The Washington herald., 1909-03-18
CHANGE IN THE RULES.
Press Regards 1t as n Blow a. thC
Prestige OF the Speaker.

Prestige of the Speaker.
From the Springfield Republican.
The Fitzgerald amendments 10 the rules.
while not drastic. are certainly welcome
notifications Of the parliamentary au-
tocracy. and II IS only too manifest that
they have been literally forced upon the
House organization BY the uprising OF the
Republican insurgents. aided and abetted
by ali but few Of the Democratic mem
bers. II has. in reality. been a notable
victory for the proiestants against Can
non and Cannonism on both sides OF the
House. in spite OF the readiness Of Demo
Gratis Ike Fitzgerald 70 puu the Speaker
out OF a hole The net result is that
Speaker Cannon has so far demonstrai-
ed his weakness In controlling he House
that. logically. his resignation OF the
Speakership and the party leadership is
now in order. The vote yesterday on the
Dalzel motion was a heavy blow 70 him.
and IN no other parliamentary body cOu d
a party leader survive such an EXPIRE +.
sion OF want Of confidence.
Fr0-a the ProTidsnce Journal
A new chapter was written ir cur
Congressional annals when the Ree6 rules
were originally adopted. Tyrannlcai az
they seemed 10 many even then. they
were employed for the prompt and or
derly furtherance OF the public business
and had not developed as they have under
Uncle joe" into q senseless barrier
against individual ambition. q shameless
handicap imposed not only upon the Dem
Ocratic minority, bat upon I'll those mem
bers Of the Republican maj -fty who have
refused 10 acQuiesce in the Speaker
wishes. Mr.. Cannon may talk as he
pleases about the "will Of the majority.
but he knows, as every one else knows,
that we have had government by a CO
terie. not majority government. in the
House. The new rules are By no means
revolutionary. they fal short OF the ideal
very distinctly; but az least their aoOp-
tion Is blow at the prestige Of the vui-
garian from Danville.
From the PhHadelphia Press
This compromise does not diminish
the proper power OF the majority OF the
House 10 control the House business.
The lines under the old rules. as con-
strued by Speaker Cannon. were TOO
tense IN several particulars, and the
compromise relaxes them and gives more
play 10 individual ambition. It viii di-
minish the dissatisfaction that many
members felt with the rules. even though
unwilling 20 go 10 the length OF opposing
them openly. Whether the rigiCity and
somewhat arbitrary character or the
rules have been sufficiently modified viii
appear as the changed rules are put 20
. test For the present they settle the
question. and the House viii now be free
70 give its undivided attention and en-
ergy 70 the great work Tor which II has
been summoned.
From the Phiadeiphia Public Ledger.
The change. though Il relates 20 de-
tails OF procedure too abstruse 20 be
4 generally appreciated. IS regarded as i'm
( portant by those who are qualified 20
form an opinion It is commended by the
I Speaker, whom Il relieves OF one par
ucular phase or personal responsibility
that has been an occasion OF complaint.
/ Whether or not Il suffice % satisfy dis
/ content. the result very clearly points 70
the practical superiority OF definite sug-
4 Eestion over general denunciarion- A ml-
nOriyy that does not know what Il wants
{ but Is merely obstructive. seldom a1tainz
Z
/ jOrity can usually be brought 10 yield 20
/ demands that are reasonable and are
+ made with a view 70 practical results and
not 10 mere political effect
I From the Bai-iu1-s Sun.
All honor 10 the Democrats and the
independent Republicans who united 20
re-estabIish the regime of parliamentary
I liberty in the House OF Representatives,
and made determined effort 20 throw
I of the yoke OF CannOnism. As for the
i twenty-five Democrats who thwarted the
I viii OF the majority of their own party
T they may ind vindication IN their OWE
4 eyes-but probably not IN the ewes OF
! their c0ustituents-in Speaker Csnnon's
] announcement that he is satisfied with
I the amendment Of the rules Effected by
I an alliance between Cannon Repubii-
! cans and Democrats who separated them
/ selves from the majority OF their party
From The Boston Herald.
These may prove 70 he greater gains foi
/ legislation than they appear 10 many
al first sight But the Speakers power i,
/ still tremendous. because he retains tht
I pows- or appointment II was TOO naucE
/ to expect that at one stroke he would
| be shOrn OF all those peculiar privilege:
which the present Speaker has come Q,
I regard as his supreme rights. and tha'
from a Car" he should become trans
formed into a presiding officer Congress.
has q great deal 20 learn. But. happily
Il is learning. II is getting a broader
/ view. and with this auspiciOus beginning
/ Of the session there is hope that th'
greater reform VIII come in time
From the New Ycrk Evening Pos.
The fact IS now known that the pres
tge OF the House organization has beer
hurt; that a fne brute majority canno
be counted upon 20 whip through OBJ
1 noxious bills. he they tariff measures 81
any others. This viii inevitably max,
the managers cautious. They viii no
wish 20 ride 20 other rebukes. And n.
net effect cannot well fail 20 be a tariff
bill. so far as the House IS concerned
more in the interest Of the public. any
less ir that of the monopoIlst Speake
and his lieUtenants would draw II left .,
themselves.
From the Cleveland PIain Dealer
The Congressional ''insurgeuts'' Eavp
won fully as much IN their contest agains
the Speaker as disinterested people coui,
expect. They have scotched the ruler O
the House. IL they have not routed him
They fought their battle against grca
odds. with nothing fnOre definite an.
helpful back Of them than an apparentI
impOtent public sentiment. They turne,
the seeming defeat OF the last election
into something so near ike victory tha
they viii be accorded the credit for
real triumph.
From the New YorS Evening Mai
( These rules promise fair. and II thei
| trial should prove satisfactCrv- may b