The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-21
BILL WOULD make
CANNON A PUPPET
Fowler Takes Step ITO In
sure Absolute Freedom
of House.
WOULD STRIP POWER
TO NAM5 COMMITTEE
Has Plan for Dividing Country
Into Districts According to
Geography and Population.
Roasts s'Uncle joe.

WASHINGTON. April 2i.--"The
final step to insure absolute freedom
OF the House." is the way Representa-
tive Fowler (Republican. New Jer-
sey) summed up q sweeping resolu-
ton which he introduced IN the
= House to-dny.-~H adopted. 1t with re-
duce the speaker to a mere parlia-
mentAry puppet. stripping him Of all
appointive power. 1t Ii an accept
-aaee Of CasHen.s reiterated Invitation
- follow up the victory of the insur-
gents in the rules fight.
The House wing of the Capitol
was built az the fortress of the Amer
lean people. as the sanctuary OF pub
lie opinion" said Representative
Fowler. regarding his measure. But
house of character. The dissolution
of the powers SO arrogantly abused
by the speaker is absolutely essential
to the restoration of frees representa-
tive government,
We have already eliminated the
speaker from the Committee on Rules
it is now time that we should "Trip
his Office of the power to appoint
committees and limit its functions to
the single duty of presiding over the
deliberations of the House.
my resolution will establish the
principle Of just representation from
the standpoints OF population, geog-
raphy and the peculiar business In
ga ~ xAeffnns mr. will
cure to both the majority and the
minority the right to select Its MEM
bership on the respective committees.
Calls Speaker Autocraf-
The Capitalization In the speaker
OF the right to appoint committees
and to control legislation through the
committee on rules and the power o.
recognition made him the most per-
vative and aufocrasic influence in
American political life. To say that
tho conseQut q OF these powers has
made the o.... a gigantic machine of
political blaekmaii IN only TO state
what everybody now admits,
How often have we seen men roll
ing In the dust OF expectation be-
fore this throne of political dispense
tion. or groveitng In the miro OF cow
ardtce and contempttbility before this
3uggenrnaut of brutal despotisn.
VIC naN& seen NIuthtfHt EBEDpnAnIS
reap the rich harvest of their sub
eerviency, while honest and brave
men have been put to the political
sword.
Under the circumstances. believe
that neither the Republican nor the
Democratic members can afford 10
3alter In the accomplishment OF this
great reform. because tho people are
now demanding something more than
mere slavish party service. They are
demanding patriotic devotion 10
duty without reference to party con-
sequences, II. unhappily. party policies
do not seek the public good and con-
serve the general welfare,
What the people wan, Is respon-
stble. representative government: ana
they will rcpudiate every betrayal of
that expectation and trust. whether
Il be on the part OF the Republican
or Democrat,
Division by Sections.
The resolution creates two COM
mittees of members-minority ant
majority, who are to elect the men,
bers Of the standing committees of
the House. The measure directs the
head OF the Census Bureau to draw
nix parallel lines, running north ana
south. dividing the United States In
sofar AZ practicable into seven sec
lions. In each OF which the population
shall be the Same, The members with
IN each section are to meet and elect
ono Of their number a. member of
the committee ON committees, This
applies equally TO the majority an
minority members. The proportions
representation between majority and
minority az II exists in the House shall
likewfse appear ON the committees
The chairman of every committee
shall be OF the majority party, The
seven Democrats are to name al.
Democratic committeeman, and the
seven Republicans all Republican
committss#aeH, astiHs separately
Mr.. Fowler introduced the resolu-
ton when the House convened at
noon. The last section provides that
Il shall be considered on May 3. Mr.
Fowler Is one Of the most active ep-
ponents Of Speaker Cannon. and was
one OF the original opponents OF the
revision of the House rules
Mfr. Fowler's resolution was read in
full by the clerk, amid . deep silence.
Representatives. Payne Republican, OF
New York; and Mann Republican, OF
llliHois) both registered point Of or
der against It ~ not being privileged.
At this tuncture Representative Hard
wick Democrat, of Georgfa) raised the
point OF no quorum and Mr.. Payne
moved a call az the House.