Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-22
Revolution in Methods in
Conduct of House
Is Proposed
MEASURENOW READY
Committee on Committees
to Name All Appoin-
tees Is Scheme
IAaaoclated Pressl


day of business, following the
great eruption of last week, with re-
markable quietude, and when adjourn
ment came tonight there was an air of
calmness. But it may be the calinness
that precedes another storm
A complete revolution in the system
of business in the house-a change that
proposes transfer of the control of the
legislative business to a committee on
committees-is impending Is the result
of Speaker Cannon's denunciatlon OF
the insurgents in his speech before the
Illinois association Saturday night.
Already a proposed measure, drawn by
a prominent insurgent Republican, may
be introduced at any moment.
The resolution would create a COM
mittee on committees to consist of
fifteen members, nine of them to be
Republicans and six Democrats, all to
be elected by the house
This committee would be vested with
the duty of selecting committees in
stead of leaving that power In the
speakers hands.
The membership would be distributed
geographically, so that the interests of
every section would be protected. The
resolution proposes even greater power
for that committee-jurisdicti of
conference reports and of appropriation
DlllS-luuH tlldnllIk Nilc AlAbNii ihNiAA
bers representing the membership or
both parties to control the houses busi-
ness.
1t is proposed to give the general
committee power to take business out
of the regular standing committees in
the event of dissatisfaction with the
way business is being administered in
the regular committees.
Many Insurgents Angry
The score or so of insurgents who
voted for the retention of the speaker
in the chair, only to be rewarded with
n whitening blast from the speaker,
supplied the only discordant note to-
day They reached the capitol In a
decidedly wrathful frame Of mind.
Several of them, like Representatives
Norris of Nebraska, Madison of
Kansas, Hayes of California and two
or three others. gave their views fully
to the press. sparing no words In Voic-
ing their Indignation at the situation.
Two or three Of them talked loudly of
continued warfare-of a further. fight
on the rules Of the house, upon Speaker
Cannon, on the regulars In the selec-
tion of the new rules committee. But
notwithstanding their loud cries OF re-
newed rebellion, they were met on all
sides by smiles and concillatory words
from the regulars.
Not the least influence In producing
a general air of forgiveness was the
word that came indirectly from the
room of Speaker Cannon to the effect
that the speaker had moderated in his
attitude toward the men he had de-
nounced Saturday night. and there
was almost a certainty that the
speaker had been misquoted in his re-
MARKS" or something of that kind.
Payne Is Nominated
One of the strongest evidences of the
days tendency toward peace was the
nomination of Majority Leader Payne
for a place on the new rules committee
by Representative Norris, leader Of the
insurgents and author of the resolu-
tion that preclptated the recent war.
Representative Norris said that as
Minority Leader Clark was to be
member of the committee, he believed
Mr.. Payne also should be on the COM
mittee.
Half the house appeared to find
something humorous in the situation,
and the bitterness and rancor of the
last few DAYS appeared gradually to
dissipate Whether 1t has in it any
greater significance than mere Incl
dent of one legislative day cannot be
foretold.
The Republican caucus on the selec-
tion Of the new rules committee, 1t was
announced by Representative Currier,
probably would not be held until SUIT
urday night
Nearly all the insurgents, both those
VINO voted for and against the speaker
last Saturday, announced that they in
tend to enter the caucus. Representa-
tive Hayes and one or two others early
in the day declared they would not,
under any circumstances, enter the
caucus unless they had assurances as
to who the new members of the COM
mittee would be and if they would be
satisfactory to the insurgents.
Many regular Republicans volun-
teered the opinion that the insurgents
should be represented on the rules
committee A few, but only a, few,
asserted they would not have repre-
sentation.
Leaders of the insurgents said they
would hold no meeting before the Re-
publican caucus
Democrats Meet Wednesday
The Democrats, through Minority
Leader Clark. acting for their caucus
chairman Mr.. Clayton of Alabama,
who is absent. called their caucus for
lections are sure to be Clark of Mis-
souri,, Fitzgerald of New York and
Underwood of Alabama. Nothing but
unanimity of sentiment is expected In
the Democratic meeting
Some of the committees began work
again today and by tomorrow 1t was
expected the grind of legislation. in
Guiding measures of President Taft,
again will be in full swing.
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