Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-20
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
MONDAY EVENING. JUNE -.

TIE House Of Representatives Is
gradually freeing itself from the tyr
amy of its own rules. On the Suppo-
sion that il could not trust itself To ar
range an order of business or to secure
the prompt consideration OF measures
which a majority desired To pass, the
House had intrustcd the powers OF
initiative and of veto largely to agents
and agencies Of its own creation As
q result of the reaction against the lill-
mastering methods which prior to 1870
had made the popular branch the play
thing of any little group OF olStruc-
tionists excessive authority was vested
in the speaker, and in the committees,
The former was made not only par
liamentary autocrat. with power Ia sup
nrcss fIibus,ering. but also Il censor Of
Hesitation. In his capacity rs char
man OF the committee on rules, the
other members OF which he named, he
dominated the business OF the House,
deciding what reported bills should he
considered and to what extent they
should he open to Amendment. y
further effective check on the right OF
the majority to carry out lis will was
furnished i'm the rule forbidding the
discharge of Il committee from the con
sideration Of Il bill, except on report
from the committee on rules. Com
mittees controlled by the Spca kcr were
thus enabled to smother measures
which he might think ii undesirable to
have considered. The lack of any
method by which a majority could
compel action on bill held in com
mittee aided in putting absolute con
troll of legislative business III the hands
of the speaker and the little group OF
his lieutenants ut the head of the lead
ing committees The House tcrmI-
mated last winter after Il sensational
struggle the speakers association with
the committee on rules and gave that
body a much more independent status
by charging it and making 1t elective,
instead of appointive, 1t is nos IN Il
fair way to become the agent OF the
House, instead Of III instrument OF
the speaker. But the vet" on lcg!Sla-
ton possessed by the committees, which
was consistent enough with the onc-nI;tn-
power theory Of government. was soon
felt to be out OF harmony with the new
order Of rule by the majority. 1t was
dispensed with on Friday last rs Il use
less survival. On that day, through
the persistent efforts OF the democrats
and insurgents. Il rule was adopted
giving 4 majority Of the House the
right to take bill out OF the custody
of committee which delayed unduly
in acting upon it and put it on the
House calendar. Concerning this
change in the rules the New York Trl-
bune says:
Such change in procedure would
have been hootcd at as prcpoStcrous
two years ago. But many things have
happened since this Congress opened.
The autocratic power OF the speaker
has been broken and the House Is rap
idly rcacquiring the habit OF Sclf-g"r-
eminent. The recent debate oh the i'll
tersta,e commerce bill was Il striking
demonstration OF the budy'S recovered
self-conlidcnce The interstate com
merce bill, rs it passed. represented the
judgment of the members themselves
and not the Judgment OF a few leaders
1t carried more weight. therefore. with
the Senate than any House measure
passed in the long person of "nc-man
rule. Members see now that they can
trust themselves to consider Il measure
in all its details, and they will no! again
consent to return to the old plan q!
letting Il few leaders say what provisions
in bill shall or shall not he voted
upon in the House. An era OF great
er freedom and larger responsibility III
the popular branch OF Congress is al
ready in sight. The Houses capacity
will be increased and its influence will
be strengthened by Il fuller exercise of
the long neglected functions Of initial
tive and Sclf-govcrnmcnt: