Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-15
HOW JOE CANNON RULES.

members of congress, each in turn
representing 100000 people, every one
of whom wants an income tax law
all told, they are as impotent as an
ant in the capitol basement.
Suppose, even-suppose the unheard
of thing. Suppose-and purely for the
sake of illustration-that the commit
tee reports the bill favoraby. Now.
you wouln think, it will be easy sailing
for Congressman Smith What, now,
will Smith do to bring the bill to vote
before the house? There are two form
ulas which amount to the same thing:
He can arise some day and say, in eff
feet: MIR. Speaker, / ask unanimous
consent for the consideration of my in
come tax BILL" or, Mr.. Speaker, |
move suspension of the rules for the
consideration of my income tax BILL
And in either case Mr.. Cannon will
look at him with a mixture OF surprise
and Indignation. and say, gravely: "The
gentleman is not recognized for that
purpose" And that is all there would
he to it. John Smith and his constit-
uents, backed by 800 other congress-
men and all the people in the United
States, can not bring that income tax
bill to show down of hands on the
floor of congress. Why? Rules of the
house, made by the committee on rules;
more properly, the three republican
members, who are Cannon himself,
Dalzell and James S. Sherman.
How, then, does any bill ever come
to a voten In this way: Suppose 1T
isn't an income tax bill, such as Can
non considers it imperative to sup
press, but private pension bill. or
bill for a federal building, which, not
being opposed by any powerful inter
est, has been reported favorably by
committee John Smith can bring that
bill to vote in one way, and only one
way. He can go to Speaker Cannon
privately in his office some day; he
can say to Cannon whatever words ne
thinks may find favor in the speakers
ears; he may make such promise OF
Aervility in other matters as may be
demanded Cannon will say: Yes,
Will recognize you on Tuesday" (Can-
non goes to his desk each day with
little list of those who have seen MIN
privately and to whom he has prom
ised recognition.)
Such are the old rules, the present
rules. If you like them, we'll and good
there are those who do. You will not
be interested in reading this article
further.
Now consider the new rules pro-
posed:
One-The committee shall be named
by the house in this way: First, the
entire membership shall be divided into
fifteen groups, geographically (New
England group, Pacific coast group.
and so on); each group shall name one
member Of new and principal COM
mittee to be called "the committee on
committees and rules" This new
committee, named by the house itself,
will name the members of all the other
committees. (This will end Cannon's
power).
Two-There shall be in each week a
calendar Tuesday" when any member
may arise and call for consideration of
any bill on the calendar. (This will
endsth subterranean visits to Cannons
private office).
Just one word more: Some one may
tell you that this insurgent movement
is an effort to so back to the old ante
Reed days of delay and obstruction, of
diliatory motions, of letting a small
minority obstruct all legislation. That
is not true. Not one of the suggested
changes is in the direction of obstruct
ing legislation; every one of them is
in the direction of getting more legis-
lation passed.