Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-19
HOUSE ADOPTS REFORM RULE
Republicans, Insurgents and Demo-
Gratis Smoke Peace Pipe,
LONE MEMBER VOTES AGAINST IT
Measure Corrects Legislative Abuse
of "smoth ering'' Legisiation In
Committee--Comedy scenes
Cause Merriment.
ONE MEMBER VOTES AGAINST IT

NnuRf MeEfAmtht
WASHINGTON, June is.--The house Of
representatives, which has seen many days
OF disseIsion during the present session
over the question OF the rules OF that body
yesterday furnished the remarkable specta-
Gle Of passing. with only one lone member
voting In opposition, strongly worded
reform" rule. designed TO correct an ae-
knOwiedged legislative abuse-the "smoth-
sring" OF legislation In committee. Demo
Gratis, republicans and insurgents" Joined
hands harmonlCusly in adopting the rule.
Representative Rueker (dem.) OF Mis-
souri, was the lone member who stood out
against Il. He assailed the new rule In
vigorous language and was Joined in his
denuneiation by Representative Sims
(dem.) OF Tennessee. The latter, however,
did not vote against It's adoption.
Representative Champ Clark, the minor
fly leader, supported the rule "as for
ward step in reforming the rules OF the
house" and asserted that he himself was
the author. Representative Dalzell Of
Pennsylvania and Representative Smith Of
Iowa, from among the regular" leaders,
supported 1t also as something which a
majority Of the house demanded
aud Norris Of Nebraska ADVOCATED the
adoption OF the rule as another epoch in
the emancipation Of the house"
Representative Dalzell. chairman Of the
committee on rules, laid the rule before
the house. The measure provided for the
discharge Of committees from the consider
alton Of any bill and the placing Of the
bill upon the calendar upon a majority vote
of the entire membership of the house.
Denouncing the proposed rule in vigorous
language, Mr. Sims Of Tennessee pounded
his desk and shouted 10 the insurgents
across the aisle:
Where are the fruits OF your vlotory7
dams, show me your scalps l want to
what you viii get Nothing" he de-
ID in dramatic tones Nothing" he
Gated.
The rule, he declared, was defective in
that 1t permitted the recall of a bill from
o committee almost Immediately after II
was referred. without giving time for lts
consideration. Such a rule, he said, was
absurd and would be found to work mis-
chief.
Minority Leader Clark challenged the
statement that the democrats were follow.
ing the epubllcans-regulars or In.
Hursents. The rule, he said, had beer
brought forth by tho democrats.
Il introduced this rule In this hous,
myself" he said. The only substantial
amendment to 1t was made by Underwood
Z Of Alabama"
With the adoption of the rule, he said
there would be very little need to invoke
It because its moral influence over tn,
committees would prevent the pigeon holinl
of;bills.
~ May Challenge Later.
: 'erhe business OF the house." he con
3 tinued. has been more orderly since tn,
lsth OF March. when the speaker was re
moved from tho committee on rules. 1
This rule does not work well, we will chal
!; ienge it,"
Obtaining five minutes to oppose the rule
Mr.. Rucker of Missouri declared that h
would not accept the proposition becaus
II had the support OF the republicans.
IF you should find the republicans steer
ing toward heaven, would you refuse t,
80 that way" shouted Mr.. Stanley of Ken
lucky, amid shouts and laughter.
v'If 1 saw them going that way I woult
doubt like the devil II they were going I
4, heayen," retorted Mr.. Rucker
Representative Hayes OF California an
Representative Fish OF New York spoke Il
AhNOI VI Nho now Iul0t 4Hol came MI
Sherley (dem) of Kentucky and offered al
imprisoned plea favoring the rule.
MIR. Murdoch OF Kansas, uncompromisinl
insurgent, scarcely looked at the speake
as no took his place in front of the mem
bers with his back to the speaker, an
told them the new rule would proven
absenteeism, would do away with the prac
tice of pigeOn-holing proposed Legislation
Q and would take from the speaker the arb
trary right Of recognizing members on sus
pension day.
Representative Norris of Nebraska sal
the new rule did not go far enough to sui
him. Step by step, he said, power ha
been taken from the speaker, and now an
) other step in that same direction was BEN
taken.
- The previous question being demanded,
rising vote showed practically every mem
Der upon his feet
Speaker Cannon attempted to count tn
members standing. but made only FEY
strokes OF the handle of his gavel towar
them when. In apparent despair and ami
Laughter. he announced that "SO1 member
voted In the affirmative" and later or
nounced ''one In the negative" This wa
Representative Rucker OF Missouri.