Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-08

the fight last spring. It was claimed that
IL would 60 along way toward overcoming
what many representatives have considered
the unpleasant necessity OF a personal
intereession with Uncle Joe" to allow a
favorite bill to COM up. Under the old rule
the speaker could tell the member he would
see him In some warmer climate before he
would recognize him for the purpose OF
calling up that bill, sometimes placing q
few forceful adjectives ahead OF the bill.
II the speaker had no objections to Its
coming up. however, the member could ask
for unanimous consent once, and II 1t was
refused, he could ask again at a more
opportune time.
Under the calendar Wednesday rule a
bill which is favorably reported by a COM
mittee of the house may be placed on this
calendar, and take its turn in being called
up from the calendar. 1t so happens that
II it is a measure the speaker objects to, a
nod Of the head or a wink of the eye will
produce an objector instantly, II it appears
to him a harmless measure It might stand
some chance were there not a few Robert
Bruce Macons whose sole opportunity for
participating in the real affairs OF the
house is 10 declare, Mr.. Speaker, I OBJ
ject." II any one Of the chronic directors
is present, the bill called up from the
unanimous consent calendar" has about
as much chance Of slipping past him as an
icicle has Of surviving a melting pot. And
when objection is once made the blll's
chance Of passage under unanimous con-
sent is past and gone forever; for the rules
30 provide. Under the old method there was
Just as good a chance Of its getting past
the speaker as there Is now. And there was
q slight nance that the Robert Bruce
Nscsns muEht be caught mapping. New
they are always en- notice when unanimous
consent is to he asked, and their efforts
viii transform this rule from the bread Of
hePs-fOr relief into . stone Of unfulfilled
promise.
The speaker Of the house has entrenehed
himself absolutely in his power of reeoE-
nisinE whom he will. In 1850 the rules
committee decided that discretion in the
matter Of recognition ought to be reposed
in the speaker, and the very next year the
then speaker declined to entertain an ap-
peal from his decision on a question Of
recognition, although the rules specifically
say that he shall decide all questions Of
order, subject to an appeal to the house
by any member. All of the speakers since
INalAudAA AAdNO ugAACd Nlb III VI AH0 lApuoS
or its membe to question their decisions
in recognizing whom they win. In the
senate there can be no such procedure.
Recognition goes 20 the first man who ad-
dresses the chair. and the senate reserved
the right to determine who that individual
is whenever 1t desired to DO 50.
The committee Of the whole house on
the state Of the union is the stop in the
49, -. At. -z-.LA -.
wayback comes into his own While there
is always a particular measure before this
committee when the house transforms it.
self into such a body by the speakers
handing the gavel to another whom he des-
isnated as chairman, yet everything from
Dan to Berchseba, from Alpha to Omega,
from a postoffice at Podunk to a half mil
lion dollar appropriation for deep water
ways, may be discussed. In the beginning
of a session Of congress where there is lit.
tie real work to be done, this committee
becomes the creates scene Of talking "for
buncombe'' the world has ever witnessed,
Indeed, that very expressive phrase itself
originated in that comittec. 1t happened
that a member from Buncombe county,
North Carolina, was speaking in this COM
mittee when he was chidsd for his pro-
longed stump speech he fepled lndL ne
did not give a continental for he house
but was talking for Buncombe,
In this committee Is produced the grand
Eloquent section of that widely circulated
periodical, the Congressional Record. And
in It are delivered mSet Of the speeches
that are franESA cut to the constituents
back home. Leave to extend ones remarks
in the Record IL a f~svoritS request in th'
house, although it Is net recognised in th'
senate.
Te sum up the house procedure it may b
said that the whsle Iurpose Of the rules
IL to enable the majority to drive lOgtRlA.
ten through under bit ana spur when thai
is desirable, ana to let It 80 through Of III
own accord Whsn there is ne serieus oHpo.
sitiSn. TS use another figure, the ruler
fern a bridge whereby the majority may
cross the stream Of opposition without get
ting itH feet wet.
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RGzaSREUW - @[a AtGZAAO4L3 CON
a@Abs-EVSlNAsA Of Reuse AulSS.