Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-03-27
Sensational Contest In
House Over
Rules
CONGRESSMAN F.Tz6ERALD'S
RESOLVE WAS ADOPTED
Democratic Leaders Get Into Sharp
Exchange - insurgents Were
Partially Victorious in
Congress

of the stormiest sessions In It's history
the house of representatives today. re.
gardless of party alignment, adopted
by a vote OF 2l1 to 172 resolution
by Fitzgerald democrat of New York;
whereby the rules were amended In
several important particulars. Joseph
10. Cannon was reelected speaker
/ The insurgents did not win the com.
plete victory they counted on, but sue
ceeded in bringing about an exceed.
lngly lively session and obliged the
majority TO adopt the Fitzgerald reso.
luton, which is in the nature OF
compromise.
The Fitzgerald resolution was sub.
stitute for one offered by Clark Of Mis-
souri,.
Its adoption was accomplished only
after the insurgents, with the aid of
the democrats, with one or two excep.
lions had won u decided preliminary
victory by voting down resolution by
Dalzell making the unamended rules
of the sixtieth congress applicable to
the present congress.
Clark and DalzeiI Clash.
Such was the fever heat of the con.
troversy that Clark Of Missouri got
into spirited colloquy with Dalzell,
who had mounted the rostrum to read
the resolution of the minority leader.
Clark wanted him ordered away from
the desk. to which DalZcll objected.
saying he had right to know what
the measure contained. This incident
which lasted long enough for Dalzell
to get the Information he desired and
! he returned to his seat.
, Shortly afterward. when Fitzgerald
= resolution was appropriate. Fitzgerald
was drawn into II colloquy with Clark
, who desired him to yield for a ques
? ton. Much bitterness was displayed
!. by the two men. Fitzgerald at firs
D refused to yield. He later did so, bu
= Clark declined his proi;er Of time. re
: marking that the New York membe'
4 would live 10 regret his action. which
p called forth the retort from Fitzgeral,
!. that he was not to be scared by an!
!. threats"
G Important Changes Made.
As analysed by parliamentarlans tn,
Il amendment makes three importan
q changes. Flrst-It establishes "cal
n ender for unanimous consent" the ei
feet Of which Is to enable membe
3. to have Il proposition brought befor
I, the house without having to go to tn
Is speaker for recognition. This change
J. they say, will be relief to the speak
y err.
., Second-When consideration OF
d bill Is concluded and the previou
p question Is ordered the rules hereto
5. fore have provided for a motion I
commit with or without instructions
x 1t has been the practice to recogniz
~ member of the majority to max
N this motion and thus prevent tn
Dr. minority from Offering such instru,
p. lions as II may desire.
r. The new rule gives the minority tn
lie preference in making such motto
c. and thus enables them to get recor
ut vote on propositions that would othe
i, wise be settled In committee OF tn
Il whole house. where no record vote
possible.
I'd Third--lt protects the calends
ly Wednesday by requiring a two.thirt
rs instead OF majority vote to set q.
Or aside.
q. Fourth-It Is also claimed that III
ty amendment will have the effect OF pr
r. venting favoritism by the action OF Il
committee on rules In special cases.
N, Clark Resolution Feature.
to A prominent feature OF the Clai
CHI resolution was an amendment provi
of ing for committee OF 10 to revis
In amend and codify the rules, aud mut
by of the opposition to It was because
er this fact. AS adopted, the Fitzgera
be amendment makes no changes In Il
on present method OF selecting the rul
ir' committee, nor Is there any cham
Is In the method Of selecting COMMITTEES
ed Speaker Cannon Is inclined to
gard the amendment as slight Il
provement on the present rules,
that instead OF throwing the respc
siDillty Tor recognition on him, IL sc
aside certain days for consideri
he measures under unanimous conser
ck but, he says, under the new rul
he members will have to walt for the
ha days.
ar. In a conversation soon after the
am ton Of the house he commented fire.,
ms upon the fact that Bryan had int
ME iered in the interest OF the chara
,rv submitted by Clark and spoke OF I
ng adoption of the Fitzgerald substitl
no as triumph over the Bryan fore
M saying the conservative democr
, who really want legislation had pra,
Ion cally stood for the old rules with
,r, amendments offered by Fitzgerald.
ha at was" he said, "a protest by
conservatives against popu,lsm and
kindred things"