Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-03-16

separately signed, were malleu 10 each
Illinois member:
Dear Sir: The undersigned are all
Republican voters OF Adams county,
Illinois, and have always supported
the Republican ticket in both national
and local elections.
I'VE have been much dissatisfied
with the Speakership OF Hon. Joseph
@. Cannon. and with the rules Of the
House whereby needed legislation is
often wholly defeated.
I'VE therefore respectfully request
that both in caucus and in the House
you vote against the reelection Of
Joseph @. Cannon for Speaker OF the
House.
I'VE also request that you vote for
any measure that will curb the power
OF the Speaker in the appointment of
the House committees. so that these
appointments may be In the hands
of a representative committee rather
than I'm the hands Of one man.
I'VE also request that you favor by
your vote one calendar day, or open
day. each week. so that measures may
be brought up and discussed without
the customary red tape OF committee
report and Speakers recognition.
Very Respectfully.
"Signed-W. +. White. w. w. Lewis.
&. r. Lane. v. @. Musselman."
The Speaker and his rules have
been more potent than a twO-thirds
majority, the President and the peo-
pie combined
By sending certain measures 20 hos
tile committees he has been abe q
defeat any bill he desired. The speak.
er once upon a time yielded now and
then to public opinion. An example Of
this was the pure food bill. which he
held up for years and finally sur
rendered TO public opinion. But
throughout the Sixtieth Congress no
blll OF any importance that Uncle Joe
was hostile TO become a law. He
practically legislated for the entire
body. as he prevented the member
ship from securing an opportunity 10
vote.
The Speakers committee system
worked perfectly. He did not appoint
men on committees az the Sixtieth
Congress converting until he knew how
they stood on certain important meas
ures that would have TO be referred
% those committees. Take the post.
Office and pOstroads committee for
instance. Jesse Oyerstreet. noted for
his friendship 20 the telegraph compa-
MES. was chairman A bin providing
for an experimental telegraph line be.
tween two large cities 90 demonstrate
whether the Government could make
a profit ON lO-wOrd messages for 10
cents went 20 this committee. over.
street refused absolutely Co give a
hearing 10 the bill Il died In com
mittee. The telegraph trusts diyi-
bends remained secure.
Uncle Joe Is not wholly responsible
for the record of the Sixtieth Con
gress. because that credit Is due the
Republican party as a body Rut TN
Gle Joe Is more responsible than any
other one man. because be- decided
what bills should pass and what
shouldn't
Among the subjects 90 which the
siXtieth Congress gave no serious az
tentiOn were:
A parcels post, postal savings bank
inheritance tax. am antitrust law. am
effective railway rate law, banking
and financial legislation. statehood
Tor Arizona and New Mexico. child
and woman labor a children's bureau
employers liability. more equitable ad-
iustment OF the salaries OF minor gov.
erument employees. Limitation ON the
powers Of injunction. better country
roads, waterway improvement con
seryation OF the forests. soils. miner
ais. water, and other public utilities.