Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-18
De ARMOND GETS BUSY
Missouri Member ReneWS
Democratic Attack.
CRITICISES THE SPEAKER
Delays Proceedings by Directing to
Census Bill.
CALLS FORTH A SPECIAL RULE
Says Policy Followed by Republicans
Is Threatening Very Founda-
tons Of the House.
cRITIcIsEs THE SPEAKER
CALLS FORTH A SPECIAL RULE

Representative De Almond of Missouri
became fractions in the House today. and
as a result succeeded in delaying proceed
ings for an hour and a half. and opened
the way for renewal OF democratic at
tack on the rules system in general and
Speaker Cannon in particular.
The trouble was brought about as re-
suit of the Speakers refusal to appoint
a census committee to serve during the
Sixty-first Congress, notwithstanding the
non-existence Of the committee. MI
Crumpacker Of Indiana, who was chair
man of the census committee at the las,
session, brought in the census bill. which
was vetoed by President Roosevelt. He
asked unanimous consent for Its imme-
date consideration.
Mr.. DeArmond entertains no friendly
feeling toward the Speaker these days
as result Of being deposed as a mem
Der OF the committee on rules. He
thereupon exercised his right to object
and this made 1t necessary for the
Speaker to call his rules committee
together for the purpose Of adopt.
ing a rule which would get the
bill before the House. The House took
recess for half an hour while the
committee was in session. AS soon as
resentative Champ Clark. minority lead
er. who had attended his first session
as member of the rules committee
yielded to Mr. DeArmond in order that
that gentleman might continue his at
tack on the majority
Ridicules Present Rules System.
Mr.. De Almond spoke in a manner
which recalled to the veterans of the
House the days when he was generally
admitted to be the ablest DICTATOR in Con-
gress. He criticized Speaker Cannon for
his new attitude toward the minority
held the present rules system up to ridi.
cule and declared that the policy now be-
ing followed by the republican machine
in the House IL threatening the very
foundations Of the House OF Representa-.
tives. He said that the Speakers power
Is SO supreme under existing conditions
that he can without difficulty have the
various committees OF the House report
favorably or suppress any piece of legis-
lation, regardless of its merits. He said
that this method has resulted in placing
in the hands Of the Speaker power which
1t was never intended that he should have
and power which In his opinion belongs
exclusively to the House.
He then criticised Speaker Cannon for
his recent attitude in ignoring Champ
Clark. SO far as committee appointments
for minority members were concerned
and said that the appointments did not
meet with the approval OF the democrats
Representative Harrison Of New York
Interrupted to ask II Mr.. De Almond was
attempting TO make the House believe
that he had taken up his duty as q new
member OF the ways and means commit
tee without first receiving the approval
and consent Of the minority leader.
II have no knowledge Mr.. DeArmond
replied, 'as to whether or not that ap-
prevail was obtained. / will say. how
ever, that the appointment was not made
with q view to carrying joy to this side
of the House.
Mr.. DeArmond also referred to the other
committee appointments made by the
Speaker last Tuesday. and said that the
Speaker knew that they were unsatis-
factory and that at least one Of the men
appointed on the ways and means COM
mittee was not In sympathy with those
OH the democratic side OF the House, al.
though he was member Of that party.
Chairman Payne OF the ways and
means committee then entered the de.
er Cannon and also to ridicule the DEM
ocrats for crying out against one-man
power when they themselves had placed
in the hands OF one man the right to
should perform the duty they were
bound to perform under the provisions
Of the Constitution. This attitude. he
said. came close to demanding that men,
berS OF the minority violate their oath
Of office. Mr.. Payne then delivered a
eulogy Of Speaker Cannon which brought
forth prolonged applause on the repub-
lican side Of the House.
Champ Clark was the next to get into
the ring. He INDUCED in his usual stunt
Of poking fun at Mr.. Payne.
1.-The madden he gets" Mr.. Clark said.
referring to Mr.. Payne. "the more anus
ing he becomes"
Referring to Speaker Cannon's place on
the committee on rules, Mr.. Clark said
it was ludicrous.
You might just as we'll expect" Mr..
Clark remarked. chat In a fight between
Jim Jeffries and Jack johnson, one OF
those engaged In the fight to act as ref
cree. It would be no more ludicrous than
ia the place of Speaker Cannon on the
committee on rules. where his voice il
supreme" Mr.. Clark then ridiculed the
republicans for their lack OF courage in
failing to pass the census bill over the
Presidents veto. and said that the only
rea son they did not do 1t was because
they feared another Observation-Disclosures
message from the retiring President,
which would prove costly to them when
they were up for reelection
The House then adopted the special
rule by O viva voce vote. and the census
bill was immediately taken up for con-
sideration.