Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-03

BY Frederic J. Haskin
The Congress Today.

bis right to appoint the committees. SuclI
a change would have meant the downfall
OF the power OF the speakership. Every
effort to invoke the sanctity Of party dis
eipline failed, and appeal was made to
the Democrats. Twenty-three of the 17l
Democrats seeded from their party and
set up another set of rules, slightly
changing the existing order, but leaving
the power over committees in the hands
Of the speaker. The majority organize
ton was forced to accept this eOmpro
mise, and Speaker Cannon retained his
power by a narrow margin of FIVE votes.
Thus while he was elected speaker by 4
majority composed of his own party, he
holds his power as speaker by commission
from a majority made up of many Repub-
lcans and q few Democrats.
A Republican member of congress. a.
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 be-
tween Speaker Cannon and Tammany
hall. One of the first fights in the COM
ing session OF congress will be wageo
10 OBTAIN a congressional Investigate n
OF this charge by a committee 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 recog
nize. Every member seeking recognition
must make arrangements beforehand with
the speaker 1t is hardly probable that
he would willingly accord recognition I"
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.
Some times the house Is permitted to
consider and discuss unimportant bills III
regular parliamentary elaboration. But
this privilege is never accorded when an
important measure is put upon it's pass
age. The committee on rules brings In a
special rule reporting the bill and provid-
ling for it's consideration The rule stipu-
lates the exact time Of debate; expressly
provides what amendments shall be per-
mitted. II any; and leaves. the house no
opportunity to do anything but accept
or reject the bill in the form deemed
proper by the committee.
The insurgents will attempt to over
throw the power of the speaker by at
lacking this committee on rules. When
the committee brings in a specials rule
Mr.. Dalzeil, it's spokesman. will present
the report and move the previous ques-
ton. II the previous question is voted
debate is cut off and the report is not
subject to amendment. If at any time
the Democrats and insurgents can muster
a majority to vote down the previous
question, then the rule reported will be
subject to amendment.
Opposed to all efforts to amend the
rules and deprive the speaker of his pow
er is that section in the house which be-
lieves the present system to be absolute
" necessary to accomplish legislation.
II is argued that the surrender of 'he
power of the majority as concentrated
in the speakership 10 to invite filibuster-
ing by the minority, and the straugula-
ton of public business. Men holding this
view declare that it is better to permit
a speaker chosen by a majority to die
tate what Legislation shall pass, than to
give a minority the power to prevent the
passage OF Cany or all measures. Expert
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 rep
resentatives, manages to legislate under
ordinary procedure while the United
States senate celebrates upon all meas
ures before it without restriction or
limit.