New-York tribune., 1911-04-08
HOUSE MINORITY SOL|D|
Insurgents Return to Regular
Republican Fold.
MANN ASSAILS DEMOCRATS
Packing of Big Committees De.
nounced as Brutal and
Arbitrary.
lTrom The Tribune Bureau

3 from The Tribune Bureau
Washington. April The insurgent Re-
publicans OF the House came back into
the fold to-day. joined hands with the
regulars in opposition TO the common
enemy. the Democrats and made possible
a statement issued by Representative
Mann. after several conferences in be-
half OF a solid minority"
/ The old-line regulars and radical insur
gents met on common ground They dis
minority members of the House took Mr..
Mann at his word when he declared that
there would he no discrimination against
those who have wandered from the fold in
the past and joined in statement ex
coriating the Democrats for packing"
/ fifteen Of the large committees of the
House with an increased number Of ma
/ Jority members. The term brutal was
applied to such practices.
, Such irreconcilables as Representatives
Nelson, Lindbergh, Cooper and Madison
conferred with Mr. Mann and became
reconcied Ex-Speaker Cannon. Repre-
sentative John W. Dwight. Nicholas Long
worth and other regulars dropped in.
Even the arch insurgent. Victor Murdock
seemed 10 relent when he heard OF NJ.
Mann's plans TO treat every Republican
alike and before the session ends the
! feud between Mr. Murdock and Mr. cannon
may become thing OF the past
The conferences to-day were primarily TO
/ do uyha ba
treated in the way Of committee assign
ments under the announced Democratic
plan. should name their own members Of
the committees or should leave the conduct
of affairs in the House entirely 10 the
Democrats There was some disposition
| for a time 10 follow the latter course.
Let the Democrats name all the COM
mttee members and run the House 20 suit
themselves" was a proposition seriously
considered
II was finally decided. however. that Nj.
Mann should proceed 10 select the mi
nority representation on the committees.
He then issued 4 statement in behalf Of A
solid minority" in which ne said.
In behalf of a solid minority l vigorously
protest against the utter DISREGARD OF the
rights OF the minority by the democrats OF
ship OF committees. | think that the ma
I jority party in the House has never before
taken committee majority OF more thah
six. The Democrats now propose 10 take
I q majority of seven on the principal COM
mttees. Is this because they fear diSS'h-
sion among themselves. or because tneN
fear superior intellectual qualities on the
part OF the RepuDilcanS w.
The Democratic members ot the Ways
and Means Committee turned down my
i request to add one additional minority
/ no
of the House where they propose 20 take
two or three additional members. Tnelr
action in putting fourteen majority anu
only seven minority members on Hiteei
committees is unprecedented. Is unfair, l.
arbitrary and brutal
l The Democrats begin their operations by
trampling the fair rights OF the minorll
under foot by brute force. The kepuohcdhS
cannot prevent the application OF the iorce
OF numbers by the Democrats, pui tii'H
can object 10 those things WhIch are .. 1I
dinarilv done by common consent. Inc
spirit of fair dealing from the outset having
been sci aside by the Democrats, tney must
not expect 10 receive many l2VorS llou'
the minority Having in view the present
ATTITUDE Of the Democratic caucus toward
the minority. I apprehend that the unahi-
NOUS consent calendar in this congress
may not be OF much value.
Mr.. Mann cites committees appointed IN
ten preceding Congresses in support oi ms
nositiou His statement implies that the
Democrats can expect 10 pass little 'eg'sia-
tion under unanimous consent in We"
of their present disposition 10 use "orute
force" H. asserts that the radical ele-
mert Of the Democrats j. in control OF the
House. but that their unfair methods Will
ne resisted stubboruly by united minor
ity."
The demand for more committee places
was presented TO Chairman Underwood yes
terdav. and taken under consideration by
the WAYS and Means committee. The re-
fusal Of the committee TO give more places
was communicated 10 NJ. Mann this morn
ing. and resulted in summoning the kepuo-
ucan leaders 70 the confereno" this after
noon.
Mr.. Mann announced that in making M
the committees the former Republican rule
would be followed Of not appointing 10 the
Rules Committee any Of the ranking mem
hers Of the more important committees lie
added that none Of the minority members
Of the Appropriations Committee would ne
placed on other committees