Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-29

III,
an outticldcr, and the firing o. IN umpire.
Jim Corbctt is a leading light and an awcsome
authority on the uppcrcut and the lfb on the
Jaw But. as a real King of Rules and an
Umpire of the Umpty-U Jumps Of Procedure IN
time of peace and war, the Hon Robert Lee
Henry of Texas chairman of the Rules Com
mittce of the House in this Congress, carries
off the medals, needs, and erloluments.
He is more full Of rules than the book OF
Deuteronomy, and his command Of prcce-
dents makes the legal procedure Of the courts
of Great Britain seem simple and childlike. If
the maority-thc Democratic wing-wants
to put Il bill through the House in a way not
ordinarily countcnanced by the rules, Henry
steps to the front with very proper scheme.
If leader OF the dominant faction wishes to
Smitc Republican on the nose IN a perfectly
parliamentary manner Henry walks up to
the bat and lines out the suitable play.
1t is said Of him that he reCitcs Robert S
Rules of Order in his slcep-just for pastime.
He has demonstrated that he can thread the
labyrinth of the House laws, turn on his
tracks, and get back to his starting point
without the aid of even a bullscyc lantern.
Mr. Henry IS 4 Texan and lawyer. Last
winter, when it was noscd about that he
was to he made chairman of the Committee
on Rules, nc developed a habit that put
bugcs in his pockets and got all of his suits
of clothes lamcntably out Of shape. He
made regular saddle pockets out OF HIM
self, carting around all the known literature
on parliamentary law of modern and an
cient times. Every minute when his regular
labors light cncd, down went his hand into
pocket, up came dry but instructive volume,
and down among the pages went his nose.
As a student, he outd'6 his achievements at
the University of Texas, where, among other
things, he was valcdictorian Of his class.
He stor. up in his mind the intricacics of
the Previous Question, the antics OF the
Committee Of the Whole, the peculiarltics OF
Personal Privilege. and the acrobatic stunts OF
Calendar Wednesday. He didn't skip a page,
neither did he overlook paragraph and he
came out of his period of research a full
fedged authority on the double cross for the
minority and the big wallop for the majority.
Thus it is that he sits at the head OF the
table used by the high and august Com
mittcc on Rules, or rises at his desk on the
floor of the House and tells those assembled,
including those in the cloakrooms, exactly
how things should be done, not forgetting
to mention when. what for, and where.
The Texan has Won his high place in the
Democratic organization by long and con-
spicuouSlv able service. This IS his eighth
term in Congress, which means that at the
end Of the Sixtv-sccond he will have served
At one time he was chairman of the Demo
! cratic caucus and, until his selection for the
present craftsmanship he was on the Com
mittec on Judiciary. which IS always made
up OF lawyers cx-ludgcs, and legal sharks.
His post is important because his com
mittcc determines whether new rules or spe-
cial rules or any departures from the ordinary
course of parliamentary procedure are I be
made and he is the man who cocks his head
to one side, looks wise as a tree full Of owls,
and passes final judgment on how 70 place
the commas, conjunctions, and advcrbs IN the
proposed new documents Before the Demo
Gratis and inSurgcnt Republicans changed the
order OF things in the last Congress, the
Speaker of the House always had the chair
manship now occupied by Henry which is an
indication OF the power and influence that go
with the Job. Now, however, the Speaker,
under the rules. cannot have the place.
Henry is tall, spare man, with keen eyes
and high. bullying brow. He got his cduca-
ton in the schools and colleges of Texas and
in 1886 began the practice of law in Tcxark
ana OF that town he was elected Mayor in
1890. and later he became assistant Attor-
ncv General Of the State, a position he held
for three wears. As speaker, he is clear and
forcciul, commanding the attention Of the
House, particularly when nc speaks on a
/,,,n-,;, ~ law, ,,r III. Hons. rules IJg b4c