Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-16
Fitzgerald Substitute Finally
in Place Of General Revisi,
POWER TAKEN FROM sPEA
Special Calendar Makes it Possible tC
Get Bills Before House.
MORE FREEDOM FOR MINORITY
Opportunity TO Get Record Maxim =
Votes on Proposition. that Were
Formerly Settled In Com
mittee of the whole.

WASHINGTON, March 15,-Adter one Of
tile stormiest sessions in its history the
house of representatives today, regardless
of party alignment adopted, 21l to 172, a
resolution by Mr.. Fitzgerald Cdem) of New
York. whereby the rules were amended
in several important particulars. The reso-
luton was a substitute for one offered by
Mr.. Clark OF Missouri.
Its adoption was accomplished only after
the insurgents" with the aid OF the demo-
Gratis, with one or two exceptions, had
won decided preliminary victory by
voting down a resolution by Mr.. Dalzel
OF Pennsylvania, making the unamended
rules of the sixtieth congress applicable
to those of the present congress.
The call OF the roll on the resolution
was followed with intense interest.
Such was the fever heat that Mr.. Clark
of Missouri got into a spirited colloquy
with ffr. Dalzell, who had mounted the
rostrum 10 read the resolution of the
minority leader. Mr. Clark wanted him
ordered away from the desk, to which pro-
ceeding Mr. DaIzell objected, saying he
had right to know what the measure
contained This incident led to a contro-
versy with the speaker which lasted long
enough for Mr.. Dalzel to get the informa-
ton he desired. and he stepped from the
platform and returned to his seat.
Shortly afterward when Mr.. Fitzgerald's
resolution was up Mr. Fitzgerald was
drawn into colloquy with Mr. Clark. who
desired him TO WELD for a question. Much
bitterness was displayed by the two men,
Mir. Fitzgerald at first refused to yield
Die later die so, but Mr.. Clark declined
his proffer Of time, remariing chat the
i've tn Tpt
his action. which called forth the retort
from Mr.. Fitzgerald that he was not to
10 scared" by any threats.
Changes Made In Rules.
As analysed by parliamentarians, the
amendment makes three important changes.
l. Ii establishes calendar for unan-
nous consents" the effect of which is to
enable member to have proposition
brought before the house without having
20 go,t to the speaker for recognition. This
change they say will be a relief to the
speaker
.. when consideration OF a bill is con-
cluded and the previous question is ordered,
the rules heretofore have provided for a
motion to commit with or without instruc-
lions II has been the practice to recognize
a member OF the majority party to make
this motion and thus prevent the majority
party from offering such instructions as
~ may desire The new rule gives the
minority the preference in making such
motion aud thus enables 1t to ge a
record vote on propositions which would
otherwise he settled In committee OF the
whole house where no record vote is pos
sible.
g. It protects the calendar Wednesday by
requiring n two-thirds instead OF a ma
jorlty vote to set 1t aside
\ II is also claimed that the amendment
will have the effect OF preventing favor
Itlsm by the action of the committee or
rules In special cases.
Feature of Clark Resolution.
A prominent feature OF the Clark resolu
ton was an amendment providing for q
committee OF fifteen members to revise
amend and codify the rules and much o.
the opposition to It was because of this
fact As adopted the Fitzgetald amend
mcnt makes no change i'm the present
method OF the selection of the committee
on rules which is made by the speaker
nor Is there any change In the method o
selecting committees.
Speaker Cannon is inclined TO regard the
amendment as slight Improvement on
the present rules, in that instead OF throw
Ing the responsibility for recognition or
him. Il sets aside certain days for the con
slderation OF measures under unanimous
consent but, he says, under the new rules
members will have 20 wait for those DAYS
In a, conversation soon after the actor
Of the house he commented freely upon tn,
fact that Mr. Bryan had interfered In th'
interest OF the changes submitted by Mr.
Clark and spoke OF the adoption of thu
fitzgerald substitute triumph over th'
Bryan forces, saying that the conservative
democrats who really want legislation haC
practically stood for the old rules with th'
amendments offered by Mr.. Fitzgerald.
'It was" he said "a protest by tn,
conservatives against populism and al
xindred things"
Text of Fitzgerald Amendment.
The Fitzgerald amendment is as follows;
Amend paragraph 81 Of rule xi by adding
'''rhe committee on rules shall not repor
any rule of order which shall provide tha
business under paragraph OF rule XIV
shall be set aside by a vote OF less thai
two-thirds of the members present; no
shall Il report any rule or order which shal
being made as provided I'm paragraph 4 o
rule xvi"
q Amend rule xiii BY adding the follow
i Ing patagraph to be numbered 3 as follows
After a bill. which has been faVora bl,
reported shall have been upon the hous
or the union calendar for three days an,
member may file with the clerk a notie
that he desires such bill placed upon
special calendar to be known as the cal
endar for unanimous consent. On day
when II shall be Ia order 20 move to sus
pend the rules, the speaker shall. immedi
ately after the approval OF the journal
direct the clerk TO can the bills upon IN
calendar for unanimous consents. Shoui
objection be made 10 the consideration o
any bill so called, Il shall Immediately b
stricken from the calendar for unanimou
consent and il shall not thereafter be place
thereon"
Under rule xvi by adding at TN
end OF paragraph 4 the following:
After the previous question shall hav
boon ordered on the passage OF a bill o
joint resolution, one motion 20 recommi
shal be In order and the speaker shall civ
preference In recognition for suci purpos
10 member who IL opposed TO the bin o
1ulnt resolution"
3 Amend parAgraph I Of rule XVI 5