The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-26
RED FLAG AGAIN
SHAKEN IN HOUSE
Cannon's Supporters Come
Near to Starting a Row
SENIORITY IS DISCUSSED
Dalzell Tries 10 Question Arrangement
of democratic Members of Rules
Committee When He Is
Badly Squelched
BY wATrERsoN sTEALEy

Washington. March 25.--( (Special) )-Some
Q +he more ardent supporters OF Speaker
a came dangerously near precipltat-
4 s. mother crisis in the House this after
e q in connection with the formation
= the new committee on rules
But for the discussion coming from
saner men on the republican Side an is
sue would have been forced upon the
democrats in connection with the posi-
ton of Representative Fitzgerald of Dew
York on the rules committee and a fight
would have occurred in which most of
the insurgents would have lined up with
the democrats and dynamite might have
been thrown which could have produced
very disastrous effect upon the present
semblance of harmony in the republican
ranks.
Representative Dalzell was the man who
came near precipitating this trouble. I'M
lmediately after the reading OF the jour
nal the election formally BY the House of
the ten members of the rules committee
was in order, both parties having made
their nominations in caucus. The mem
bers chosen in caucus were all named
| in one resolution, which was offered by
Mr.. Currier OF New Hampshire, chairman
| of the republican caucus. The resolu-
ton SO named the members that they
would rank as follows
| Republicans--Dalze Of Pennsylvania.
| Smith of Iowa, Boutelle of Illinois, Law
| renee of Massachusetts. Fassett of New
York, Smith of California.
| Democrats-C1ark OF Missouri, Under
wood of Alabama. Dixon of Indiana and
| Fitzgerald of New York
In other words the republicans we're ar
ranged according to their seniority Of
service, while the democrats were ar
ranged according to the number of votes
which they received In last nights eau
Gus. AS Fitzgerald received the smallest
number of votes he stood at the bottom
of the list. Mr.. Dalzellsat once began to
auibble about the arrangement OF the
democratic members. Judge Clayton of
Alabama explained that the arrangement
was not according TO seniority, but ac-
leordipg to the. nurnsef X a3aes each
Illad received. Mr.. palzell thought that
this was mistake and that there would
have been a seniority arrangement. Be
fore he got far he was urged by more
conservative colleagues to drop the sub
ject being assured by them that the
matter would be forced to an issue by
the democrats on the ground that the re-
publicans had no right to interfere with
the ranking arrangement of the DEM
ocrats and that many republicans, in
GLIDING most of the insurgents and a
number of majority party men who have
not been insurgents would sustain the
contention made by the democrats.
Mr.. Dalzel took the hint and allowed
the matter to drop like hot potato
While the point made by Mr.. Dalzell ap-
peared TO be on the surface nothing more
| than a bubble over words there was a
deep factor involved, which would have
created a lively situation in the House.
If the democrats were arranged accord
ing to seniority of service Mr.. Fitzgerald
would have been placed second on the
list of democrats, or next to Champ Clark,
and in the event of the election of a
democratic House. then by seniority in
the next Congress. Mr.. Fitzgerald would
have been the logical man for the chair
manship of the rules committee. On ac-
count of some of the views which he
holds respecting the rules many of the
democrats would have opposed this, be-
cause they contend that with the Brook
lyn man at the head of the rules COM
mittee other reforms OF the rules might
be difficult
Accordingly the democrats would have
fought for the placing of Mr.. F'tzgerald's
name at the foot Of the list. Mr.. Dali
precipitated he withdrew his suggestion
and the committee appointments were
confirmed in the order given, with Mr.
Underwood ranking next to Minority
Leader Clark.
At the request of Senators Johnston
and Bankhead the civil service commis-
sion has agreed to the appointment of sew
eral deputy United States marshals in,
the Northern district of Alabama. An
examination will be held later to estab-
lish an eligible register but in the mean
time appoi-SN1ents may be made by Mar
shall Long without regard to the civil
service laws. Marshall Long and Chief
Deputy Powell of Birmingham are now
here.
Announcement of the resignation of j.
r. Reid, transfer clerk, Birmingham post
Office, was made today.
six-Year Sentence
80