The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-08-16
TALK IN CONGRESS-
Where Freedom of Speech Is a
Right jealousy Guarded.
MIGHT OF THE LOWER HOUSE
Tho Enormous Power II Yields by
Reason of Its Grip Upon tho Purse Of
tho Nation-Absolute Democracy of
the Committee of tho Whole.

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
It's immediate ancestor was the first
parliament Of Henry w. In the ff-
teentb 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 a wheel In the legislative, the ex'
ecuttve or the judicial branch OF the
government could turn.
It Is because Of this parlia ment that
there Is no ways and means committee
I'm the senate and that when any treaty
or commercial arrangement or any
thing involving the payment OF money
is introduced. any appointment or iegiS
Iation Is proposed. the house OF repre-
septatives raises it's mighty hand and
settles the matter according 10 the
will of the people through their repre-
sentatives, for 1t can defeat any meas
ure or any person by merely declin'
Ing to appropriate the money necessary
10 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
a 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 q chairman Ii elected who Is not
the speaker. Not even 80 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,
Is put under the speakers table to
show that the house deliberates with
out interference from anybody. The
mace Is really q weapon. stout wood
en- stick with q metal head, and used
to be the favorite weapon OF lighting
priests of the middle ages. They were
forbidden by ecclesiastical law TO use
swords but got around the law by
using the mace, 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 a few men out OF the whole
were authorized TO wear swords. but
any and all OF the people could use
good stout stick. and SO the weapon
of their majesties the people was
chosen. When the speaker preSides
and any members show signs OF in
dulging in fsticuffs and VIII not obey
the speakers gaveI the Sergeant-at
arms OF his deputy Is directed to ''show
the mace" That functionary seizes
the mace and marches up 10 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 a row and 1t seemed as II blows
were about to be exchanged, the
speaker promptly ordered the sergeant,
alarms to show them the mace. The
sergeant took the mace, marched up 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-
iously inquired Of member sitting
next, "What am / to do with the mace
now?"
TO which the member responded In
stage whisper. peck 'em on the head
with it,
house. and a roar of laughter and ap
plause followed. In which even the
belligerents were obliged to JON
In general. however. before the mace
can be shown, the members rush ~
and separate men whose tenperS have
got the better OF them. who have eN
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 reprmandrd
by the speaker. who talks like Dutch
uncle to thep and calls them 10y name
This naming" is the only time mem
ber's name is used I'm debate lie Is at
other times "the member from Soand
SO" or "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 An the freedom of debate,
nor Is a member held accountable out
side for anything he may say on the
floor. Through this freedom OF speech
members say thugs they would not
dare TO utter elsewhere. In the old
days duels followed the exchange of
the lie. aud the Graves Cilley duel. the
John Randolph and Henry Clay duel
Y and many historical encounters took
{ place. But in the evolution of govern
ment the principle became firmly fixed
that there must be absolute freedom