Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18
The Allies Gained q Sweeping
Victory over Cannon Men
in the House.
THREE IMPORTANT CHANGES
calendar for Unanimous Consent" Eh-
tabiished - Minority Given the
Preference in Moving to Conc
init Question - Calendar
Wednesday Protected.

Washington. March ls-After one OF
the stormest sessions in its history. the
House OF Representatives to-day regard
less Of party alignment, adopted I'll to
l72. a resolution by Mr. Fitzgerald
tdem.) Of New York whereby tho rules
were amended in several important par
ticulars. The resolution was sub FOR
one offered by Mr.. Clark Of Missouri.
Its adoption vas accomplished only AZ
ter the "insurgents' witt, the aid Of the
democrats, with one or two exceptions
had won decided preliminary victory
by voting down resolution by Mr.. Dial.
zell Of Pennsylvania making the un-
amended rules Of the Sixieth Congress
applicable to those OF the present Con-
gress
The cali Of the roll on the resolution
was followed with intense interest. Such
was the fever heat OF the members that
Mr.. Clark Of Missouri got into a spirited
colloquy with Mr. Dalzell, who had
mounted the rostrum to read the re-
solution Of the minority leader. Mr.
Clark wanted him ordered away from
the desk. to which proceeding Mr.. Dali
zell objected saying he had right tc
know what the measure contained. This
Incident led to A controversy with the
speaker which lasted long enough for
Mr.. Dalzel TO get the information he
desired. and he stepped from the plat
form and returned to his seat.
Shortly afterward when Mr.. Fltz
Ecrald's resolutions was up Mr. Fitzgerald
was drawn into a colloquy with Mr.
Clark. who desired him to yield for &
question. Mach bitterness was displayet
by the two men. Mr. Fitzgerald at frs
refused to yield, He later did 80, bu
Mr.. Clark declined his proffer Of time
renarkng that the New York member
would live to regret his action. which
called forth the retort from Mr.. FIFE
gerald that he was not to be scared
BY any threats.
RESULTS OF CHANGES.
An analysed by parllamentarians, thu
amendment makes three impoftan
changes. First. it establishes "calenda
for unanimous consents" the effect o
which Is to enable A member to have ,
proposition brought before the Hous
without having to go to the speaker 70
recognition. This change, they say. vii
be relief to the speaker.
Second when consideration Of q bill I!
concluded and the previous question Il
ordered the rules heretofore have pro
vided for a motion to commit with o.
without instructions. 1t has been tn
practice to recognize a member Of tn
majority party to make this motion an
thus prevent the minority from offerin
such instructions as II may desire. TIL
new rule gives the minority the preference
in making such a motion and thu
enables them to get a record vote o
propositions which would otherwise b
settled in committee Of tho whole House
where no record vote 10 possible.
Third, Il protects the calendar Wed
nesday by requiring a two thirds instea
OF a majority vote to set It aside.
Fourth. 1t is also claimed that tn
amendment will have the effects Of pre-
venting favoritism BY the action OF tn
committee on rules in special cases.
A prominent feature OF the Car
resolution was an amendment provid
ing for a committee Of Is members
revise. amend and codfy the rules IN
much Of the opposition 1t was becau'
of this fact. As adopted the F1tzsera'
amendment makes no change In II
present method Of the selection OF "
committee on rules. which IL made
the speaker. nor Is there any chang
IN the method OF selecting committee
CANNON ON THE RESULT.
Speaker Cannon Is inclined to rega'
the amendment as slight imprcv
ment on the present rules, In that Il
stead of throwing the responsibility 4
recognition on him Il sets aside certa
days for the consideration Of measur
under unanimous consent. but. he say
under the new rules members will ha'
10 wait for those days.
In a conversation soon after the aeti'
Of the House he commented freely u
on the fact that Mr.. Bryan had int
fered in the interest Of the changes SUI
nitted by Mr.. Clark and spoke Of 4
adoption Of the Fitzgerald substitute
q triumph over the Bryan forces. sayi,
that the conservative democrats, VI
really want legislation had practical
stood for the old rules with the amen
n,ents offered by Mr.. Fitzgerald. .
was" ne said "a protest by tho 60
eervative democrats against popuiis
and all kindred things"
FITZGERALD AMENDMENT.
The Fitzgerald amendment Is as (,
lows
I-Amend paragraph 81 OF rule XII.
adding thereto the following: The CO.
pittee on rules shall not report any r,
or order which shall provide that bu
ress under paragraph four Of ruiz Xxx
shall be set aside by a vote Of less tn
two-th1ds of the members present, r
shall 1t report any rule or order viii