The Washington times., 1908-12-19
Are One of Worlds Won
ders, Declares Repre-
sentative Cooper.
HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AGAINST MACHINE
Is Member of Hepburn Committee,
and Favors Radical
Changes.

The rules OF this House are the
wonder, the marvel. the amazement, of
the whole parliamentary world" de-
clared Representative Cooper of Wis
consin, leader of insurgency and mem
Der OF the Hepburn committee Of re-
betfous Republicans. which has been
designated to formulate a plan for
amendment OF the rules
&r. Cooper was an insurgent before
insurgency was either popular or prof
liable; when It made him weak instead
Of strong in his home district He Is
one OF the Oldest members of Congress
and he once, under the Reed dIspensa-
ton, went for a good share OF two
years, with hardly recognition from the
chair because he had given ofense BY
his refusal 10 work with the House
machine Reed was uucompromisinE
with people who offended him in such
matters, and the walls Of his wrath
were poured out on the devoted head
Of Cooper.
Under Henderson Mr.. Cooper hardly
stood better; he was still insurgent, but
insurgency was less impolite than for
merly- He has maintained that attitude
down TO this date. and now finds him
self backed by highly respectable and
growing Republican strength, and has
reason 10 know that his antagonisfn
TO the powers that be has become rath-
or an asset than liability in his home
State.
Matter of Wonder.
The idea that we should have such
rules in a country which calls itself
Republican, IS beyond belief" continued
Mr. Cooper. 1T is a fact that serious
students OF parliamentary procedure.
analysts Of its codes ana rules, all over
the world, wonder at the abdication by
this House Of the powers il has given
10 its Speaker. They cannot understand
it,
DO YOU know that under the old
Tudor Kings in England. the sovereign
used TO designate the speaker Of the
commons, and then do all his uegotIa-
tons with the speaker, rather than
with the commons? That's a touch OF
history Sounds familiar. doesn't it. IN
view OF our latter-day stories Of con-
ferences between President and Speak
en- at which IL Is decided and agreed
what the House shall do?
The State Legislatures have followed
the lead of the national house IN turn
ing oVer-tO their speakers the prerOga-
tive OF naming their committees, 50 that
the same situation, as 10 concentration
OF this immense power in one man, OBJ
tIluS ia the States as in the National
Government. II is a most re1narkabIe
situation TO have come about in such a
government as OUTS
There are two things at least which
We should have by way OF reform. One
is provision fr'- mandatory call Cf the
committee roll, so that bills may be
brought mp without the present ueces-
SitN Of arranging in advance, OF Secur-|
Ing TCCCEultl ION. Another is the reStOra-
ton 90 the House OF the committee
naming function"
Differs With Colleagues.
Mr.. Cooper does not agree with all his
co-insurSouts about how the committees
ought to be named. He expressed the
opinion that the Rules Committee ought
10 be enlarged, and made fairly repre-
sentative Of all sections OF the country,
and that the committees might very
well he made up by a Committee on
Committees. such as the Senate now
has, and its report being, of course,
subject TO the approval Of the House
In the matter of distributing author
ity by sections Of the country. he sug-
gested that some plan Of districting be
adopted. by which the Republican
strength IN the House would be divided
into, say, seven approximately equal
parts, by sections OF the country. Then
the Republicans of each section or
group should caucus together and name
from their own number their member
0n tho Rules Committee. This would
assure distribution and representation
Of All interests and sections of the cOUn-
JTy.
The iusurEent committee will hold an
other meeting soon after the holiday ad-
journment, to consider further the plan
Of campaign which shall be waged dur
ing the two months remaining OF the
session