The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-20
SPEakER CiNNON's ruling.
the Norris Re~elutien Not q Question o1
Constitutional Privilege.

WAsHNoToS. March 10 Here q
Speaker Cannons ruling on the point Of
order against the Norris resolution:
Tho Chair has been somewhat criti-
cised because In this matter he has been
slow 20 rule But the question which was
brought 80 unexpectedly upon the atten-
t'on n the House in a revolutionary man.
ner. a. u seems tn the Chair. 10 Of such
tranScendent importance to the future
procedure ~ the House that the fullest
even the most protracted. discussion
seemed unsuitable. In no other manner
could the most Compiet" information he
brought 90 the consideration ~ the ques-
tion, and IN no other way could the largest
participation - the membership ~ the
House be assured
The question ~ constitutional priv.
l"ge in this Houss has not b~e7 reviewed.
and the principles governing - for the
las; thirty wears have not. PRIOR 10 this
week b.-en questi Onei IN this House for
many years Those principles are rela-
lively simple II has been held always
that IN" ordinary legislative duties and
funct ions Of the HOUSE exercised nv au-
'hnrity Il the Constitution must pro.
oes-t according To tho order prescribed
by the rules The fact that the Constitu-
ton SAYS that the House shall have power
10. lay tAN"S. regulate commsrcs. make
natuTalizat ion laws. coin money establish
post Offices. create courts. support armies
and a navy. sc has not gwen these sub
JeCts. when eEnt,odied IN bills any right
70 disturb the order OF business provided
by the rules. The very object of the rules
- To provide an orderly way for consider
ma tl.sNe and other subjects intr,I-t.d TO
the Houses Judgment; to give all these
subjects constitutional privilege would be-
To establish constitutional chaos ia the
HOuse.
There are however. certain functions
which the Constitution enJoIns Congrsss
to do. also fixes the time for dong these
things. Thus IN" clause directing the
dlspusItipn 10 ball yetoed by the Pre--
dent saws that the Huu-. shall prcc--~i'
To- consider q THIS has always been
Understood a. meaning that an. HOUSE
should AZ once procsed Ia some act IL con.
zideratIOu. And therefore " has been
held that no rule should prevent the Hous.
from proceeding tn this constitutional
duty, IN like manner the Const tuition NpscI-
LEES that the Congress shall provid. for a
census ~ population and an apportIon-
ment - Representatives. and specifies the
time when ~ shall dO a., every tenth year
Therefor" IN the tenth yV-ar bills Ia make
the required provision have heen adj
united without regard Ia the requirements
~ ths. rules. Whether that construction
pro, sp,i.-t too far when the Constitution
ga" "a year within which Ia perform thu &
duty ~ a matter - tn which There might
-. Doubt hut Tor thirty years the prac-
tir.. - A. unyarying. and whom confronted
~Ith the question this week the Chair fol- !
iowsd the practice 81 the House a. he
would obey every other rule. without
questioning the wisdom that originally
treated IH
Today. however. the Chair 10 asked
10 permit a proposition for a new rule
Ia come IN. although the rules prescribing
the order ot business require us tn pro-
coed a. other matters. and it IN claimed
that the Chair would bs justified in doing
this because the Constitution SAYS that ,
Zach house may determine the rules OF
it's pFoceedin9.' Whether the word may
means shall or not the Chair will not
stop 20 examine. The Constitution fixes
no time when " shall he done and a. the
Houae NAV and has in one notable in
stance proceed@d without rules. q docs
not seem 10 the Chair that there IN here
given any constitutional mandate which |
would Justify the overriding ~ the rules
r Fortunately in this crisis the Chair IN not
cnmpelIed 20 RELY on his own judgment
sWnyed AZ he might be by the passions and
ptirpass-s Of this hour. He can look hack
To- another hour. when in n day ~ calm
the naviGnCors who stored the business
q this House took their latitude and lonRi- I
tude unembaFTassed by the e1igencies
- Tempest
The PATHWAY ~ tho Chair has been
blaZed not by any flushed ma jority In a !
moment - factional success. not for any
ends nf one political party AZ Opposed to- !
the wishes ~ another political party. not |
under auspices which prejudice the Chair |
tecaus.. ~ memories 81 pOiti ca Mia tons
~ his own. but On a QUESTION 81 order |
raised by . great Dsmocratic floor leader !
~ this House. and decided by a great |
Democratic Speaker
-On Dec - 1878. this Identical QUESTION |
aro~e in the Hou2e Mr. RoRsr q Mills /
81 Texas proposed a. a QUESTION % con- |