Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-09

Of his office to organize a political ma
chine Of which he was the beneficiary. Ills
attempts 20 control the party for his own
use resulted in the enmity Of Grant and
Conkling and In the defsat Of his ambition
20 be president
In 1874 the democrats gained control Of
the house and Michael G. Kerr was elected
speaker. Had he lived the whole subse-
auent history OF political parties in the
United States would have been different.
But he died during bis term Of office and
was succeeded by Samuel T. Randall Of
Pennsylvania. a democrat and a party
man. although not a subscriber to the
views Of his party on the tariff question.
While he was speaker the Hayes-Tildcn
contested presidential election case was
decided. He felt himself bound by the
provisions Of the electoral commission
act. TIE irreconciiables" In the demo
cratic party resorted to dilat1ry tactics
70 prevent the completion Of tae count OF
the electoral votes. Randall stood firmly
against his partisan interests. and forced
the combination OF the count thereby
making Hayes president. In this fight
Randall refused absolutely to entertain
dilntory motions. and took positive aci'o7
to affirm the right OF the speaker, ~as-
W LAhAAANH ~ ANAAnAAAAA "ANNe NV
will. This refusal OF the speaker to en-
terrain a dilatory motion was confirmed
by the house and made a part OF the
rules In 1@0
Both Blaine and Randall added greatly
to the prestige OF the speakership. but
neither undertook to deprive the minority
q the right OF %filibuster. Indeed, Mr..
Blaine in the chair once became lin
urgent and acted with the minority.
Ben Butler was attempting to pass the
force bin OF 1874 and the democrats, es-
pecially the sOutherners, we're in despair.
Not because Blaine loved the south. but
because he sought to undermine the power
Of the administration 10 advance his own
fortunes, he resolved to kill Buffers bill.
He asked L .. C. Lamar IL the gentle
man from Mississippi knew that the jour
nal Of the previous day had not been read
and approved. That gave the Mississippian
his cue. and the debate on the approval
Of the journal was begun. Butler knew
there was no way to meet the %fIlibuster,
he abandoned his bill, but he got his re-
venge by opening up the Arkansas railroad
deal and besmirching Blaine's reputation.
J. Warren Keifer was the next speaker
He is now a member Of the house. His
intense craftsmanship prevented his achiev.
ing fame as speaker, but he came near tC
being great He ruled that the house could
not tolerate dilatory tactics and wa
prepared to take the step OF counting /,
quorum. But Reed Of Maine and Kassn1
Of Iowa and other republican leaders tot,
him that they would not support such
revolutionary procedure and Keifer de
sisted. It was reserved for Reed, tel
years later. to count a quorum, revolu
tionize the rules OF the house and stop N,
right OF fnibuster.
Then came John G. Carlisle, a demo
crat. who held to the theory that IN
speaker was the leader of congress, tina
he should have a efini legislative polio,
and that he should so compose commit
tees and so grant recognition as to secur
the success OF his. policy This was a loni
step forward in centering the power J
the house in the, speaker. Mr.. Carlisle wa
the first strong exponent Of the persona
power Of the speaker.
When the republicans were restored {
power Thomas B. Reed was chosen speaker
He destroyed the most effective weapo-
OF the filibusrer by counting a quorum an
by abolishing the fiction of actua
presence and constructive absence. Unde
his leadership the house adopted the Rec
rules" substantially as they govern III
house today. He was succeeded by Charll
F. Crisp. a democrat. who developed tn
power Of the COMMITTEES on rules. but VIII
abated no essential feature OF the Rec
rules.
Speaker Henderson and the presen
speaker have added nothing Of great. i'm
portAnce to the power Of the speaker q
TO the rules OF the house. But now NJ
Cannon is facing a fight for the revfsio
Of the rules and a return to a more Hbers
system OF procedure in the house. Tn
present congress probably win decide tn
issue. either by its own action or by pIac
ing the issue before the voters mex
. November.
By FREDERICK J. EASKTs.
Tomorrow, the American Congress; PoWu
OF COMMITTEES on mules.