The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-16
CANNON ELECTED AND
HOUSE RULES AMENDED
Insurgents Make Good Their Threats and the
Autocratic Reign Of the Speaker
Is Ended.
Stormy and Exciting Session. Which Resulted in the Adoption
of Compromise Resolution.

Washington, March 15.-After one of the
stormiest sessions in its history, the house
of representatives today. regardless OF
party alignment adopted by a vote of 211
to 172 resolution by Mr. Fitzgerald
tDem) of New York, whereby the rules
We're amended I'm several important par
tieulars. Joseph 6. Cannon was re-elect-
cd speaker
The insurgents did not WIN the COM
pete victory they counted on. but sue
Seeded i'm bringing about an exceedingly
livery session aud obliged the majority
20 adopt the Fitzgerald resolution, which
is IN the nature OF compromise
ne fitzgerald resolution was a substi-
souri,.
Its adoption was accomplished only aft
81 the Insurgents, with the aid of the
Democrats. with one or two exceptioris
mad won decided preliminary victory bv
voting down a resolution by Mr.. Dalzeil
making the unamended rules of the Six
ueth congress applicable to the present
congress.
Heated Colleagues,
Such was the fever heat of the eontro-
Nersy that Mr. Clark of Missouri got
who had mounted the rostrum to read the
resolution of the minority leader Mr.
Clark wanted him ordered svrav from the
desk: to which Ri Dalzeil objected, say
measure contained. This incident led to
a controversy with the speaker which
lasted long enough for Mr. DalzeH to get
the information he desired. and he re-
turned to his seat.
Shortly afterward when Mr. Fitzger-
Sid resolution was up Mr. Fitzgerald
was drawn into colloquy with Mr.. Clark.
VINO desired him to yield for question.
Much bitterness was displayed by the
two men.
MIR. Fitzgerald at first refused to yield.
n
his prefer of time, remarking that the
New York member would live to regret
his action, which called forth the retort
IRON Mr. Fitzgerald that he was not to
De scared by any threats
Fitzgerald's Amendment.
As anslyzed by parliamentarians the
sl0endment makes three important
+ First, it establishes a calendar for
unanimous consents the effect of which
issto enable a member to have prOpo-
sition brought before the house without
having to go TO the speaker for recoc-
niuCn. This change, they say will be a
relief to the speaker
Second. when consideration of a bill is
concluded and the previous question is
ordered the rules heretofore have pro-
Nlded for motion to commit with or
without Instructions. 1t has been the
practice to recognize a member of the
majority to make this motion and thus
prevent the minority from offering such
Instructions as it may desire The new
rule gives the minority the preference in /
making such a motion and thus enables I
them to get a record vote on propositions
that would otherwise be settled i'm com
mittee of the whole house where no rec
ord vote is possible.
Third, It protects the calendar Wednes- I
day by requiring 2 two-thirds instead of
a majority vote TO set il aside.
Fourth. it is also claimed that the |
amendment viii have the effect Of pre-
venting favOTitism by the action of the
committee on rules in special cases.
Selection OF Committees.
a prominent feature of the Clark reso- |
luton was an amendment providing for /
a committee of fifteen to revise amend |
and codny the rules. and much of the /
opposition to 1t was because of this fact /
As adopted the Fitzgerald amendment !
makes no change In the present method I
Of selecting the rules committee. nor is 1
there any change in the method of select !
ing committees.
Speaker Cannon is inclined to regard i
the amendment as a slight Improvement /
on the present rules, in that instead Of 1
throwing the responsibility for recogni- !
ton on him it sets aside certain days for /
considering measures under unanimous I
consent; but, he says. under the new
rules members will have to wait for those 4
days
In = conversation soon after the ac- /
ton Of the house he commented freel. I
upon tie fact that Mr.. Bryan had inter !
fered in the interest of the changes sub