The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-19
RULES OF HOUSE
SLOWLY CHANGING
Next Vigorous Effort to Be
in Behalf of Committee
on Committees.
BY JOHN SNURE.

The next big step in the revision. II
the House rules will be a move for a
committee on committees The time IS
not far ahead when the Speaker is 10
be stripped Of his power 10 make the
committees and thus control them. AT
least, the advocates of a committee
on committees are moving steadily in
that direction and intend to keep the
question stirred up until they succeed.
Speaker Cannon will not be deposed.
unless things take an unexpected turn.
II IS possible a motion 70 depose him
will be made before the end of this ses-
sion, but it is not likely. Many Of the
insurgents are opposed TO it, If some
one in the closing hours OF this ses-
sion jumps up and moves TO declare
the chair vacant there will be a lot Of
painful squirming. but the chances are
that not enough will vote to throw the
Speaker out to brinC about the va
cancy.
Various reasons are given why the
movement to Gust the Speaker has not
come to a head with the backing Of
the whole insurgent force.
"Uncle Joe" as DOGGY Man.
One reason is that some Of the IN
surSents feel that if Cannon We're GUST
ed, some Cannon man like Representa-
tive Walter l. Smith would succeed
him. Judge Smith is looked on by the
insurgents as quite as much opposed
10 them as Cannon and quite as much
Of a conservative. Also, IL is recalled
that he is younger than Cannon and
that if he were once made Speaker il
would be hard to replace him in his dis
trict in Iowa with a progressive. Be
sides this, there is a feeling among
some of the insurgents and among many
Democrats that Uncle Joe" is a good
bogy man TO have around In other
words, a good issue.
Two years ago men who talked about
changing the rules of the House were
laughed at. When Representative
Victor Murdoch and a small band be
gan to insist on the rules being
changed they were treated with pity
ana contempt But that Is not true
any longer. The changes already
made in the rules are important, and
nave already had an important effect
on the transaction Of House business
lney VIII have more effect still, and
VIII lead 10 further changes.
Progress Being Made.
1t is not many months since. when
member wanted to get something
through by unanimous consent, he
had 10 go to the Speakers room and
see that official Members did not
like to kowtow to the Speaker. and
this practice was changed by provid-
Ing for a unanimous consent calendar.
which permits a member to arise I'm
his place and secure unanimous con-
sent without having asked the
Speaker about IT,
Insurgents. when they first kicked
on the rules, protested there was no
call OF committees. Now every
wednesday Is calendar Wednesday,
ana on that day the committees are :
called 10 give them a chance to bring
u any bills they have pending
Then, there was objection that tba
Speaker was on the Rules Committee
anu that, by combining his power a 5
speaker with that of a member OF
the Rules Committee, he was given
inordinate authority. The result was
the memorable battle of this session
which ended in the Speaker being
Rules va
Since that time there has been a
noticeable disposition 70 allow things
70 De run in the House in more liberal
IaSnlon. The old leaders, headed bv
the Speaker. have been afraid to
drive the House along under whin
ana spur, lest II suddenly baIk and
deprive the Speaker Of power alto
Ccther.
The new rule, just reported from the
RuleS committee, and adopted bv the
House, is going 10 make II diffcJIt 70
plgeonhole measures in committees for
an indefinite period. Under the old ar
fangement. thousands Of bills find their
graveyard IN committees. Some Of them
OF course. deserve TO be buried. Others
are meritorious measures }