The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-19

The President signed yesterday the
joint resolution Of Congress intended 10
remove the constitutional barrier 10 the
acceptance OF the Secretaryship OF State
by Senator Knox in the Cabinet or Presi-
dent Taft
Immediately afte- the House met yes
terday. machinery was set IN motion 10
make Senator Knox eligible beyond dis
pUte for Secretary Of state
Representative Dalzell. Of Pennsylvania,
reported from the Committee on Rules q
resolution authorizing the confeTees on
the legislative bill to dig out the item
relating 10 the salary Of the Secretary Of
State and consider II for correction and
also TO report in any provision in rela-
ton TO the law affecting said salary"
There were only 81 members on the
floor when Mr.. DalzeH called up the rule.
and the vote on ordering the previous
questions resulted 80 TO 81. Representa-
tive John Sharp Williams raised the point
Of no quorum, and a roE call on the pre-
vi0Us question was ordered The vote re-
suited 10 to i07-
It's purpose Explained
Mr.. DalzeH then explained the purpose
OF the rule. II was designed. he said.
simply TO enable Congress 10 extricate
itself from legislative tangle. The rule
would permit disagreement TO the Senate
amendments 10 the legislative bill and
authorize the conferees TO consider the
whole matter with reference 10 the salary
necessary adjustments
Mr.. Williams, Of Mississippi. opposing
the rule, suggested that beating the
devil around the stump was always an
embarrassing performance. He said he
was proud 10 be a member Of the House
or Representatives. which was the first
that had ever been called into c0nSulta-
ton in the forming Of a Cabinet.
scores RuIes Committee.
Representative Fitzgerald rose from a
nest Of law books, by which he was sur
rounded, and proceeded TO roast the Com
mittee or Rules for doing something
which is prohibited by the Revised stat
utes Of the United states" He quoted
from section 3 Of the Revised Statutes 10
uphold his theory that the form in which
the resolution was reported-a oombina-
ton Of simple and concurrent forms, with
a misplaced enacting clause-was Illegal (
He admitted. however, that he had no
hope Of converting Speaker Cannon and
the members Of the Rules Committee 10
rs view OF the subject.
This Illustrates, said Mr. Fitzgerald
the difficulties that beset the paths which
are trOdden by great men, He denounced
any condition which permitted OF the
commission Of "a legislative atrocity,"
and congratulated Speaker Cannon and
ne Rules Committee for respecting
neither the rights OF members on the
floor nor the provisions Of the statutes.
COnferees BIameIess.
Representative G1lett Of Massachu- /
sets, explained how the House conferees /
on the legislative bin were blameless. in I
that the item OF $1,000 for the salary OF /
the Secretary OF state had been agreed 1
u0On several days before the House I
passed the bill reducing that salary 70 /
sS.0e0 a year.
Representative Bourke Cochran. OF New
York, wanted to know why the Commit /
tee on Rules had brought in resolution I
which did not adjust. but created a differ [
ence between the two Houses OF Congress /
He suggested that the House pass an 4
other legislative. executive. and judicial I.
appropriation bill. identical in all respects /
save the item for the salary OF the Secre- /
tary OF State with the one 1ynicn already 4
has passed both Houses, and send It over /
20 the Senate.
But" said Mr. Cockraa- this course 4
being consistent with common sense has 4
nothing 10 commend Il to The Committee I
OF Rules"
After the laughter Of the whole House /
and the applause on the Democratic side /
had subsidized. Champ Clark took occasion I
10 cTitlciSe IN general terms the almost /
idiotic' manner in which the business OF /
Congress IS conducted.
Mr.. Keifer Explains.
Representative Keifer, Of Ohio, who had 4
previously been criticised by Representa-
tive Gflett. Of Massachusetts, for not call 4
ing the attention OF the conferees to the /
s12eo0 salary bombsheI, instead Of bawl- /
ing It out In the open House. got a couple /
Of minutes for reply He explained that /
he had not discovered the item until he /
came on the floor. and then he thought I
II better 20 spring It quickly
Despite all talk, the resolution Of the 1
Committee or Rules prevailed. 80 TO Is /
After the resolution designed to insure I
the eligibility had been adopted, 80 10 /
Is, Representative Fitzgerald, OF New /
York succeeded in giving the other items
In the legislative bill for an under Sec I
rotary Of State. ar $1,000, and fourth /
assistant at the regular rate. a black F.
eye The House, by a vote Of Isl 10 IA. 4
instructed the cOnfereeS 20 disagree 20 /
the inclusion OF these items in the bin
Not many members OF Congress care /
Tor that Under Secretary title As
Representative Champ Clark said, IT'S /
50 deuced English; don cher know"