The Washington herald., 1909-03-02

After a battle royal In the House yes
terdsy, in which Speaker Cannon and
Representative William Peter Hepburn
Of Iowa, crossed swords with a vengeance.
the House organization passed a resolu-
ton amending the rules Of the House.
providing a calendar Wednesday each
week during a session Of Congress. unless
the House specifically votes otherwise
InasmUch Is the life OF this Congress
expires next Thursday. and no Congress
can make rules binding a succeeding Con-
gress. and tie House is now operating
under a special rule, Republican insurg-
ents 10 the number OF twenty-six. and
the solid Democratic strength. united n
characterizing the action OF the House
organization as an attempt 70 throw sop
at the incoming House. with view to
preventing a real reform in the rules Of
the House.
They served notice before taking their
licking. which they got by vote OF lSs
10 IS. they would renew hOsulities on
March Is.
Speaker in Clash
Speaker Cannon literally got hot under
the collar and red in the face" when,
after Minority Leader Clark had de-
rnanded a recapitulation Of the vote. and
the Speaker had declined Il, Representa-
tive Hepburn, from the Republican side,
shouted al him: 1T IS the first tine
in twenty-five years I have ever heard
such q request demanded"
The Speaker retorted testify. waving
his fist in a threatening manner toward
the IOwen. I venture 20 remark that
during that same time the gentleman
never heard It affirmed"
Al this juncture the Speaker crossed
wires with Parliamentarian Hines. The
latter. evidently desiring 10 call the
Speakers attention 70 the fact that he
vas on the wrong track, passed over one
o. his Congressional volumes, known as
Hines Precedents," whereupon the
Speaker, as II 70 quote some law IN sub
sanitation OF his own position, read, In a
loud voice:
IF the vote is close. the Speaker usu-
ally orders recapitulation-"
Cheers from Opponents.
Upon hearing this piece OF information.
the opponents OF the new rule broke into
loud cheers, and the Speaker pounded his
desk with the energy Of a tTip-hammer>
he completed the reading OF the boom
erang. and then announced:
Sooner than have a shadow cast on
the action OF the House on this question
the Speaker himself VIII order a recapItu-
lation'
The Speaker had previously overruled
an appeal from a decision OF the chair,
when Representative Clark. OF Missouri,
demanded q recspitulaton. saying:
The Chair declines 10 entertain such an
appeal"
After all this row, a recapitulation failed
TO show change Of a vote.
Words were not minced during the en-
tire debate on the question. The insur-
gents and the Democrats alike called IL
g Trojan horse. 'in the paunch Of which. -
said Representative Murdoch. Of Kansas.
referring TO those insurgents who had
bOlted the original plan 10 revise all the
rules. several notable cold feet can be
seen sticking out"
AssaiIs Rules.
Representative Hepburn, Of Iowa. said
the House leaders were either seeing a
new light OF breaking for cover before
a storm" He said that even the Speak
er himself had had resort to magazines
and newspapers 10 give currency, Gre
dence. and decency'' TO the existing rules.
This resolution means nothing: Il is
a mere pretense," ne said. 1T is In
tended 10 stiae inquiries into q further
reform or the Tuls which now declares
that daily the Speaker shall order a
call Of committees. He INQUIRED why
such a resolution should be reported
10 the House during the closing days OF
the session. when its provision could not
possibly be Of avail Other speakers
VINO talked in the same strain were
Representatives Williams. OF Mississip-
pi. and Clark and De Almond. OF Mis-
souri, Democrats. ard Representatives
Norris. Of Nebraska: Gardner. OF Mas
sschusetts, and Murdock OF Kansas,
Republicans.
Representative DaIZen, OF Pennsylvania
who brought IN the resolution. said II
was intended 20 accomplish three things,
viz. 20 give a call OF the calendars once
& week except the last two weeks OF
each session, which could not be dis
and which would apply not only 10 the
Rule CIeTerIy WOrded.
He said the rule was so wor6ed that
even privileged bills could not dispiace
the calendar Wednesday unless the
House so voted
Representatives Scott and Campbell. OF
kansas. and Townsend. OF Michigan.
went with the insurgent body only 10
the point OF establishing a regular cslen-
dar day. and Representatives Olmsted
and Payne. regulars. supported this view.
The Republicans who joined with the
Democrats against the resolution were
as follows: Boyd, Hlnshaw. Kinkaid
and Norris, OF Nebraska: Carey. Cooper,
Esch, Morse. and Nelson, OF Wisconsin:
Davis. Lindburgh. Stevenson, and Vol
stead, OF Minnesota; Ellis. Of Missouri;
Fowler. OF New Jersey. Gardner and
Lowering. Of Massachusetts,. Gronna and
Marshall, North Dakota; Haugen. Hep
burn, an6 Hubbard. Of Iowa; Hayes. Of
California; Madison and Murdoch. OF
Kansas and Waldo, OF New York
Hartman Nof Asked 10 Speak.