Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-18
Cooper Attacks the Rules.

| to hear Mr.. Reeder and his remarks
were greeted by catcalls and jeers.
/ Cooper Attacks the Rules.
Representative Cooper OF Wisconsin,
an insurgent, then addressed the House.
He attacked the rules and the Speaker
and urged change in the House pro-
cedure.
| Mr.. Cooper referred to the fact that
Speaker Cannon had called him dema-
Sogue and populist-
| IF ] wanted to call Names" said Mr.
Cooper. II might say that Mr.. Cannon
voted for free silver, greenbacks and the
| resumption act
Mr.. Cooper had made the charge that
| the Speaker had melted out punishment
| to the insurgents against the rules by
retiring them from committees or by
reducing them in rank.
| Gardeners Case Explained.
| Mr.. Cooper cited the case of Repre-
sentative Gardner of Massachusetts,. He
charged that the chairmanship of the
committee on industrial arts was taken
from Mr.. Gardner because of his activity
In the insurgent ranks. Mr.. Cannon
| had long since left the chair, and was
standing with group of members on
| the steps of the Speakers rostrum.
May interrupt the gentleman there?"
inquired Mr.. Cannon.
| You may. sir" replied Mr.. Cooper.
| rs Mr.. Gardner here?" exclaimed the
Speaker. Il wish him to tell the exact
1 facts
| Mr. Gardner responded. saying in
substance that prior to the organization
Of the committees at the beginning Of
this Congress he was told that he could
retain his craftsmanship. He had con-
versation with the Speaker on the sub
| ject Mr.. Cannon told him that he
would be reappointed chairman of the
| industrial arts committee. but that IL
activities with the insurgent band or lay
| himself open to the charge that he had
| tied up with the organization in ex-
change for continued service at the head
Gardner contemplated quitting the in
surgent band. Mr.. Gardner. then told
the Speaker that he would not take the
craftsmanship.
Are those the facts, Mr.. Speaker"
asked Mr. Gardner
''They are" replied Mr.. Cannon.
Other Cases Cited.
Mr.. Cooper then called upon Norris OF
Nebraska to rise. In reply to questions
Norris said he had been removed from
active committees and put on dead ones
The next witness brought forward
by Mr.. Cooper in an effort to prove his
case against the Speaker was Murdoch
Of Kansas.
What were your committee assign
ments in the last Congress?" queried In
quisitor Cooper.
'T was a member Of the committee on
post offices and post roads, replied Mr..
Murdock.
What lis your rank now as compared
with that Of year ago." questioned Mr..
Cooper.
I stand tenth on the committee now"
replied Mr.. Murdoch. If I had not been
showed down by the Speaker 1 would
day"
Mr.. Murdoch added that he was thrown
down because he did not yield his judg-
ment to that of the chairman of the
committee and the Speaker.
Fowler Of New Jersey, who was re-
lieved of the craftsmanship OF the COM
mittee on banking and currency at the
beginning of this Congress. was the next
In line. He testified that this assign
ment was taken from him because of his
opposition to the Speaker and the organ
ization.
Cannon Explains Again.
MAY / say a word at this point?" said
Speaker Cannon, who had been stroking
his whiskers meditatively. Mr.. Cooper
yielded, and the Speaker went on to say
that under the rules of the House it was
the duty of the Speaker to appoint the
committees. IN exercising that function,
Mr.. Cannon said, he was responsible to
the House and the country. He then
explained why Mr.. Fowler was taken off
the committee on banking and currency.
In the last Congress the republicans, in
party caucus. had declared in favor of
the passage of the Vreeland emergency
currency bill. The committee headed by
Mr.. Fowler, refused to report that meas
ure. 1t became necessary then, through
q motion made from the floor, to dis
charge the committee from further con-
sheraton of the measure. This motion
was passed. and Mr.. Fowler having gone
counter to the wishes OF the party as ex-
pressed in the caucus was. In Mr.. Can
mons opinion, no longer entitled to con-
sideration at the hands of the republic
can leadership. For that reason he was
deposed. Punishment was melted out to
Norris. Murdoch and Cooper for like
reasons. he said.
This remarkable question and answer
proceeding was listened to intently by
an ovation from the insurgent wing.
Adjournment Again Defeated.
Speaker Cannon by this time had re-
sumed the chair. Pounding for order,
the Speaker made statement from the
chair. He suggested that the Speaker
and the members were weary, and urged
that adjournment be taken in order that
further consideration might be given to
the Norris amendment and all that it in
volved. He pleaded against hasty and
Ill considered action.
1.-The Speaker will be glad said Mr..
Cannon, IF the House in Its wisdom sees
it to adjourn.
At this the democrats and insurgents
looked at one another and shook their
heads emphatically. There were whis-
pers, low but emphatic, from all over the
House of NO and Lets finish 1t now"
Chairman Tawney OF the appropriations
committee Jumped to his feet.
Mr.. Speaker he said, II move the
House do now adjourn"
The regulars voted sOlidly and vocif-
erously in the affirmative, but they were
outhowled by the allies. And on motion
Of Representative Gaines Of West Vir-
ginia the yeas and nays were ordered on
| the motion to adjourn.
Excitement in the House while the roll
| was being called was intense. When
| Speaker Cannon finally announced the
posed the insurgents applauded loudly.
| Recess Denied.
| The defeat Of the regulars on the sec
ond attempt TO shut of the debate and
| lay the entire question over until today
was no sooner announced than Represen-
| tative Tawney was again on his feet with
| a motion that the House take a recess
| until this morning. Mr.. Tawney rightly
| was under the impression that the insur-
gents feared that IL they consented to an
L nf<~l~~