The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-06
Democratic Caucus NH Take Up the Matter and Try
 to Settle t
DIFFERENCE IN VIEWS
 ON COMMITTEE WORK
Power Away From the Speaker in the Future Hut to Retain
 Present Procedure
BY wArTERsoN sTEALEy

1 Washington, December 5-( Especially
 At the first democratic caneus held at this session consideration will be
 given to the idea of designating sev- eral members to go into the question or revising the rules of the present Congress with a view of submitting the results to the members of the Sixty
 second Congress. Whatever conclusions
 may be reached are not intended to be
 binding upon the democrats of the new
 House. lt has only been suggested
 with view of relieving the new House | Of the task and facilitating an early
 agreement so that the democrats may
 clear the decks for reduction of the
 tariff shortly after the House con venes
 The importance of the present diff | ferences between the advocates of tho appointment of the committees by the speaker and the election of commit tee on committees Is being greatly ex- aggerated. The republican press, of course, seizes upon il for obvious req sons
 Fight Two Years Ago Two years ago in the fight over the rules ho effort was made by either the democrats or the insurgent repuh- licons to elect a committee on commit tees The purpose ef the light then was to take from the speaker his power to veto" legislation. which he exercised by she reason of the fact that he was chairman Of the committee on rules and appointed a committee subseryient to his wishes. In addition when mem, otrs desired to call up bills they had to crawl on their knees" to the sneak CT and obtain his permission. The elim- nation of the speaker from the rules committed, it's election by the House and the establishment of a unanimous | consent calendar, upon which every
 member had the right to place his bill | as matter of right, took away from
 the speaker his veto power and ac | comclished the result that was sought l by those who made the original 5fiubt o2 ths ole rules of the House. These reforms went through by reason of democratic insistence and 1t was that l party which cast the preponderance Of votes that brought about the change
 As for the appointment of committees
 everyone recognizes that for many ] years both the House and Senate have been governed by the precedent that promotes the older members on stand l ing committes and gives preference
 to them by reason of their seniority in service With very few exceptions the only power the speaker has exercised in appointing committees have been to flli vacancies.
 Committees Appointed Under the first rules, 1779 the speaker appointed the committees when consist ing of not more than three members The others were elected. There were of course, few committees in those days In 179o the House adopted fhe rule that is practically in force now which provided that the speaker should appoint the standing committees of the House unless the House determined otherwise. This has practically been the rlue and is to- day In the early history of the House | 1t was customary to pass resolutions re- questing the speaker to proceed to the
 selection of committees but that prece- dent dropped out and when the House failed to take action the speaker went ahead and appointed.
 Under this rule in a number or in- stances resolutions have been offered at the beginning of Congress to proceed to elect. The motion was always held in order by speakers but was always de- feated by majority votes. Without any change of rules whatever it would be in order at the commencement of the next House. after MT Clark is sworn in as speaker, to offer resolution to elect committee to select tho standing committees or to make a motion for tho House to proceed to elect the committees. If a majority of the House determines to do so. either method may be adopted under the rules they now stand
 EIimination of Power
 Parliamentarians say that to adopt a new rule providing that the committees be selected by a committee on committees instead of broadening the power of the membership would in fact take away the power now possessed by the House to elect committees if it desires to do so. It would also prevent the House from directly controlling the membership of the committees. This rule applies only to standing committees such as ways and means. appropriations, judiciary, etc. The present rules give the speaker ab- solute power to name select committees and conference committees Before 1KS9 the rule in reference to the appointment of select committees and conference com mittees provided that the speaker should appoint unless the House demanded oth- erwise. By restoring the rule in the reference to select committees that ex isted before 1880 the House will have ab- solute control over the standing com mittees as it does now and also over the select committees and the conference committees.
 The rule Is as follows
 Rule 1o Unless otherwise specially or- dered by the House. the speaker shall ap- point at the commencement of each Con- gress the following standing committees, viz:"