member whose bill is under discussion
does not go on the speakers little list
for recognition. And with the speaker
against the measure no matter how meri-
torious a bill may be It stands a mighty
poor chance Of receiving consideration at
the hands of congress.
Speakers AutOcratic Power.
During the last suspension day It was
made more than ever apparent what
mighty power the speaker was In the
matter of legislation. Instead of repre-
sentative rising in his place to call up a
bill under the suspension of the rules
the speaker became composite member
and from his list called the names of
| the members who had previously seen
him and whom he had agreed to recognize
| to call up bills. The speaker called the
name of ''the gentleman from Illinois,
Mr. Boutelle." but Mr. Boutelle was not
on the floor at the particular moment
and for the time being the measure in
which the gentleman was interested was
side tracked and the speaker passed to
the recognition of some one else. 1t was
| only an incident but it showed how in
the course OF the years increased power
70 ba Off
Of the house through amendments TO the
rules. Time was when a suspension day
meant what it says, when representatives
would scramble for recognition at the
hands of the speaker and the measures
sought to be passed received both atten-
tion and earnest consideration. Today,
however, things are wholly and com
pletely different and the speaker is in
more senses than one the biggest man
in the nation next to the president.
Representative Victor Murdock OF Kan
sas, who is a self-constituted candidate for
the presidency among the red-headed mem
bers of society, voiced the growing sentl-
ment of opposition to the present rules OF
the house when he said: II believe that
the present method of legislative procedure
cannot last; that 1t has in 1t the error
which will correct It, and that there will
come in the train Of the correction not dis
order but order. That It should come IL
TO my mind OF much more Importance thar
any single item of expenditure. How II
will come 1 do not know, but I believe
that its first manifestation will be a public
demand for simplification Of the rules fol
the election of the committee on rules by
the house and for a larger membership OF
the committee and eventually a demand
that the doors of all committe rooms bt
opened, that all proceedings in committed
and all votes in committee be recorded and
be made accessible to the membership of tn,
house and to the public" This statement
when made on the floor of the house b.
, Mr.. Murdoch during the consideration o.
the postofflce appropriation bill. was re
ceived with loud applause from both sdel
of the chamber.
Norris Has a Plan.
During discussion of the present rule,
of the house and the unlimited powe
possessed by the committee of rules, Con
gresham Norris of Nebraska outlined t,
/ a group Of his colleagues a new though
, as to the selection Of the committee oi
rules. Mr.. Norris has a scheme TO max
I the committee on rules consist OF fifteel
members, with a chairman to be electe
Z
Q poses that the country be divided into fif
a teen districts. and that the fifteen mem
5 bers OF the committee be selected by tn
, representatives OF the respective districts
= Nine districts, he proposes, should be rep
resented by the majority party, and si
a districts by the minority. That is to say
n II all Of New England should be made on
( district, the representatives from the NeV
+ England states would meet in caucus an
e select from out of their number one mem
v Der for the committee on rules. Repre-
G sentatves from the several other district
would do likewise and with the committe
on rules selected and a chairman elected
: IL would be in a position to report meas
ures for consideration and rules for adoI
= tion Independent Of the speaker, and
this way all sections OF the country woul
have their day In court and favoritisI
would be wholly eliminated Congressma
u Norris recognizes that the scheme may b
utopian. and. in view Of the right OF IN
= speaker to appoint all committees. imposs
= BILE OF passage; but he believes with man
!" Of his colleagues that a change is necessaF
u in the rules OF the house in order that N
4 country NAV have the benefit of IagfsIs