Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-03-18
some new RULES
THE FITZGERALD REscLUTIoN
ADoPTED AFTER STORMY
SESSION.
.LvICTORy FOR INSURGENTS
ThIrty-ono Republicans Voted with
atho Democratic 70 Prevent Adop-
ton 81 the Old
Rulee.

i washington, Mar. l6,-After one 'oL
the .stormiest sessions in the history,
Iahe house Of Representatives MOAday.
| regardless Of party alignment, adopt
Cd I'll to 172 . resolution by Mr.
fitzgerald (Dem.) Of New York, where
By the rules were amended In several
important particulars. The resolu-
ton was q substitute for one offered
BY Mr.. Clark OF Missouri.
Its adoption was, accomplished only
after the "insurgents" with the aid
Of the Democrats, with one or two ex-
eoptions had won 4 decided prelimi-
nary victory by voting down resolu-
| ton by Mr.. Dalsell Of Pennsylvania,
milking 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
As ahaiyzed by parliamentarians,
che amendment makes three important
changes. First, 1t establishes a "cal-
endar for unanimous consents" the
effect Of which Is to enable a member
to have a proposition brought before
the house without having to go to the
speaker for recognition.
This change, they say, will be re-
lief to the speaker. Second, when con-
sideration OF a bill is concluded and
the previous question is ordered the
rules heretofore have provided for q
motion to commit with or without in
4 structions. 1t has been the practice to
recognize a member of the majority
party to make this motion and thus
prevent the minority from Offering
such instructions as 1t may desire. The
new rule gives the minority the prefer
ence in making such a motion and thus
enables them to get record vote on
propositions which would otherwise be
Il settled In committee OF the whole
house, where no record vote Is posi-
bic. Third, 1t protects the calendar
Wednesday by requiring two-thirds
instead Of q majority vote to set 1t
aside. Fourth, 1t Is also claimed that
the amendment will have the effect Of
preventing favoritism by the action Of
the committee on rules in special
cases.
A prominent feature Of the Clark
resolution was an amendment provid-
! ing for a committee Of is members to
revise, amend and codify the rules and
much of the opposition to 1t was be-
cause Of this fact. As adopted the
Fitzgerald amendment makes no
change in the present method Of the
selection Of the committee on rules,
which is made by the speaker, nor ia
there any change in the method Of
selecting committees.
Speaker Cannon is inclined to re
gard the amendment as a slight i'm.
provement on the present rules, In that
instead of throwing the responsibility
for recognition on him 1t sets aside
certain days for the consideration Of
measures under unanimous consent;
but, he says, under the new rules
members will have to wait for those
days.
On the Dalzeei motion to adopt the
rules the following Republicansrvoted
In the negative:
eCary, Cooper, Davidson, Kopp, Kus
termann, Lenroot, Nelson, and Morse
(wis.); Fowler. IN. ~; Gardner and
Lowering, (Mass.); Gronna, IN. d.;
Hayes, (Cal); Hollingsworth, and
Johnson, (Ohio); Madison and Muir
dock, (Kan.); Good, Haugen, Hubbard
Kendall, Pickett and Wood, Qowa)
Pinshow, Kinkald, and Morris, (Neb.)
Lindborth, Davis, Steneerson, Volstet
(Minn.); Polnderter, (Wash.)
The Democrats voting for the rulei
Were; Riordan, IN. ~; Broussard
(La.); Estopinal, Na-; o'Connell
(Mass.)
The election Of house officers pre-
coded the action on the rules.
With plenty Of votes to spare JOSEPH
@. Cannon, of Illinois, was reelected
speaker, It Giving 204 votes as agalns
1876 for Champ Clark, of,Mlssouri, s TO
Cooper, Of Wisconsin, two for Norris
of Nebraska, and one each for Esch o
Wisconsin, and w. P. Hepburn o
Iowa, an ex-member. All the Demo
cratic members voted for Clark, 81
that the scattering vote Represented
the Republican detection from Cannon
In anticipation Of the election Of
| speaker and the fight on the rules
there was practically . full attea-
J ance of members. The whips Of bot
sides were kept busy holding their 70
, lowers in the chamber. Looking dow
from the galleries was great tlvon
who had been admitted only by carr
The diplomatic and executive gA'lerie
were filled to Overlooking. One Of n
most interested spectators was Ma
Taft, who remained for four hours.
The work Of organizing the nous
1 was accomplished with facility, so q
more members being sworn In at