The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-03-19
Important Changes Made After
One of StOrmiest Sessions
in History of House.
PARTY LINES DISRtGARDfO
insurgents" With Aid of Democrats
Win First Blood by Voting
Down Old Rules.

OF the sessions in its history
the house of representatives yester-
day, regardless of party alignment,
adopted, 211 to 172, a resolution by
Mr.. Fitzgerald Dem, N. ". whereby
the rules were amended in several
important particulars. The resolution
was a substitute for one offered by
Mr.. Clark of Missouri.
It's adoption vas accomplished only
after the "insurgents," with the aid
of the Democrats, with n or two ex-
ceptions, had Won a decided prelimi-
nary victory by voting down a resolu-
ton by Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania
making the unamended rules OF the
SiXtieth congress applicable to those
of the present congress.
The call of the roll on the resolu-
ton was followed with intense inter
est.
Northwestern Insurgents.
Northwestern members who voted
against Mr.. Dalzell's motion were:
Cary, Cooper, Davidson, Kopp, Kus-
termann, Lenroot, Nelson and Morse.
Wisconsin; Gronna. North Dakota;
Lindbergh, Davis, Steenerson and
Volstead, Minnesota.
While Mr.. Fitzgcrald's resolution
a under discussion. Mr.. Fitzgerald
was drawn into a c~olloquy with Ar.
Clark. who desired him to yield for a
question. Much bitterness was dis
played by the two men. Mr.. Fitzger-
AID at first refused to yield. He later
lid so, but Mr.. Clark declined his
New York member would live to re-
gret his action, which called forth the
retort from Mr.. Fitzgerald that he
was not to be scared by any threats.
AS analysed by parliamentarians,
he amendment makes three impor-
tant changes. First, it establishes a
calendar for unanimous consents
the effect Of which is to enable a
member to have a proposition brought
before the house without having to go
change, they say. will be a relief to
speaker. Second, when considera-
ton OF a bill is concluded and the
previous question Is ordered the rules
heretofore have provided for a mo-
ton to commit with or without in
structions. 1t has been the practice
10 recognize a member of the MAORI
~ party to make this motion and thus
the minority from Offering
such instructions as it may desire.
Gives Minority Chance.
The new rule gives the minority the
in making such a motion
and thus enables them to get a rec
ord vote on propositions which would
be settled in committee of
the whole house, where no record
vote is possible. Third, it protects
the calendar by requiring a two-thirds
instead of a majority vote to set it
aside. Fourth, 1t is also claimed that
he amendment will have the effect Of
favoritism by the action of
The committee OF rules in special
cases.
A prominent feature of the Clark
resolution was an amendment provid-
ing for a committee of fifteen mem
oers to revise, amend and codify the
Jules, and much Of the opposition to it
was because of this fact. As adopted
he Fitzgerald amendment makes no
change in the present method of the
selection of the committee on rules,
which is made by the speaker. nor is
here any change in the method of Sc
Getting committees.
The election of house officers pre-
coded the action of the rules. With
plenty of votes to spare JOSEPH, G.,
Cannon of Illinois was reelected
speaker, receiving 2O4 votes, as
against 166 for Champ Clark of Mis-
souri, s for Cooper of Wisconsin, for
Norris of Nebraska, and l each for
Esch of Wisconsin and w. p Hep.
burn OF Iowa, an ex-member. All
the Democratic members voted for
Clark, SO that the scattering vote rep
resented the Republican detection
from Cannon.
In anticipation of the election of a
speaker and the fight on the rules,
there was practically a full attendance
Of members. The work of organizing
the house vas accomplished with ia
cility, fifty or more members being
o in at a time. All the Republic
an caucus nominees for the house Of
fees were elected. no changes being
made in the personnel.
In the Senate.
The session of the senate yesterday
vas very brief, the chief business be-
ing the reading of the presidents
proclamation calling an extra session
of the Sixty-first congress and the ap-
of a committee formally to
the president that the senate
was in readiness to receive any mes
sage. Senator Stephenson Of Wiscon-
sin was sworn in as a United States
senator.