New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-17
DEMOCRATS IN SQUABBLE
Leaders in House End 1t by Fore
ing an Adjournment.
ROW OVER TWO COMMITTEES
Representative Henry Had AS
sumed Authority to Name Men
to Investigate Trusts.
IRON The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington. Nav 1e-The evanescen
character Of Democratic harmony was
forcefully DEMONSTRATED during dramau'
fracas in the House late this afternoon ~
the great confusion marked by blunt GNU
cisnos by the majority members because
the chairman Of the Rules Committee nae
taken 10 himself authority 10 name ul'
epecisl committees 10 investigate the stee
and sugar trusts. the House took an an "p'
adjournment. A..
To end the souabble and to save tne
Democratic side from further emoarrasS
rnent and possibly a personal altercsuon
Representative Underwood. after hrst VAN
" appealing Tor peace and compromise
roads the motion 70 adjourn. and Speaker
Clark gladly put It.
Coming AZ the end Of a rather dull cav
,he episode was the first outcropping OF
penooora.ic insurgency. Dozens OF Demo
Gratis left the chamber nuttering to them-
selves and the seeming Democratic har-
,nonv that has heretofore prevailed as
anpeared as though II were a phantom.
chairman Henry Of the Rules Committee.
under a rapid cross-hre of questions from
lis own side. had been forced 10 admit that
Re had named the investigating committees
latter consulting various members Demo
Gratis from ell sections Of the chamber
1urped ND and yelled. you never con-
suited ne" and demanded that the selec-
ton be left 10 caucus.
AS it was, the House approved MT
Fsnrv's selections 81 the committee OF nine
that is TO investigate the Steel Trust but
as one Democrat expressed n, this approval
was given before the House realized the
nature Of the proceedings. MI Henry
Sugar Trust investigating committee Is UP
fn the air. adjournment terminating the
discussion that had put the chairman or
the Rules Committee and the Democratic
side Of the House in a bad light.
In the midst Of the confusion. Rpresent-
alive FITZGERALD obtained the floor and
charged Representative Henry with an un-
warranted assumption of authority. while
other democrats claniored for a caucus and
demanded that Mr.. Henry withdraw his
nominal tons. Iris the Texas member re-
fused 20 do and as the ohjecting Demo
Gratis grew ansrier and angrier. Mr.. Under'
wood .tApped into the breach with his mo-
ton 10 adjourn.
Earlier in the day the House had passed
The Stanley resolution 10 investigate the
United states Steel Corporation and other
steel companies alleged 10 constitute q
trust The House then proceeded 10 debate
the resolution resubn1ittng TO New Mexico
and Arizona their respective constitutions
After this debate had been concluded for
the day Representative Henry called M
what he said was a privileged resolution,
and which when read proved TO be list
Of those TO conduct the Steel Trust IN
vest!gation 4 moment later Mr.. Henry
sent 10 the desk the names Of those ne had
selected 10 probe the Sugar Trust.
How were these investigating committees
raroe67" asked Representative Murdoch.
Mr. Henry intmated that they had been
named by members Of the Rules Committee
after consultation with other Democrats and
with the minority leader. Mr.. Mann. The
stanley resolution and the Hardwick res
olution. adopted several days ago. provided
that the committees should be elected by
the House
This is a very peculiar proceeding" OBJ
served a New York Democrat. You have
brought TO this House a cat in bag. Il
not this method a transfer Of tyranny from
the Speaker into the hands of the chairman
Of the Conmittee on Rules?"
MI Henry attempted TO reply, but was
. interrupted by Representative Martin, an
N other Democrat.
VI Il did not get look az this cat in
bag" said Mr.. Martin with warmth. 60
was nor consulted about these committee
selections ! am interested in the investiga
ton Of these trusts. and want 10 know
who gave the gentleman from Texas thu
right 10 name these special committees
Why hasn't caucus been oalled?"
Representative Henry. now on the de
fensive and perspiring, ssid that his selec
lions we're merely nominations. and tha
the House could amend the resolution II &