The Washington herald., 1910-03-28

It may be stated upon authority that
the new Committee on Rules Of the
House of Representatives is not a Can
non committee as has generally been
supposed with respect to its Republican
members.
In addition TO this. the statement was
made TO a reporter for The Washington
Herald last night by a Representative
who has taken the trouble TO inform
himself as to conditions by personal con-
versations with four Of the regular Re
publicans on the new committee, whose
names he mentioned, that opportunity
viii be taken the moment occasion arises
10 demonstrate the fact that the members
of the new body are not controlled in
any way by Speaker Cannon personally
OF by the system Of one-man rule known
as "Cannonism"
The further statement was made by
The Washington Herald's informant that
the members of the Committee on Rules
feel that Mr. Cannon can no longer be OF
service TO them in their home districts.
and that when il comes TO a question
of choosing between the heretofore ac-
cepted Republican party leader in the
House and the wishes Of constituencies
at home the will OF the voters at home,
as now being evidenced by the popular
denunciation of CannOnism, viii be
obeyed as a matter of political expedi-
ency, and there will be no shirSing or
the issue.
Eyes of Country on House.
In view Of the fact that the eyes OF
the country are now being centered upon
the House of Representatives, an effort
was made last night to obtain the views
Of q number Of leaders on the floor
among different factions. Except in one
or two instances, most Of those who con-
sented TO talk would not allow the use
Of their names for publication.
There was wide discussion Of the prop
ositiou that Asher Kinds or some other
parliamentarian not a member Of the
House be named as Speaker. Another
subject spoken OF was the fact that
fig-TI is likely this week over whether the
committee TO investigate the Steenerson
charges cf a lobby in the ship subsidy
matter shall be named by the Speaker
or elected by the House. In addition,
there was brought out the prospect of
fight in the near future over the Sherley
resolution, providing that a committee
shall be discharged from consideration OF
a bill which 1t has failed TO report on
within six days. Finally. there was evil
denced a widely growing interest in the
possibility Of the House electing a COM
mittee on committees. which shall name
all the committees Of the House. instead
of their being appointed by the Speaker.
Members show individuality.
Aside from the news that the new Rules
Committee is not, after ali. Cannon
committee" a fact Of the greatest sig
nifcance was made plain in the discussion
of affairs in the House. This is that al
most every Representative In the House
is now acting on his own personal respon-
sibility and of his own initiative. To this
fact is ascribed the position Of members
of the Rules Committee. who are thinking
for themselves. irrespective Of the old
leadership Of the Speaker.
Leadership in the House is said to be at
a low ebb. When the political drama
came to a climax in the House a
week ago Saturday with the deposing OF
the Speaker from the Rules Comittee. an
indehnable. Elusive change came over the
minds of each and every one of tho men,
bers OF the House. The old cry of What
does the chairman think about this? ?' and
the ever-recurring phrase. What viii the
Speaker do?" is said to be a thing of the
past These questions, it is said, are sell
dom heard I'm the House nowadays. just
as. it is believed. viii seldom be heard
for a long while the favorite phrase OF
Presidents OF the United States, who have
declared: II have had q talk with the
Speaker about this and it is settled
Victor Murdock's Opinion.
1.-The change made in the rules Of the
House a week ago Saturday" declared
Representative Murdocl, of Kansas, dis
cussing the House situation. and the
spirit OF the contest which brought the
change about has resulted in the begin
ming of a diffusion of power in the House
Great power is still concentrated in the
Speaker. but every member OF the House
to-day is sensible TO the fact that power
is running away from the Speaker. and
there is no earthly way for him to stop
1t or hold II.
Every individual member OF Congress
feels a responsibility upon his shoulders
to-day that he has not felt before for
years. In the old days there was a dis
position to unload ali burdens upon the
Speaker. The members of the House
are realizing to-day that each OF them
must accept a portion of the burden.
Members Themselves Ignorant.
Il do not think there is single man
in the House who does not realize that
the old system of one-man rule Is passing
away, and that a new system Is growing
TO take its place. The change which has
brought this about is just as much an
underlined thing in the minds Of the menu
bers as in the altered letter of the rules
That the significant change coming
over the House is one Of individuals
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