Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-03-24
CONGRESS W|LLxl
ADOPT REFORMS
CONGRESSMAN NELSON SAYS
PRoGREssIvEs WILL STICK
TOGETHER.
CHANGE IN HOUSE RULES THE
BEGINNING OF NEW
ORDER.

The change of rules that we sue
ceeded in getting for congress is not
as big victory as we had hoped for,
said Congressman Nelson at his home
last night, "but it is enough as q be-
ginning. We feel that the insurgents
will be able to gain further conces-
sions as we go along. The 81 re-
publicans who fought with the other
progressive elements for the revision
of the rules will be in the midst of
every fight for constructive govern
ment."
Congressman Nelson returned home
for a brief stay to attend to business
matters, which he could not give his
attention to in the interval between
the last congress and the special ses-
sion. AS he was member of the
committee that had framed up the
proposed changes, he could not leave
the capital before this week.
of the many battles the progressive
elements will have with the conserv
alive republicans and the venal de-
mocracy of congress, Mr.. Nelson
stated. There is strong demand for
reform and the Tammany men or the
representatives of special interests
will do all in their power to oppose
radical changes But he feels that
the 81 republicans who have stood to-
gether this time will wage their bat
ties together on every measure for
which their unanimity will be neces-
sary..
Il never stood with 80 men who
stuck so unwaveringly in their duty
as these men did The pressure
brought to bear to defeat the pro-
posed changes was tremendous, but ev-
cry man stood by his gun to the last.''
Still Has Vast Power.
The changes in the rules won by
the progressives, is only of a parlia-
mentary nature Mr.. Nelson explained.
The speaker still retains vast power.
But the sentiment created will bring
about further changes. This is
really the first time that the power of
the speaker was encroached upon.
He has been the autocrat in congress
ever since autocracy in congress
had evolved. The power comes to
him largely through the appointment
of committees.
While the rules were saved for
Speaker Cannon, except for the few
concessions just won,'' Mr.. Nelson
said further, he still retains vast po-
litical power through appointment of
conl4iTt3ees, control of recognition
on the floor and his Craftsmanship of
the committee ON rules. But the
suits from the absolute power that
rests with the speaker and without
doubt two years from now and even
sooner public sentiment will force
through the most complete reform in
duties of the speaker"
Mr.. Nelson hopes that these reforms
will be accomplished long before the
close of the present administration.
President Taft is in favor of progress
sive measures, and was particularly
favorable to the changes of the house
rules. The only fear he had when
the subject was proposed was that
that would interfere with the tariff
reforms. When he was assured that
they would make way for the tariff
bill, he interposed no objection. Elk
President Roosevelt is also in favor
of the reduction of autocracy that
the speaker now enjoys. When con-
gressmen spoke to him about the
measure he called Mr.. Taft aside
and told him that the changes ought
to go through.
The tariff bill is still subject to
changes The senate, which has the
power to patch on amendments, will
probably so alter it that it will look
like crazy quilt. Il fear the eff
forts of the representatives of the
big interests very much, the congress
man said. They are pretty powerful
and have a good deal of privilege in
the senate They can patch on rom-500
to 600 amendments on it. This is an
other objection to the old established
order of things. The senate members
have exceedingly more privilege and
time III creating bill than the house
has. The senators will plaster the
tariff bill over with all kinds of amend
ments and the house will be forced
to rush it through without a chance
to thrash matters out.
Regarding The investigation, Mr..
Nelson stated that the Wisconsin