Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-09

Nobody has ever objected to most
Of the rules Of the house of represent
atives. Most of them are all right
But last March there arose feeling
perhaps 1t had arisen before, but 1t
eliminated last March-that two of
the rules ought to be changed. And
some brave and adventurous spirits
some Of whom, l am glad to say,
were from Iowa-led the movement
| for the amendment of the rules.
"And while we are speaking about
republicanism and the right to bear
that title, l want you to know that
of the ten Republican members of the
house from Iowa six voted for amend
ing the rules, while four voted against.
don't intend to be personal and
therefore l will not recite who they
were.
"Now there is a rule that the speak
er shall appoint the committees and
among these is the committee on
rules, of which the speaker is the
chairman. 1t is composed of five mem
bers. Under Republican admins
tration three of these members are
Republicans and two are Democrats.
| The speaker Is chairman of that COM
mittee and is also the master of the
| house.
Now practically all the business of
the house is transacted under a spe-
cial rule framed and brought in by
| this committee on rules. There has
not been a single item of important
! legislation that has passed the house
| for years that was not considered and
voted upon under this special rule.
The Tariff Fight.
''The committee on rules is now
composed Of Speaker Cannon, Con-
gresham Dalzell of Pittsburg, Pa,
and Walter l. Smith of Council Bluffs,
Ia, as far as the Republicans are con-
cerned. 1t is true that when this COM
mittee reports on the order of BUSH
| ness and the matter of considering a
particular measure that report, to be
effective, must be adopted by congress.
Just as an illustration, | will tell you
something about the tariff bill which
was considered at the last extra ses-
sion.
THAT tariff bill was brought into
the house soon after the session con-
vened in March, and little later, aft
er ten days profitless and pointless
debate-because no man had right
to propose an amendment or call for
a vote on the bill the time came
when the committee on rules voted
that it was right to proceed to action.
THAT bill contained more than 5000
items; there were 5000 things upon
which duties were attached and upon
which every man who considered the
subject ought to have had an opinion.
That bill was brought into the house
by the committee on rules and I'll
show you just what opportunity the
members of the house had to deal
with it. The rule provided that no
amendments should be voted upon ex-
cept those specifically provided for in
the rule. In other words, there could
be separate vote on amendments
relating only to these seven things
hides, oil, lumber, barley, barley malt,
tea and coffee. Excluding the last
two, which have been on the free list
for years, there were but five things in
that whole list Of 5000 on which the
members of the house could express
their judgment except by voting upon
the entire bill.
"Of course, it was for the house to
determine whether it would adopt that
rule or not. 1t could have rejected the
rule, but the penalty would have been
too severe. Remember that the speak
er appoints all the committees and at
that time he had appointed only the
committee on ways anG means and
hot M, mil Thnro
possibly fifty committees to be ap-
pointed, and every man in that house
wanted to be well placed, because If d
man is not given an opportunity 10
express his ideas and express his judg-
ment in committees he is powerless
during the session.
Cannon Controls Situation.
Therefore, the speaker had the
MEMBERS in the hollow of his hand
/ ] am not now criticising Mr.. Cannon,
fcr the wrong existed before he be-
sonal in my reference to the speaker.
But the result of the condition that
prevailed was that this rule was
adopted by narrow margin, and /
| want you to remember again, when
you are considering whether your del
egation is Republican or not, that six
of the Republican members of con
gress from Iowa voted against this
rule and four voted in favor of it. And
when it was adopted mark the situa-
ton in the house of representatives.
''It had this bill with 5000 or more
items, making duties that positively
concerned the welfare of every man
and woman in the state Of Iowa. And
| yet the representatives had a chance
to vote for amendments to the para
graphs relating only to hides, oil, lum-
| Der, barley and barley malt, and to
nothing else And that bill was adopt
ed in the house Of representatives rs
a whole without the slightest oppor-
tunity on the part of individual men
to express an opinion on any one com
modify separate from the rest of the
bill save on these five things have
mentioned. 1t was adopted because
they knew if they did not vote for 1t
their names would be singularly con-
spicuous by their absence from the
list Of committee appointments.
Not Judgment of Members.
| again l am expressing nothing but
the utmost good will for the speaker