Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-18
Unexpected Attack by Combined Forces for New
Rules Committee and Making Speaker |ne|igi-
BILE Observation-Disclosures Charges and
Counter Charges Are Still Made.

Washington, March 1S-With Speak
er Cannon's power in the House of
Representatives hanging in the balance
and on one in position to say what
would be the outcome, the fiercest bat
tie probably that ever has been waged
against the House rules obliterated
party lines in the historic chamber last
night and this morning 1t had been
raging for 10 hours at o'clock A. NJ,
when the House by vote of 1874 to
IS defeated for the third time a motion
to recess until 1153 A. M. The stab
born filibuster of the Republican Reg
ulars" was resumed, against considera-
ton OF the resolution of Representa-
tive Norris of Nebraska providing for
the organization of the committee
on rules, eliminating the Speaker.
The moment the vote was announced
and the obstinate test of endurance be-
gan again the Democrats renewed their
cries of Rule Rule" Mr.. Smith, Rep
resentative, Iowa, and member of the
committee on rules, resumed the
dreary debate. This was soon after
A. NJ, with no end in sight
Washington, March 1S.-A new COM
nttee on rules with the Speaker in
eligible for membership in 1.-THE is
sue was as real as that.
The question for hours was resolu-
tion by Representative Norris Of Ne
hraska reading as follows:
"Resolvel, That the rules Of the
House he amended as follows:
THE committee on rules shall con-
sist of Is members, nine of whom shall
he Of the majority party and six of
whom shall be members of the minor
ity party to be selected as follows:
"'rhe states of the Union shall be di-
vided by a committee of three select
ed bv the House for that purpose into
nine groups, each group containing as
near as may be an equal number of
members belonging to the majority
party The states of the Union snail
likewise be divided into six groups.
each group containing as near as may
be- an equal number of members be-
longing to the minority party.
AT 10 o'clock on the day following
the adoption of the report OF SAID
committee, each of said groups shall
meet and select one of its number,
member of the committee on rules.
The place of meeting for each OF SAID
groups shall be designated by the sad
committee in its report. Each of SAID
groups shall report to the House the
name of the member selected for MEM
bership on the committee on rules. The
committee or rules shall select it's own
chairman; the Speaker shall not be
lcirible to membership on said COM
mittee.
IAN rules or parts thereof inconsist-
ent with the foregoing resolution are
hereby repealed"
over q matter comparatively trivial
in itself the Insurgents found their
opportunity to test strength with the
organization
II occurred over an attempt by
Crumpacker, Ind, to obtain considera-
ton of a resolution amending the CEN
sus act. Practically no member of the
House opposed the resolution, but 1t
was contended that the method used in
bringing it up transcribed the rules
of the House. Speaker Cannon, yester-
day. ruled against that view and was
defeated
The question came up again today
and the regulars believed they hao
mustered sufficient strength on the
| Democratic side to reverse yesterday 8
action. The vote developed they had
been mistaken or deceived and the
Cannon forces were again beaten. The
second vote took place late. in the af-
ternoon. The effect was startling. IN
surgent Republicans and Democrats
swarmed to a common battling ground
and under the leadership of Rep. Nor
ris OF Nebraska made concerted at
tack on the Republican rules.
| Reposing in Norris desk was the
resolution prepared at the beginning
of the present session.
The Nebraskan had the resolution
handy. He seized the opportunity and
the fight became an open one. The
previous disastrous results made the
organization forces wary and immedi-
ately they began "sparring for time.
1t was evident on every side that II
was fighting for it's very existence.
The regulars declared the Norris
resolution was not in order, but they
! had not the votes to enforce their po-
sition. At the same time debate or
this point could not be limited, and
the House resolved itself into con-
test of endurance. with the regulars
behind the breastworks and the In
surgents and Democrats the attacking
forces. The best orators on both sides
appeared in the debate. The fact that
so many members wanted to talk made