Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-21
NORRIS, PACE ~ HISTORY
Eebraskan Central Figure in Revolu.
A tionary Movement.
ADS INSURGENTS TO VICTORY
N~ebraskans Figure Prominently in
The EventfuI Proceedings and
Judge Norris Bears His Vic
tory with Modesty.
lrrom a Sad correspondent.l

WASHINGTON, March O-CSpecial Tele-
gram )-Nebraska yesterday played a most
conspicuous part in what Is believed 70
be an epoch in the history OF congress In
this country. Judge George w. Norris Of
the Fifth district, Unexpectedly to the
regulars OF the republican organization
put over a resolution OF the highest con-
stitutional privilege Thursday, changing
the rules Of the house so fhr as the
composition Of It's committee on rules is
concerned by creating a committee OF If
teen to be selected from various geographic
cal divisions among the membership and
eliminating the speaker from the commit
tee. The confusion and conformation
which that resolution created Is history.
Today's proceedings writes into the legis-
lative procedure Of the house OF represen-
tatives an absolutely new condition for the
house by its own action recasts the COM
mittee on rules SO that in the future it is
TO be composed of ten persons. six OF
whom shall be Of the MAJORITY party and
four Of the minority, to be chosen by the
house, but the speaker shall not be a
member OF the committee.
Norris Led TO Victory.
Judge Norris. who introduced his waiting
resolution constituting a rules committed
Of fifteen members, was induced, after he
had won a substantial triumph yesterday,
listen to the voice of compromise, not
from the regulars particularly, but from
his friends In the so-caued insurgent ranks
Of the republican party, and make the com
mittee ten members, six republicans and
four democrats. While he believes thai
fifteen members would have been better
than ten, and would more nearly represent
"A. ..At-, co,,ptrxs -o~~ranhfCaIl than Ter
members can, he acquiesced in the PROPOSE
ton and the Norris amendment presented
by himself brought about the elimination
of the speaker, Joseph G. Cannon, from thu
position Of chairman OF the rules commit
tee, which has been held by the speaker
for thirty years, and his exclusion from
membership on the committee 'overturninl
q condition which extends over three
quarter OF a century.
Partisans OF the regular republicans
most followers OF the democratic party anC
adherents of the Insurgents in the hous,
will each claim a victory in todsy's result
What the country will decide is a who'll!
different thing.
Cannon stIn Speaker.
The fact remains that Joseph C. Cannon
by a vote OF 191 to 1856, was given al en-
dorsement such as has never come to an.
other speaker. Flushed with victory. Burle
son Of Texas offered a resolution demand
ing his resignation, after Speaker Cannol
had declared that one of two condition
faced him, to resign or to entertain
motion that his seat be declared vacant
In either event the house stood face t
face with a proposition Of electing a neN
speaker or showing itself satisfied wit
existing conditions, and when the vote wa
being taken II is doubtful whether an,
greater interest was shown in the vote Of
the declaration of warlEwith Spain. whel
the Mckinley tariff bill was on its passag
after a period of financial depression whici
is remembered by those who suffered there
from or in the passage of the Wilson
German bill, which stretches time bac
quite a number of years and beyond to tn
reconstruction period of our history. TIL
Burleson resolution was rejected.
Il was worth while 10 live and to witnes
a day like this. 1t had all the elements c
a great dramatic setting. A great dram
wss played. and while its finish may nc
be satisfactory to many because of a vot
Of confidence that was given to SpeakC
Cannon the thousands will believe ths
Justice was done and Congressman Norr
showed himself in a new light and marke
out for himself a place in the house {
representatives through his able and di
eliminating management of a very remari
able phase in legislative procedure.