The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-28
MORE WORK TO DO
Murdoch Says Insurgents Task
Is Not Over.
Wants COmmittee Appointments
Taken From Speaker.
ALSO, HOUSE RIGHTS
Declares This Would Regain
Confidence o, Public.
Demands That Methods Now
Practiced Be Changed.

WlCnlLd,
Murdoch, insurgent Republican, mem
Der of congress from the Eighth Kan
sas district, has issued the following
statement under his signature:
LAS the first plank in the platform
OF the house insurgents stands the
demand that the appointment of COM
mittees is taking away from all fu-
ture speakers, whoever they are, or
to whatever party they belong
Cannon and Cannonism have been
popularity condemned. Cannon can
not come back But Cannonism
may return. In another day, when in
surgency has passed, another speaker,
forgetful of representative govern
ment and coveteous of personal pow
er, can rear again a machine which IN
self preservation will obstruct leg1s-
lation, delay progressive measures,
deny righteous and informed popular
demand, and once again poison the
spring of democracy. But no speak
er of the future can do that II the
American people will see to it that the
changes in the system inaugurated by
the insurgents are completed by re-
storing to the house the right to name
the committees itself.
Instead of placing an inducement
before a speaker to build personal
machine, give the house an opportun-
ity to perfect measures so congress
may be responsive to popular demand
for progressive measures, again ENJOY
public confidence and bring to all its
activities the best talent and informa-
ton of it's entire membership.
.DeIinquencies in House.
There were three grave delinquent
cies in the house under Cannonism.
First The house INSTRUCTED right
eous popular desire and damned back
the natural onward current of national
progress.
Second. The congress had to sub
nit helpIessly to the invasion OF the
legislative domain by the executive de-
partment, because congress had SO
lost public confidence that its protests
were ineffective.
Third. Congressmen individually
lost a sense of responsibility and ma
jor legislation became the product not
of congress- working with Information,
conviction and purpose, but or a small
group of leaders, who grew gross and
sometimes cruel in the exercise of
personal power.
Work Yet to Be Done.
"All three of these delinquencies in
the house have been cured in meas
ure by the activities of the insurgents
There is now one day in every week
in which a committee, having reported
a bill, may have opportunity TO nave
the measure Observation-Disclosures
Wednesday. 1t is no longer necessary
to the congressman to trail, hat in
hand, to the speaker to pray the right
to ask unanimous consent. The unan-
imous consent calendar obviates that.
The minority is no longer shut Off
from offering an alternative measure
to majority bill-the new motion to
recommit grants that right. These
are minor changes in the house pro-
cedure. The major changes, changes
which alter the system, are two-first,
the election of the speaker from the
committee on rules. and second. the
newly granted right to a majority of
the house to drag a bill out of COM
mittee pigeonhole.
Nov, these two latter changes in
the rules weaken the power of the
speaker and strengthen the member
ship. But the process will not be com
plete unless these changes are fol-
lowed by the paramount change-tak-
ing from the speaker the appoint
ment of committees. If this is accom-
plished, and it will be if the American
people demand pledges from candi-
dates for congress, opportunity will be
given congress to correct wholly
the methods through which congress
has lost public confidence"