Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-14
THE SPEAKER AND LEGISLATION.

IhE IN AMI bEUte Ia iDNs
The nnouncement by Congressman
Fowler of New Jersey of his candidacy
for speaker is being encouraged by the
democratic press and by some repub-
licans who have the idea that the
abuses complained of by reason of the
enforcement Of the rules of the house
are all traceable to Mr.. Cannon person
ally. Some few republicans in the
west and northwest are pledged to
vote against Mr.. Cannon for speaker,
but it is doubtful whether the opposi-
ton will be strong enough to prevent
his reelection when the special session
of congress meets next March.
The agitation against what is gener-
ally termed the arbitrary power of
the speaker in ordering or suppressing
legislation in the house" may have
considerable justification, but the gen.
eral public evidently has a mistaken
impression that the abuses complained
of would be ipso facto removed by the
election of a speaker other than Mr..
Cannon. The truth is that Speaker
Cannon has been no more tyrannical
in his use of the power of his position
than would the average member IL ele-
waited to that dignity. The power is
a part of the system by which the
house is governed and the fault is in
the plan rather than in the man.
This arbitrary power of the speaker
originated in the rules adopted in the
time of Speaker Reed for the purpose
of bringing order out of chaos in the
proceedings of the house and expedit-
ing legislation which the democrats of
that house were seeking to block by
filibustering tactics. These rules
have since been in force in both repub-
llcan and democratic congresses. They
put, it is true, the power of legislation,
SO far as the house is concerned, in the
hards of the speaker, who may deter
mine what bills shall be considered
and acted upon, thus substituting his
will for the consensus of opinion of the
members of the house. But, admit
ting that this is entirely wrong, the
remedy lies rather in the amendment
of the house rules than in a change of
speakers.
Congressman Norris of Nebraska has
submitted a plan which met with gen.
eral favor among the reformers at the
last session of congress for a commit
tee of forty-siX on rules, to be selected
by the delegations from each state, in
stead of the present membership of
five, appointed by the speaker. Mr..
Norris plan calls for a subcommittee OF
nine to do the active work, leaving dis
puted questions to the general com
mittee, which shall act as a sort OF
steering committee in mapping the leg
i~slative program.
Congressman Fowler is making his
campaign for speakership on a plat
form which declares:
The house OF representatives shall
elect a board Of managers consisting o.
seven members, which shall be charged
with that direction of legislation which il
now assumed by the speaker.
Out of this agitation may come som
modification of the existing rules, but
the point should not be lost sight o.
that the house is master of its owl
affairs and may change its rules at any
time a majority so Wills. This fac
remains regardless of the merits o.
the particular contest against Mr.. Can
non. The speaker, be he Cannon
Fowler or some other member, can ex
ercise only such power as the hous,
grants him.