The Washington herald., 1909-03-16

Democrats and Republican IN
surgents combined forces at the
opening Of the extra session yester-
day and in part defeated the at
tempt Of the Cannon organization
TO readopt the old House rules Tor
the Sixty-hrst Congress.
The rules as modified and ADOPT
cd take away from the Speaker a
part OF the power he formerly
held over the proceedings Of the
House and give the members more
privileges over bills IN which they
are interested.
Hereafter the Committee on
Rules shall not report any resoiu-
ton which shall provide that regu-
lar business be set aside BY a vote
of less than two-thirds OF the men,
bers present; and hereafter any
member may go to the clerk of the
H any bill put on 4
calendar for unanimous consent
after the biz has been reported
from the committee three days.
Unanimous Consent.
Heretofore the matter Of unanimous
consent was entirely in the hands OF the
Speaker. and unless ne favored II. -
was willing for It 10 be brought I'd on
the floor Of the House. a member. could
not take advantage Of the unanimous
consent clause Of the House rules.
Under the new rules. Wednesday. CT
each week shall be known as calendar
Wednesday. and on that day no business
shah be called up from either the House
or Union calendar except bills called I'd
on special privileges. but bills called up
from the Union calendar may be cousid-
cred in the Committee of the Whole
House on the state Of the Union.
No member OF the House shall move 70
take a recess on the DAY preceding cal
endar Wednesday. and except IN the last
two weeks Of a session o. Congress.
Substitute Resolution.
Although this is regarded as a VIC
tory for the Democrats and Repsb-
Ecan insurgents. II Is not all they want
ed. and really came IN the form os
g substitute resolution 10 q. resolution
agreed on by the Democratic caucus yes
terday morning. and Supported by the in
sursents. It was offered by Representa-
tive Fitzgerald. Democrat. OF Kew
York. and was supported by the solid
Republican regular strength Of the House.
The Democrats and insurgents voted for a
resolution introduced by Champ Clark.
Mr. CIark's resolution provided that the
Speaker be relieved Of the authority %
appointing any committees except those
on Ways and Means. Printing. Accounts.
Mileage. snd Enrolled Bills. These are
the only committees necessary 10 con-
duct the extra session o. Congress.
Then the resolution provided that a
committee on rules. consisting OF artacn
members-fve regular Republicans. four
insurgents. and six DemOcratS-be ap-
pointed TO investigate the rules 0G tire
House and report az the opening of the
regular session in December.
Personnel of Committee.
The personnel Of the proposed commit
Zee was named in the resolution and was
as follows: Dalzeu. Of PennsyIvania.
smith. % Iowa; Mann. % Illinois: Currier.
OF New Hampshire: Games. OF West Vir-
ginia, Gardner. Of Massachusetts,. Nelson.
OF Wisconsin: Norris. of Nebraska:
Hayes. Of California. Clark. of Missouri:
Underwood OF Alabams; Hitchcock. q
Nebraska: Hay. - Virginia. and BlrIs-
son. of Texas It was proposed that this
committee s.t during the extra session
and IN the summer recess. and tak> teSti-
mony or the rules and the changes pro
posed
This was the programme Of the Demo
Gratis and insurgents when they went into
the House. and the action OF Representa-