Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-23

himself as the "proponent of the Fftz-
gerald resolution He was frequently
interrupted in the defense of his action at
the time of the organization of the House
by questions and challenges from Minor
ity Leader Clark, Representative James
and others.
Long after midnight the democrats de-
bated the proposed declarations 10 the
country. Mr.. Fitzgerald was answered ley
MT Hardwick of Georgia. who spared the
teeiings OF no one. The Georgia member
was followed by Representatives Peters
ana heilher OF massachusetts. who de-
bounced the Sas-rule" manner in which
Minority Leader Clark had conducted the
hgft Tor change ii the rules of tie
House.
Mr.. Suffers Proposition.
Mr. Suffers proposition above re-
ferred 10. which was voted down. is *
plained by the text OF the resolution he
offered. which follows:
Resolved. That in the opinion of the
democrats Of the House o. Representa-
tives. in caucus assembled the present
rules OF the House were ldopie. ny
trlckery; that they do not NEE. wan
the approval OF d najoritr of the mem
bers, and that they should be irpm"li-
ately revised in a non-pa rtisan and I'M
partial way. so that the House shall be-
come more deiiberaIlve body, and 10
secure Just and lair revision III the
pubic interests We invoke the aid Of
AL members of the House dissatlsf Ell
VII the existing rules, and We hereby
pieuSe ours yves TO resort to every pdr-
nan entary device To a.complish su III
revision. and. further.
Resolved That i committee of ii.e
members be appointed 10y the chairman
or this caucus 20 confer with a like
-
members of the majority agreeable
hereto, and they to report. with all con-
Venient speed, to a conference subse-
quently 10 be calle.l'
The Rules Adopted.
Following are the rules adopted last
night to govern democrat caucuses Of
House democrats in the future:
i. All democratic members OF the
House Of Represen tatives shall be prima
1acle met 9"rS of the democratic caucus
Any member of the democratic
caucus failing TO abide by the rules
governing the same shall thereby auto
matically cease to be member of the
caucus.
IS. Meetings of the democratic eau
Gus may be called by the chairman upon
his own motion. and shall be called by
twenty-five members of the caucus.
"A. A'quorum of the caucus shall con-
SlSt OF a majority of the democratic
members of the House.
.. General parliamentary law. with
such special rules as may be adopted,
shall govern the meetings of the caucus.
70. In the election OF officers and in
the nomination of candidates for office
in the House, d majority of those pres
ent and voting shall bind the member
ship of the caucus.
Two-Thirds Vote Binding.
u In deciding upon action in the
House involving party policy or princi-
pie a two-thirds vote of those present
and voting at caucus meeting shall
bind all members of the caucus; provided
the said two-thirds vote is d majority
of the full democratic membership of
the House. and, provided further. that
no member shall be bound upon ques-
tons involving a construction of the
Constitution of the United States or
upon which he made contrary pledges
10 his constituents prior to his election
or received contrary instructions by
resolution or platforms from his nomi-
mating authority.
IS. Whenever any member of the eau
Gus shall determine by reason of either
of the exceptions provided for in the
above paragraph not TO be bound by the
action of the caucus on those questions,
it shall be his duty, If present, to
advise the caucus before the adjourn
ment of the meeting at which action is
taken; or. If not present at the meeting,
promptly to notify the democratic leader
in writing. so that the party may be
advised before the matter comes to issue
upon the floor of the. House.
Five-Minute Rule to Govern.
%. That the five-minute rule that
governs the House of Representatives.
shall govern debates in the democratic
caucus unless suspended by vote of the
caucus.
After the racket was all over both reg
ulars and insurgents appeared disguised
with life. The insurgents charged that
Champ Clark had proved to be "A failure
as a leader and that his methods We're
wrong. The regulars continued to. talk
of .traitorouS conduct and ''disloyalty.
The end, apparently. is not Yet.