The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-04-08

Hon. Joseph w. Fordney arrived
home from Washington yesterday. MIR.
Fordney has been suffering slightly
from the grip and being paired with an
Illinois Democrat he took advantage of
the opportunity to spend few days at
home following the strenuous work of
week before last, when the Norris reso-
luton precipitated struggle over the
rules committee.
Speaking of the incident Mr.. Fordney
said:
Speaker Cannon suffered humilia-
ton at the hands of the Democrats and
insurgent Republicans but its ends
there, His power and influence in the
house are In no way affected, the new
committee on rules is in the hands of
his friends and the work of the house
will be in no way affected by the
change.
During my several terms in con-
gress the general rules have remained
the same. The value of the rules COM
mittee is that it affords the means by
which important legislation may be ad-
vanced over unimportant matters. To
illustrate, when the postal savings bank
bill comes from the committee it will go
under the rules to the foot of the calen
dar. If all the bills ahead of it were
disposed of first it could not be reached
in several years. But the chairman of
the committee will request the commit.
tee on rules to make special rule af
fecting that bill only, which rule will
fix the date for the consideration of the
measure. The house adopts or rejects
the report of the committee on rules so
that the matters is in the hands of the
house. You see, it is the means by
which important legislation is given the
right of way.
AFTER the adoption of the Norris res
olution l stood for one thing and that
was the Republican members of the
committee should be all regulars or all
and they are all regulars and
all warm personal friends of Speaker
Cannon. Though the speaker is not on
the committee his influence with the
committee will not be lessened
River improvement 1 regard as good
as settled. The unanimous report of
the engineers committee can not fail of
adoption. 1t will be all right in the sen.
ate; it will be all right in the house.
Congressman Loud and / were offered
by William Alden Smith the choice of
two plans, the placing of the improve
ment on the continuous contract basis
with an appropriation of $4,000 this
year or an appropriation of 100000
this year with the chance to get more
when we need it. l said, put us on the
continuous contract plan, if we don't
get more than so cents this year. Con-
gresham Loud agreed that the first
was the better and that is
what we will get.
at is practically an appropriation of
1886, 900 Tor the improvement of Sagi.
nav river and bay and while only $780,
900 will be spent this year after that the
amount to be expended each year will
be such as is necessary for the work. 1t
will be appropriated by the sundry civil
bill and we shall not have to wait for
river and harbors bill. A sundry civil
bill or general deficiency bill is adopt
ed by every congress. If next year
$500, 900 could be used for the river it
could be provided in one of these bills.
think the 1886, 900 will prove an over
and told the committee that
believe the work might be done for
half million. Saginaw Courier-Her-
aid.