Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-11-23

CemDer b. InlS congress Will
determine, either by its own vote or by
its record as submitted to the people
next year, whether the present legis-
lative system shall be perpetuated, or
whether the power of the speaker of
the house shall be curtailed. This is
very serious question, upon which good
and honest men sincerely differ. Even
IL this congress does not find the solu-
ton of the problem it will be certain
to focus the attention of the country
upon it and prepare the issues to be
settled at the ballot box.
The Sixty-first congress met In ex-
traordinary session last March in re-
spouse to a proclamation of President
Taft When 1t adjourned in August 1t
had passed a tariff bill, popularity
known as the Payne-Aldrich bill. It's
legislative activity was confined strictly
to the tariff, and upon. every other spe-
cies of legislation the SiXty-frst con-
gress as yet has had no opportunity to
express itself.
But of even greater interest, POLITICAL
ly, than the tariff bill is the fact that
In the Sixty-first congress there is
serious split in the ranks of the Repub-
lican majority. A similar schism APP
peared in the ranks of the minority, but
Democratic splits do not possess the in
terest of novelty. The Republican par
ty has been distinguished for its soli-
darity, for its excellent discipline, and
for its fidelity to the organization. For
fourteen years it has enjoyed complete
control of the national legislature, and
for twelve years it has controlled all
branches of the federal government.
During that time there has been more
than one sharp contest within the party
upon a question of party policy, but
such sharp quarrels always have been
settled without breaking the solid front
of the organization as presented to the
enemy.
Al the very beginning of the Sixty
first congress a considerable body of
Republican representatives arrayed
themselves in opposition to their party
organization in the house. Later a
compact and aggressive section of the
Republican majority in the senate re-
belled against the party leadership on
the tariff question. These rebels in
both houses have come to be known
as Insurgents" 1t is they who will
make the coming session of congress
interesting.
The fight will center about the person
of the Honorable Joseph G.. Cannon,
speaker OF the house of representatives.
He represents the existing system of
legislative procedure by virtue of his
office, and he embodies in his per-
sonality that loyalty to 1.-THE organiza-
ton" which has been the cardinal
doctrine of his party. He is not to be
held responsible for the system Of
legislation obtaining in the house, al
though he is, of course, responsible for
his use Of that system. When he came
to the speakership he found that his
predecessors had built up a system
which gave the speaker practically un-
limited power to control legislation In
the house, He has used that power as
he has seen fit. The Insurgents" are
of two classes-those who oppose the
system on principle and those who OPP
pose Cannon for personal reasons. The
loyal Republicans are of three classes
those who consider party discipline as q
sufficient rule of conduct, those who
are bound to the speaker by virtue OF
favors received or expected and those
who believe that the present systm Is
the best possible method of legislation
in the house.
A Republican member of congress, at
that time loyal to the speaker, but now
accounted an insurgent, has charged
that the necessary Democratic support
was obtained by a corrupt bargain
made between Speaker Cannon and
Iammany Hall. one Of the first fights
in the coming session Of congress will
Yestigation of this charge by a COM
mittee to be named by the house on
ballot, and not by the speaker. Mr..
Cannon SCOTS at this charge.
Mr. Cannon says that a majority of
the house at any time may remove him
from the chair. This is true in theory,
but in fact the speaker could defend
his position against any majority that
did not reach two-thirds of the whole
house. The speaker now possesses the
absolute right to determine whom he
shall recognize. Every member seeking
recognition must make arrangements
beforehand with the speaker. 1t is
hardly probable that he wouldN willing
ly accord recognition to any member
for the purpose of moving to declare
the speakership vacant.
The engine by which the speaker gov
ems the house is the committee on
rules. Sometimes the house is permit
ted to consider and discuss unimpor-
tant bills in regular parliamentary de-
liberation. But this privilege Is never
accorded when an important measure is
put upon its passage The committee
on rules brings in special rule, report
ing the bill and providing for its con-
sideration The rule stipulates the ex-
act time of debate; expressly provides
what amendments shall be permitted,
if any; and leaves the house no oppor-
tnnlIy TO 90 any lHluB out accept OF re-
ject the bill in the form deemed proper
by the committee.
Opposed to all efforts to amend the
rules and deprive the speaker of his
power, is that section in the house
which believes the present system to
be absolutely necessary to accomplish
legislation. 1t Is argued that the sur
render of the power of the majority
as concentrated in the speakership is
to invite filibustering by the minority
and the strangulation of public bust.
ness. Men holding this view declare
that it is better to permit a speaker
chosen by a majority to dictate what
legislation shall pass than to give a
minority the power to prevent the
passage of any or all measures. Ex-
pert students of parliamentary law
demur to this opinion, and point out
the fact that the house of commons in
England, a much larger body than the
house of representatives, manages to
legislate under ordinary procedure,
while the United States senate DELHI
crates upon all measures before 1t
without restriction or limit.
The insurgent element in the senate
Is opposed to some of the policies of the
majority of the Republican party in
that body. Insurgent senators will be
watched by the whole country with in
terest but it is not within the realm of
possibility for them to come into con-
troll of the senate. The fight will CEN
ter in the house. There it is possible
for a coalition of Democrats and in
surgents to overthrow the ruling pow
ers. If it shall be done it will estab-
lish new precedent in American
To- tell mill ctaI t,xe