Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02

bia Legislation and publicity Of
campaign contributions.
Yesterday was the biggest kind of a
day for the democrats of the House of
Representatives. They adopted radical
reforms calculated to prove to the people
the sincerity of their promises of re-
trenchment and reform and to demon
s;rate their dislike for legislative pork
and patronage. And, what is of much
or more interest here in the National
Capital. they adopted a legislative pro-
gram which. even conservatively viewed.
is likely to keep Congress in session all
summer long.
The District of Columbia was. not for
gotten. Specific provision is made that
legislation affecting the District shall be
in order during the special session.
Harmony and enthusiasm. genuine and
unfeigned. marked the caucus of House
democrats, which lasted from 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning until late last night.
When the tired members wended their
way homeward last night it was with a
feeling Of jubHation over having con-
founded the croakers who had despaired
OF. their agreeing upon plan of action.
Without the slightest effort at dicta-
ton from any source. without the whip
and spur OF any gag rule. almost IN
the spirit of town meeting. and with
the fullest exemplificaticn of democracy,
the members of the majority party In
the new House arranged the preli.ninar es
Of what promises to be history-mak1ng
session Of Congress
Champ Clark, Speaker-to-be. was in at
tendance, but took no part in the pro-
ceedings by suggestion or otherwise.
The following House officers were chosen
by the caucus: Clerk. South Trmble of
SQrRpant-at-armS.
Stokes Jackson of Indiana; dOorkeeper,
Joe T. Sinnott. Virginia; postmaster, Will
liam M. Dunbar. Ga: chaplain, H. N.
Couden.
The Legislative Program.
First and foremost, here is the legisla-
tive program agreed upon:
Resolved. That the democratic men,
bers Of the various committees Of the
House are directed not to report to the
House during this first session Of the
Sixty-second Congress, unless hereafter
directed by this caucus. any legislation
except in reference to the following mat
terS:
Il. Election Of United States senators
by vote Of the people.
- Legislation referring to the publicity
Of campaign contributions before and
after lection.
..3 The Canadian reciprocity agree
lat!on affecting the revenues of the gov
eminent.
II. Tie reapportionment Of the House
to conform to the thirteenth census.
5. Resolutions of inquiry and resolu-
tions touching upon Investigations of the
executive departments.
"6- The admission of the territories of
Arizona and New Mexico.
IT. Any deficiency bills that the exi-
gcncieS of the government may REQUIRE
TO be considered at this time and bills to
correct the enrolling of the appropriation
bills passed March 1, 1911.
g. Legislation relating TO the District
of Columbia
Changes in House Rules.
In addition to agreeing upon this
program. which democratic leaders in
dicate will keep the Congress in ses-
sion until late in the summer at best.
the new rules which will govern the
body in the Sixty-second Congress and
which contain many important changes.
were adopted. as was the report of a
special patronage" committee. abolish
ing six committees and 100 House Jobs.
at . saving Of $4,000 a year
The important changes in the rules
ate are:
a provision to prevent flisbusterins
under the rule giving authority to
discharge committees from considera-
A provision permitting amendments
TO appropriation bills whenever these
amendments VIII result in retrench-
ment OF national expenditures.
Authority Tor bills to come up twice
for passage under the unanimous CON
sent privilege.
Rule Against Filibustering.
The rule to prevent filibustering on
q motion to discharge a committee
from custody OF a bill is the result
Of the hlibuster conducted in the las,
session by Representative Mann of Hi
nois. He had the post office reorgani.
nation bill placed on the calendar under
this rule, and demanded that it be read
completely. an operation that consumed
several days. $500
The new rule provides that a bill shall
be read only by it's title, and that IL,
title shall not be more than 100 words
long. II prohibits any member from hav
Ing before the House at any one tim,
more than two motions to discharge com
mittees from the custody of bills. Unde
this rule the democrats believe this rul
can be made to work as originally in
tended. to prevent the burying of bill
in committees.
The new rule effecting appropriatio,
bills Is a renewal of the so-called ..HoI
man rule" first used by the democrats i,
1873 1t permits amendments to appro
those amendments will effect a reduction
of federal expenditures.
Caucus Meets in Morning.
The democratic caucus met in the Hous