Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-18
NORRIS STARTS TROUBLE
Offers Resolution for q New Com
{: mittee on Rules.
EXCITED DEBATE FOLLOWS
Regular Republicans Repeatedly
Try to Adjourn, But Insurgents
and Democrats Prevent.

creating a new committee on rules was
started. Suspecting that the insurgents
and their democratic allies, having tasted
victory, might be Matching more mischief,
Speaker Cannon called a council of war
In his private office before the House con-
vened As a result of that pow-wow
Representative Dwight of New York. the
republican whip. made the point. as soon
after the Speakers gavel fell as possible,
that there was not a quorum present. A
cai Of the House was ordered and three
quarters Of an hour later the Speaker
announced that the body was ready to get
down to business.
Representative Crumpacker of Indiana,
whose census resolution reported by the
House committee on census caused the
f1are-up Wednesday, took the floor. He
asked that the resolution be considered,
repeating his argument Of the day before
that it was privileged under the Consti-
tuition, inasmuch as that instrument made
it mandatory on Congress to take a
census at regular intervals
House Action Wednesday.
Wednesday the House refused to ac-
knowledge the constitutional privilege
claimed for the resolution on the ground
that such recognition would permit Of an
invasion Of the rights attaching to calen-
dar Wednesday.
After a sharp debate the question was
again put to the House by the Speaker
in this form: els this resolution in order
as matter of constitutional privilege,
the House rutes prescribing other bust
ness to the contrary Otwithstanding?
The allies landed on this with both feet.
The vote was 142 to 137, and there were
some wry faces on the republican side
when the result was announced.
Then Representative Underwood of Ala
tion before the House in this new form:
rs the joint resolution called UP by the
gentleman from Indiana in order now?
Short and sweet and to the point, this
Although the regulars cab It a mere
qribble, the allies claim that the adop-
ton of the question In this form admits
the constitutional privilege Of the Crum-
House to pass upon that question d.
rectly.
Norris Starts the Big Fight.
Il was after the adoption Of the CFum-
packer resolution that the big fight came
of. Representative Norris Of Nebraska,
one of the original and genuine insur-
gents. jumped to his feet.
Il RISE" said he. "to call up a resolu-
ton Of constitutional privilege
Mr.. Cannon hesitated moment and
then directed that the resolution be read
The resolution provided for the creation
Ola new committee on rules. to be COM
posed Of nine republicans and six demo-
Gratis. Of which the Speaker was not to
be q member, to take the place Of the
present committee on rules, Of which the
Speaker is chairman and which he has
foe years dominated so as to control
The leaders realized at once that the or
ganization was face to face with fight
for it's existence.
Few members were present when the
Norris resolution was reported from the
desk. Apparently the regulars thought
that the trouble was over for the day
after the Crumpacker resolution had been
disposed Of.
summoning the Forces.
The Norris resolution. however. had
hardly been read when messengers were
speeding out to the corridors and COM
mittee rooms summoning the organization
forces back to the firing line. Some of
the regulars themselves Joined in this re-
cruiting work. There was every evidence
that the Cannon forces appreciated from
the start that they were confronted with
a mighty serious situation.
Representative Dalzell Of Pennsylvania,
a member of the rules committee. made
the point that the resolution was not in
order under the rules Mr.. Norris replied
that he did not ask recognition for the
measure under the rules, but In accord
ance with the, terms of a mandate clearly
set forth in the Constitution.
Representatives Dalxell and Olmsted of
Pennsylvania, Payne and Fassett of New
York and other regulars combated this
proposition. A number Of insurgents in
Guiding Representatives Poindexter Of
odf of Il a onA al
son Of Wisconsin, upheld 1t.
Representative Poindexter's speech was
extremely bitter. He denounced the
Speaker as tyrant. declared that the
and asserted that under them the House
had ceased to be representative body.
Poindexter and Tawney Tilt.
Mr.. Poindexter was repeatedly inter-
rupted by regulars. Representative Taw-
ney remarked that the present committee
on rules was named by the republican
caucus and not by the Speaker, as
charged by the member from Washington.
1T was on my motion made in caucus"
shouted Mr.. Tawney. under which the
republican members of the rules commit
tee were designated
THAT means interjected Mr. Norris,
that the Tne1nb ers were selected in advance
by the Speaker, and that the caucus
who knows how things are conducted
here Is well aware that any motion made
by the gentleman from Minnesota origi-
mates not far from the Speaker
This sally brought forth applause from
insurgents and democrats
Continuing his remarks. Mr.. Poindexter
declared that the time had arrived when
the sheep should be separated from the
goats.
1--WE must all show our hands now" he
shouted. Those who pose as insurgents
at home and as stalwarts I'm the House
must stand up and be counted y
Presidents Name Brought In.
The name OF President Taft was brought
into the debate by Representative Payne
of New York. the ma ority floor leader
He declared that If the pending resolution
was passed chaos would result, and the
legislative program OF the administration
would be in danger.
Representatives Poindexter and Madi-
son and Fish OF New York scored Mr.
Payne for bringing the name of the Pres
ident into the discussion. Mr.. Fish said
that the proposed reform was not menace
ing to the administration program and
that the President was not concerned In
the fight.
Ell there is any man here who can say
that the President Is opposed to a change
in the rules, let him rise in his place
now" shouted Mr.. Fish. New York s
big representative paused for reply. No
one accepted the invitation. Then he
waved his hand significantly and the i'm
surxent war whoop sounded again.
speech In behalf OF the organization