New-York tribune., 1909-03-02
TILE H0rSE CHANGES FRONT.

The House Of Representatives voted on sat
urdav 10 remodel its hail. after having for
forty nine years rejected all plans for remedy
ING rho ohvious architectural defects Of that
inDosing but far too spacious legislative cham
ber The vote was practically unanimous, no
division being demanded. Yet only last year
a similar resolution reported by the Library
Committee was easily defeated. The world
moves and reason is eventually yindicated.
Two causes have co-operated 10 produce TINS
notable change of front. In the first place, the
House is beginning itself TO realize the IRA
tionality OF the conditions under which ii now
transacts business There is great public DIS
satisfaction with the rigidity and iiiiberally
of its parliamentary system. Government III
that body is from the top, just as It IS IN ram
many Hall or in any other organized autocracy-
From the moment q Speaker is elected he be
comes not the agent Of the House, but Its mas
ter Responsibility for the conduct OF business
is DIaced in his hands and the members sur
render 70 him many of their proper rights as
factors In legislation and. consequently, the
rights of their constituencies. Within the House
itself there is growing revolt against the un-
democratic concentrate Of excessive powers
in the Office OF the Speaker. That revolt mas
bred a more critical spirit, and members III
stead Of blindy accepting what IS because II
is. are now beginning 10 wonder why they
have put up so long with conditions which have
greatly crippled the Independence and ethciency
of the House as legislative body.
Irving 10 conduct debate in hall in which
genuine debate is practically impossible was
one OF the handicaps which the House imposed
upon itself The good old plan Of mixing steE-
torjan oratory with dumb show was defended
bv many members who had grown used 10 leg
islating in the midst of confusion. The sPecious
argument was used-once In 1901 by the pres
ent Speaker in urging the defeat or a resolu-
ton to remodel the cbamber-that when any
member had message 10 his fellow men,
"bers that they wanted TO hear there was no
difficulty in their hearing it, He should have
added the proviso. IF the message bearing
members lung power was ample as his
message was important" There have been
probably not more than dozen men in any
Congress who could address the House with
comfort to themselves and vet be heard III
every part of the chamber. 1t is now daWninG
on those who want to see every member have
fair and an equal chance 10 do his share in the
work of legislation. contributing what he is
capab Of contributing TO debate as well as to
the preparation of bills in committee. that the
unnecessary physical well as the unneces-
sary parliamentary handcaps on individual
action must be lifted.
The necessity of retaining the desks for office
uses was long insisted on by the opponents of
a smaller hall. But the construction Of the
new House office building. with adequate office
facilities for every member has made that argu-
ment worthless. The recent opening of the
mex Is the second cause which contributed
effectively to the change of mind OF the House.
The hope Of better ventilation through direct
access TO the outer air also Influenced some of
the champions of the old order 10 waive their
attachment for desks and swivel chairs. The
House needs fresh air for the dead atmosphere
OF the present chamber Weakens and irritates.
1t Is the cause of many personal frictions and
breaches OF etiquette. Mr.. Williams Of Mis-
sissippi who had hitherto opposed remodel
ling of the hall and the removal of the desks.
clearly summed up the advantages of the
change in his speech on Saturday. He said;
There are two causes Of existing conditions
One is had air. and the other is hot air in the
shape OF private conversation. constantly in
The reason Of the constant conversation IS that
the member does not hear. and he does not want
TO be bored 20 death sitting stock still and hold
ing his hands. Now, if this plan is adopted
members can hear. and those who can hear and
are hearing will be very impatient with those
who will not let them hear better. And
those who can hear a rule will want to hear,
and that will bring about silence in itself.
The House of Representatives can exert a
greater influence and do far better work If
it will set resolutely about removing obstruc-
tions TO its freer action and the development
within its membership % a greater sense Of
confidence and individual responsibility.