Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-29
CLAUSE IN REVISED HOUSE REG
vLATioN DISTRESSING
aREeuLARs."
VOTE DopGlNe HABIT
WILL BE OVERCOME
Determined Minority Will Be Able to
I Force Vote on Questions on Which
I congressman Fear to Go on Record
| xviii Have Merry Time Making
| Peace With Constituents.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, March 24.-When Asher
Kinds, parliamentary expert of the
house OF representatives, declared the
amended rules of that body would in
Crease rather than diminish the domi-
cation of the speaker, he set good
many statesmen studying the new
rules. They wondered whether this was
. bluff or whether there was a joker
aDme where. They found that it was no
blum: and likewise they are finding
that the particular change most likely
20 distress members of the house is
one which will be very popular with
che country.
The republican regulars are the peo-
pie who will have most occasion to re-
greet their support of the Fitzgerald
rules for which they voted with so
much satisfaction as a means to shut
ting out the Insurgents. One of the
commonest things in legislation is the
smothering of measures without going
on record Every congress brings for
ward proposals on which nobody wants
- go on record. Take for instance the
ancient effort to stop the selling of
liquor in the capitol building. Nobody
wanted to vote against it because such
vote would be peculiarly offensive to
great moral element in the commun-
tty; and SO for a long time the proposal
was sort of legislative football; the
house would put it in and look vir-
fuous, confident that the senate would
find way of supnressing it. The
senate got tired at last and allowed 1t
to become law, much to the disgust of
most members of the house. Today, a
proposal to restore the liquor selling
privilege In the capitol wouldn't have
= chance in million.
Dodaing More Difficult.
That Is just a sample case. The
questions relating to liquor traffic, to
labor, etc, constantly present them
selves in forms which are more en-
barrassing to legislators They are anx-
dous for opportunity to escape going on
record on these. But under the Fitzger-
aid amendments to the rules the chance
for forcing record votes is provided.
The pleasant system Of lodging, OF as
phyxiating legislation without going on
record, of just letting it go up in smoke
and penumbra-all that is rendered
difficult or impossible by the Fitzger-
aid provision about granting record
votes il the minority demands.
Just ct present there Is a fine ex-
ample Of this embarrassment in con-
nectton with the great sentimental
movement, which reaches to all parts
Of the country, to make Washington a
dry" town. The pnohibitionists are
trying to force congress to pass a
prohibition law. They want 1t because
they want II, and also because it
would be such a splendid sounding ar
gurnent with state legislatures and
other authorities, to be able to urge
that the national congress had enacted
an absolute prohibition law where it
had jurisdiction. 1t would give tire
mendous club to the prohibition or
ganizatfons. The liquor and liberal in
terests know this, and they are pre-
pared to fight to the bitterest end
against such a thing.
The congressman have been saved
s&rom the embarrassment of the situa-
tion thus far by the devices which
prevent a vote. That will probably
be impossible next session. A deter
mined minority will be able ito force
4 record vote.
Must Go on Record.
The representative who votes for
prohibition in Washington will lose all
~ Mo hn ;,,+r
at home The one who votes against
prohibition here will just as deeply
offend the great element which wants
national Endorsement for the prohibi-
ton movement. There is no comprom-
Using in this question. It means politi-
cal ruin ITO many member of the
house, no matter which way he votes.
Very similar is the question of fed
eral legislation strengthening and con-
drming the police power of THE states
In dealing with liquors shipped into
prohibition communities from other
states. The prohibitdonists are bend
Ding tremendous energies to pass such
a law. They will carry their fight to
THE district of every man who on a
record vote lines UP against them.
Likewise the liberal organizations and
liquor interests will just as persist
emily fight whoever votes for such leg
dslation as the "drys" want. Yet the
vote Is coming.
Take, again, the legislation which
organized labor has been demanding
since the decision of the Danbury hat
tiers case, to exempt labor unions
from the liabilities imposed by THE
anti trust law. Who votes against the
unions, loses all hope of ever salts
Tying them with any explanation. It is
fundamental with them. And who
votes for them, loses the anti-union
force. The question has been kept
from record vote; but that vote will
come II there is persistence, and there
doubtless will be, in pressing it under
the revised rules.
The timid statesman will have a
hard row to hoe. The country, to the
extent at least that it wants to see
the issue forced in all such cases, to
know where it's representatives stand,
will derive great satisfaction from the
new rule.
SUES ARTIST EARLE.
a SaS..