The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-08-08
TALK in CONGRESS
Where Freedom Of Speech Is a
Right jealousy Guarded.
MIGHT OF THE LOWER HOUSE

The Enormous Power It Yields by
Reason of Its Grip Upon the Purse OF
tho Nation-Absolute Democracy Of
the Committee of tho Whole.
The house of representatives of the
people of the United States, the great
demos. the source OF all power. the
basis upon which the great super
structure OF the government rests,
dates back to the Magma Charta. and
its immediate ancestor was the first
parliament OF Henry w., in the fit.
teenth century. In Henry's parliament
the representatives of the people es-
tablished finally and forever that all
revenue bills must originate in the
lower house. which should hold the
purse of the people and without which
not wheel in the legislative. the ex.
ecutive or the judicial branch of the
government could turn.
1t is because of this parliament that
there is no ways and means committee
In the senate and that when any treaty
or commercial arrangement or any
thing involving the payment of money
Is introduced. any appointment or legis-
lat1on is proposed. the house of repre-
sentatves raises it's mighty hand and
settles the matter according to the
will OF the people through their repre-
sentatives, for it can defeat any meas
ure or any person by merely declin-
ing to appropriate the money necessary
to pay for that measure or person.
When this great committee on ways
and means presents it's business to the
house Of representatives and the house
goes into committee of the whole
house on the state of the Union the
assemblage at once resolves itself into
body as absolutely democratic as the
Saxon Witenagemot or the New Eng
land town meeting. Every symbol of
a popular assemblage Is religiously OBJ
served The speaker leaves the chair,
and chairman Is elected who is not
the speaker. Not even so much as the
prestige of the regular presiding officer
Is allowed to hamper the freedom of
debate. The speaker goes down to the
floor and has no more privileges than
the most obscure member of the house.
The mace. the emblem Of authority,
1s put under the speakers table to
show that the house celebrates with
out interference from anybody. The
mace Is really weapon. stout wood
en- stick with a metal head, and used
to be the favorite weapon Of fighting
priests of the middle ages. They were
forbidden by ecclesiastical law to use
swords. but got around the law by
using the mace, a terrible weapon,
against the armored men Of the time.
In the choice Of the mace as the type
of authority the idea of democracy
was rigidly carried out. In the early
days only few men out of the whole
were authorized to wear swords, but
any and all of the people could use a
good stout stick, and so the weapon
of their matesties the people was
chosen. When the speaker presides
and any members show signs of in
dulging in fisticuffs and will not obey
the speakers gavei the sergeant-at-
arms or his deputy is directed to ''show
the mace" That functionary seizes
the mace and marches up to the offend
ing members, who are supposed to be
awed into good behavior at sight of
this big stick
Not long ago. when two members got
into row and it seemed as it blows
were about to be exchanged, the
speaker promptly ordered the sergeant
alarms to show them the mace. The
sergeant took the mace, marched ur to
the two belligerents and stood, mace
in hand. majestically, before them.
This, however, had not the slightest
effect, and the sergeant-at-arms anx-
1ously inquired of member sitting
next, what am I to do with the mace
now?"
10 which the member responded in a
stage whisper. peck 'em on the head
with it!''
This suggestion brought down the
house. and a roar of laughter and ap-
plause followed, in which even the
belligerents were obliged to join.
In general. however, before the mace
can be shown. the members rush in
and separate men whose tempers have
got the better Of them, who have ex-
changed the lie or the blow that always
follows. Members engaging in these
rows are always called before the bar
OF the house and sternly reprimanded
by the speaker. who talks like a Dutch
uncle to them and calls them by name.
This naming" is the only time a men,
bers name is used in debate. He is at
other times 1.-The member from So-and-
10" or 1.-The gentleman from So-and-so."
These collisions rarely. If ever, occur
between members anywhere except on
the floor of the house. Everything is
permitted in the Freedom of dohoto