The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-17
INSURGENTS WIN
ANOTHER VICTORY
Practically Force Rules Com
mittee of House to Recon-
mend Reform.
PREVENT "SMOTHERING'
Will Work for Resolution Au-
thorizing Discharge of Body
Considering any Measure.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. June II
The House insurgents scored big vic
tory to-day, when the Committee on
Rules agreed TO report favorably "A
resolution, which will deprive that
committee of Its greatest power-the
right to place any legislation in a pre-
ferential position.
Ii is believed by the insurgents that
this reform will end forever the old
practice. OF "smothering bills in COM
mittee.' The insurgents and Demo-
Gratis had agreed to stand together in
fight for the resolution, and Rep
resentatiVe SherleY, of Kentucky. au-
thor of such a measure, served notice
on the committee yesterday that ali
preparations had been made Tor d
fight that would eclipse the famous
rules light of last March.
The voluntary announcement Of the
committee to-day caused great ella
ton among the insurgents, who assert
that IL proves that the progressive
idea" is now firmly established in the
House.
While the compromise rule which
the committee will recommend is not
quite as effective as we would like
to have II. IL Is a distinct victory, one
more victory in the list of reforms we
started out to esta blish," said Rep
resentatiVe Murdoch, insurgent leader
this afternoon.
Our first move was tn rid the
rulse committee Of the DONNA ton of
the Speakers presence. We did tnat.
II we had not, such action as to-day $
decision would have beeh impossible.
since Speaker Cannon ne err would
have allowed it.
Next. we enlarged the rules TOM
mittee and forced tair recognition
of members of the house on unani-
nous consent. without their having to
go in suppliant slavishnass to the
Speaker We got that when we got
the Wednesday calendar established.
No" we have forced the rules
Gommitte to break up the vile Sys-
tenn OF smothering legislation in com
mittee. | consider it one OF our big
gest Victories,
our great issue, however. is still
in the background. That is the Gre
alton of a committee on committees
We viii get that at the next session
of Congress without fail
The democrats likewise are joyous
because the resolution will have
strong ear-marks of democratic au-
thorship, Sherley having played a
most important part. The resolution
will allow the House by a majority
vote to discharge committee IRON
the consideration OF any bill anc
! bring it up for action just as though /
had received favorable consideration
by the committee.
As Passed.
The resolution was presented BY Mr.
Dalzell as follows:
+ Any member may present TO the
clerk a motion in writing to dischargt
q committee from further considera
ton of any public bin or joint reso.
mtion which may have been referred
to such committee. An such motion:
shall be entered in the journal anC
printed on the calendar under an ap
propriate heading. Immediately after
the unanimous consent calendar shall
have been called on any Monday, i
shall be in order to call up any suct
motion which shall have been entered
at least seven days prior thereto
Recognition for such motions shall b,
In the order In which they have beer
entered. Such motion before bein,
submitted to the house shall be sec
onded by a majority by tellers. If
second be ordered the debate on suct
motion shall be limited TO twenty
minutes one-half in opposition there
to. Such motion shall have prece
dence over motions to suspend tn,
rules and shall require for adoption ar
affirmative vote of a majority of thu
mem bership of the house.
Whenever such motion shall pre-,
vail the bill SO taken from the con
sideration of committee shall there.
upon be placed upon fits appropriate
| calendar and upon call of the com
mittee from which any bill has beer
so taken II may be called for con.
sideration by any member prior to any
bin reported by said committee at q
date subsequent to a discharge of sale
committee"
Chairman Dalzell, OF the rules com.
mittee, appeared upon the floor 81
the house this afternoon with the
final draft OF the reform resolution. >
The resolution is almost Identical with
that framed by Minority Leader CLARK
and Representative Sheriey. Insurgent
leaders OF the house appeared to be
we'll satisfied with It,