New-York tribune., 1910-07-18
LrsrTcE 10 NURDoCK.

It Is perhaps only natural that as
leader Of the House insurgents Repre-
sentative Victor Murdoch should come in
for g scoring at the hands of Speaker
Cannon, but the Speaker conveyed a
wholly erroneous impression by his re-
marks concerning this enteTprising yeuag
kansan and one that it is well should be
promptly corrected Mr.. Murdeek voted
for the special rule under which the pos
Ia savings bank bill was considered and
passed, which vote the Speaker declared
condemned all previous action against
"the Committee On Rules Of the House of
Representative.
Nothing but intense prejudice could
have blinded a man of Mr.. Cannon's
acity 70 the essential difference be
tween Nh Murdock's previous action
against the Committee on Rules and his
vote for the postal savings rule. Prior
TO the 61st Congress the Committee on
Rules was merely the voice Of the Speak
er. Composed Of five members appointed
by the Speaker. the minority members
were mere eipbers, and the two Repubi-
cans, other than the Speaker, who was CT
ofIci0 chairman. were not only men Of
his choosing, but subject 70 removal by
him # they failed to do his bidding.
With the reorganization Of the com
mittee under a provision which enlarges
IT, makes it the choice Of the entire
House and depriyes the Speaker Of mem
bership. II is wholly different body, and
presents none Of the objections which oc-
casioned Mr.. Murdoch s opposition in the
past.
Moreover, no bill in recent years has
so clearly reflected the views Of the en-
tire aiority Of the House as did the
postal savings bank bill It was not
machine made measure completed if not
perfected by the organization and then
submitted TO the House under a rule
which precluded amendment. On the
contrary. II was q measure perfected in
u party caucus which lasted for three
evenings. In caucus every member en-
joyed the opportunity 10 offer any
amendment he might see fit and to eX-
plain his reasons for so doing. A vast
number Of amendments were offered,
some Of which were adopted. while the
bill came froni the caucus II accurately
reflected, as has been said, the views Of
the majority. Under such circumstances
there could be no objection to the adop-
ton Of a special rule which would e1pe-
dite the passage Of the measure, partly
by curtailing useless debate, but chiefly
by preventing discretionary tactics by
the democrats who were greatly uer-
turbed over the success which even then
II was obvious was destined TO crown the
Taft legislative progra mme and thus re-
feet credit on the ma jority ii the House.
It has always been the custom Of the
advocates Of the old order TO represent
aIl who urged a change as standing for
the destruction Of all that machinery
which, in q body OF the magnitude of the
House, IS essential to the transaction Of
business with even reasonable expedi-
ton. Apparently that practice has been
carried so far that those who voiced the
view came 10 believe II. Hence Mr.. Can
mons disappointment that SIr. Murdoch
and other reasonable insurgents should
be found ready to vote for j special rule
brought in by q Committee on Rules
elected by the House and providing for
the expeditions consideration OF q bill
framed hy 4 majority OF the House
Mr.. Cannon and the system Of which
he was the embodiment have suffered de
feat, fact which il is always important
TO bear III mind IN listening To the re-
marks Of the aged Speaker