Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-24
Some Things You Want to Know
The American Congress-The Congress Today


A crisis in the, legislative history OF the
United States may be precipitated by the
first regular session of the Sixty-first con-
gress which will begin on Monday, De-
cember 6. This congress will determine,
either by it's own vote or by its record as
submitted to the people next year, whether
the present Legislative system shall be per-
petuated, or whether the power Of the
speaker Of the house shall be curtailed.
This is a very serious question, upon
which good and honest men sincerely diff
fer. Even If this congress does not find
the solution of the problem, it will be GER
tain to focus the attention of the country
upon 1t and prepare the issues to be settled
at the ballot box.
The Sixty-first congress met in extraordi-
nary session last March in response to a
proclamation OF President Taft. When IL
adjourned in August It had passed a tariff
bill, popularity known as the Payne-Aldrich
bill. It's legislative activity was confined
strictly to the tariff, and upon every other
species of legislation the Sixty-first con-
gress as yet has had no opportunity to ex-
press itself.
But Of even greater interest politically,
than the tariff bill is the fact that in tine
SlXty-first congress there is a serious split
in the ranks of the republican majority,
A similar schism appeared in the ranks of
the minority, but democratic splits do not
possess the interest Of novelty. The repub-
lican party has been distinguished for its
solidarity, for it's excellent discipline, and
for its fidelity to the organization. For
fourteen years 1t has enjoyed complete
control OF the national legislature and for
twelve years It has controlled all branches
of the federal government. During that
time there has been more than one sharp
contest within the party upon a question
Of party policy, but such quarrels always
have been settled without breaking the
solid front of the organization as presented
to the enemy.
At the very beginning OF the ~Sixty-first
congress a considerable body Of republican
representatives arrayed themselves in op-
position to the party organization In the
house. Later a compact and aggressive
section OF the republican majority in the
senate rebelled against the party leader
ship on the tariff question. These rebels
in both houses have come to be known as
insurgents" 1t is they who will make the
coming session OF congress interesting.
The fight will center about the person
OF the Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, speaker
OF the house of representatives. He rep
resents the existing system Of legislative
procedure by virtue Of his office. and he
embodies in his personality that loyalty to
the organization" which has been the
cardinal doctrine Of his party. He is not
to be held responsible for the system of
legislation obtaining in the house. although
he Is, Of course, responsible for his use OF
that system. When ne came to the
speakership he found that his predecessors
had built up a system which gave the
speaker practically unlimited power to con-
troll legislation in the house. He has used
that power as he has seen It. The in
surgents' are Of two classes-those who
oppose the system on principle, and those
who oppose Cannon for personal reas MS.
The loyal republicans are OF three classes
those who consider party discipline as a
sufficient rule Of conduct, those who are
bound to the speaker by virtue OF favors
received or expected, and those who b.
leve that the present system is the bCs
possible method Of legislation in the house
MT. Cannon maintains that his gavel /
the emblem of authority conferred upon
the speaker by the majority of the repre-
sentativesi that ne represents the ma
jority in everything he does and that the
majority at any time may remove him;
that Abandonment OF the essential rules Of
present procedure would turn the house
into an uncomfortable mob incapable Of
any kind OF legislation, and that as long
as he is on the job II will be his job,
Against Mr.. Cannon the majority Of the
democrats and the republican insurgents
marshal many arguments. They declare
that he has so abused his power that the
house is enslaved 10 his will; that he Is able
to obstruct, and does obstruct, legislat on
demanded by the people; that he Is guided
by his personal pretudices and opinions
rather than BY considerations Of the public