Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-04-02
Democratic House Caucus In
cIudeS Admission Of New
States in Subjects for Dis
CuSSion,
REFORM OF RULES AND
ECONOMY THE SLOGAN
Promise to Save Nearly $780,
900 in Annual Cost of Cen
gresS; Assignments Adopted
at Love Feast,
by Morning Journal Special Leased wlrsl

~ wv NN0At
tBy Morning Journal Special Leased wirel
Washington, April LIN party
caucus noteworthy for its harmony
and the smoothness of its progress,
the democratic members of the new
house of representatives. today adopt
ed without change the committee as
signments, the economy program and
the new rules prepared for the com
ing session by the committees that
have been working in the last month.
Important changes in procedure
and a general reorganization OF the
house will result from tho action Of
the democrats. The power OF nam
ing committees was definitely ,aken
from the speaker by the rules, ard
lodged In the house Itself Commit
tee members are to be elected ~ the
house, not only in the frs n stance
but also in the filling of vacancies.
A saving of $1S2,e00 In the annual
cost OF running congress Is promised
Gus employees and In employees and
inactive committees and through the
abolishment of time-honored extra
months pay" Appointive places ar.
put into the hands of one committee,
a special body to be known as the
committee on organization and the
scramble for congressional positions
will center about its door.
AT the night session legislative
program was adopted and Officers
were elected as follows; ~ te'
Clerk-South Trimble of Frankfort,
KY, who was a member of the fifty
seventh congress-
Sergeant-at-arms--u. S. Jackson,
Of Indiana. who defeated William H..
Ryan of New York by a vote of f1i
TO 81.
Doorkeeper--Joseph j. sinnott Of
Virginia.
stmaster--William M. Dunbar,
third ballot. defeating r, G. Brenner
of New Jersey, 104 to 81.
A legislative program was submit.
ted by Chairman Underwood Of the
ways and means committee and
adopted by the caucus 1t is design
ed TO limit the activities Of the extra
session to such questions as popular
election OF senator's. Canadian reci-
procity, tariff revision investigation
OF governmental departments. con-
gressional reappolntments, statehood
for Arizona and New Mexico, general
deficiency appropriation district Of
Columbia legislation and publicity OF
campaign contributions.
Rev Henry NJ Couden Of Port IIu-
ron, Mich, who for many years has
been chaplain of the house. was
reelected
The caucus adjourned at midnight
The important changes in the rules
operate are:
The selection OF committees by the
house.
A provision to prevent fillbustcring
under the rule giving authority to
discharge committees from consider
alton of bills.
A provision permitting amendments
to appropriation bills whenever those
will result in retrench-
ment OF national expenditures.
Authority for bills to come up
twice for passage under the unani-
nous consent privilege.
The rule to prevent flibusterlng on
Al tina
from custody of bill is the result OF
the fllbuster conducted in the last
session by Representative Mann o.
Illinois. lie had the postofflce re-
organization bin placed on the cal
endar under thi- rule, and demanded
that II be read completely, an opera
tlon that consumed several days
The new rule provides that a bill
shall be read by its title and that its
title shall not he more than one hum
dred words long II prohibits any
member from having before the house
at any time more than two motions
to discharge committees from the GUS
tody OF bills Under this rule the
democrats believe II can be made to
work as originally Intended 10 pre-
vent the burylng OF bills In commit
tee.
The new rule affecting appropria-
tions bills Is a renewal OF the so-called
Holman rule" first used by the
democrats in 1875. 1t permits amend
ments to appropriation bills of wide
character. when these amendments
will affect a reduction Of federal -ex-
penditures. W.
The democratic caucus In the house
chamber this morning and Its session
continued throughout the afternoon
and evening. Il was presided over by
Albert s. Burleson Of Texas as chair
man and with A, s. Ashbrook OF Ohio
as secretary II disposed of the rules,
the committee assignments and the
economy program before 6 o'clock and
completed the election OF officers In
the house tonight.
Following the adoption of the rules