New-York tribune., 1911-01-17
univ 18 Days Left in Which to
Pass Appropriation Bills, and
II Usually Takes Thirty.
nvERRULE SPEAKER CANNON
Insurgent Republicans Join Dem
ocrats in Rejecting His Inter-
pretation of the New Rule
Governing Committees.
From The Tribune Bureau. ,

s,on iack-in-the-box. which has been
o,amped down since the beginning Of the
rresent session Of Congress. popped out
tonight in surprising fashion.
As a result of another row on the
House rules to-day, which resulted in the
body going on record to the effect that
no general business is even susceptible of
consideration on day when unanimous
consent. suspension Of the rules or COM
rrittee discharge business is in order.
the Republican leaders in Congress are
talking eloomily tonight Of the prob
strity Of an extra session.
Chairman Tawney Of the Appropria-
tons Committee would not say any
hing for publication with reference to
what he believes is the undoubted neces-
s,ty for an extra session. But he would
not deny that for some time he had
thought an extra session inevitable, and
hat to-davs action Of the House con-
frmed this judgment.
Mr. Tawney bases his belief on the
fact that Of the six weeks Of the ses-
sion remaining only eighteen days are
available FOR the consideration OF ap-
rropration bills. The experience of
mast sessions has demonstrated that for
The passage through the House Of the
appropriation bills thus far unconsid-
cred about thirty days are necessary.
And this does not take into considera-
zion that President Taft has a pro-
gra~ue NJ general legislation. including
the permanent tariff commission meas
ure. which he s extremely anxious
should he enacted.
The row on tho rules to-day was not
Unforeseen. In fact, the Speaker was
prepared for IT, He knew that after
unanimous consent business had been
disposed Of an effort would be made 10
operate under the admittedly ineffective
committee discharge amendment. He
also knew that Representative Hull,
chairman Of tho House Committee on
Military Affairs, would endeavor to have
the army appropriation bill taken up.
And following ont his usual line OF argu-
rent that "a majority Of the House can
IN ANYTHING. the Speaker. with the as
astarge Of Asher Kinds, the House par
lsmealarian. had carefully prepared
GIug haCaius up HUI
Speaker Cannon cverruIed.
Bat T.tzzerald. # New York who is
something of n parliamentarian himself,
tried 20 get tho House to consider, under
The committee discharge rule. his bill to
remove the duty on beef and was pre-
pared 10 sustain his contention by argu-
mert
Tho Speaker overruled Fitzgerald's
point ri order against the Hull motion
To 20 into committee Of the whole and
Mr Fitzgerald noted an appeal Repre-
sen,ativ. Payne, the Republican floor
leader moved % lay the appeal on the
table This. hy q combination Of Dem
ocrars and Republican insurgents, who,
although smashing their previous alli-
an-a OH Monday # last week, renewed it
again to-day was voted down.
Then n long academic discussion en-
sued, and finally the Speaker overruled
the Ftzzerali point Of order But by
a decided majority the Speaker was in
turn overruIed. and in consequence it
Is now conceded that the House is COM
ritted 20 ,le proposition that no general
bushes. can be considered on any day
which, ike to-day. is supposed 10 he
devoted 10 special legislative business.
The interesting fact seems 70 he that
the Speakers contention that a major
lty can 10 ANYTHING" in which the Dem
ocrats and Republican insurgents held
him iasinocro and for the principle Of
which they have labored, has been
proved by those same Republican insur-
gents or Democrats TO be incorrect.
The Speaker is rather pleased than
otherwise that ha was overruled. being
partisan Of strong prejudices. The
Democrats have not decided just what
10 think but most Of them believe that
precedent has been established which
viii rIa-uo them and help the Republ-
' can minority u the next Congress. The
Republican insurgents have the Conso-
.auon of being consistent and that Is all.
The 6Fh' to-day developed as the re-
suit of the second attempt to use the
ne" r.,c which gives the House power
20 discharge "a committee from further
consideration Of bill that has been re-
!erred 10 ii The insurgents and the
Democrats believed that this rule was
"onc.sa. that as soon as the considera-
Noa of bills boy unanimous consent had
'ean concluded. on every first and third
Monday Of the month. the House was
s.ana hy The new rule 10 take up the
motions 20 discharge committees from
VI custody Of the specified bills.
Speaker Prepared.
When The moment arrived to-day,
'9"ever Speaker Cannon gave recogni-
uon 10 Representative Hun, Of Iowa.
Chairman OF The Military Affairs Com
m't'eo. SIR Hull moved that the House
resolve itself into a committee OF the
"aoIe ard take up the consideration Of
''e military appropriation BILL upon
winch lt had been working last week.
There was an immediate rallying OF
''f1ts and suGenirg Of ranks among the
insurgents and Democrats. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald insisted upon the consideration Of
motion 70 discharge q committee which
was upon the calendar
Speaker Cannon declined 10 give Mr.
"zserald the preference. but said that
would uc glad TO consider a point Of
''e' If Ar Fitzgerald wanted to make