The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-20
NORRIS RESOLUTION
BRINGS ON DEBATE
DaIzell Tries TO Make Peace
Terms, but in Vain.
CHAMP CLARK ON THE FLOOR
Democratic Leader Declares IL Is
Not a Personal FIght-Underwood
of Alabama, Relieves II safer to
Have Power In Chairman of Rules
Committee Than In Speaker.

When the House was face to face with
the issue whether new committee on
rules should be organized along the lines
| suggested in the Norris resolution the
responsible leadership OF the House Off
cially acknowledged that It was no longer
| in control
| Representative Norris held the floor 1t
was true, OF course, that the presiding
officer was friendly to the regulars but
! the gent-Democratie combination
| had shown on three votes that il was in
command For the first time within the
memory Of man Representative Dalzell.
of the Committee on Rules and the lead
er in all Republican fights over the rules.
was compelled to seek terms with the in
surgent leader.
An effort was made to reach an agree
ment for a debate on the merits of the
/ resolution, Representative Norris sug-
costing that each side have an hour and
half. To this the regulars objected.
Insisting that five hours should be al
| lowed for each side. The regulars. how
ever. were in the attitude of asking their
enemies consent on this question OF
House procedure.
Tie squabble ended. however. without
any understanding being reached, and
the debate proceeded under the ordinary
rules OF the house
Champ Clark speaks.
Representative Champ Clark. leader Of
the Democratic minority. was the first
speaker.
This Is not personal fight against
Joseph G. Cannon" said he. Il can lay
my hand on my heart and say that my
relations with that distinguished person
age always have been pleasant. This is
fight against the system. II doesn't
make any difference # the system has
been sanctided by time, No other propo-
sition, in my mind. is pending before us
to-day I have always believed that the
Speakers position as chairman Of the
Committee on Rules gives him more
power than any one man ought to have
over the destinies of this republic
This is a revolution"
Representative LenroOt. or Wisconsin,
an insurgent urged all Republicans 10
vote 10 change the rules and take away
the Speakers power. This was the only
means, he said. Of serving the Republican
party in the campaign about to be begun,
or of insuring the election of Republic
can House.
Representative Nye. of Minnesota. de-
livered stirring appeal to the Republic
cans 10 stand by the regular organiza-
ton.
II have not always been in accord with
the desires of the Republican party" said
he, nor have I been close 20 the present
Speaker of the House. but for forty years
this country has done Joseph G. Cannon
honor, and now you seek TO sacrifice
him 10 make a Roman holiday"
Nye's Speech AppIauded.
Mr.. Nye quoted from "OId Ironsides."
urging the Republicans Ito set every
thTeadbare sail and give her TO the god
of storms" Prolonged applause greeted
his speech.
IF this proposed amendment to the
rules is adopted said Representative
Underwood, OF Alabama. the Democratic
whip. I'VE will have reached an era of
parliamentary practice in this body.
Speaker Reed, in securing the adoption OF
rules to enable majority of the House
to do business at any time, vested more
POWER in the Speaker than any one man
should have. There the power has re-
manned until to-day. After this resoiu-
tion passes, the real leader of the ma
jority party in this House will be the
chairman of the enlarged Committee on
Rules and not the Speaker"
When Victor Murdoch, red-headed in
surgent from Kansas, jumped to his feet
to talk for three minutes he was cheered
by the Democrats and his fellow-insur-
gents. He predicted Republican defeat in
the next campaign unless come change
was made.