The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10
House Majority Tries to Undo
Great Work.
CHANGED IN ONLY IA MONTHS
Kansan Shows Inconsistency
of Newer Members.
Declares They Voted Against
Promised Legislation.

amendment adopted a few days ago by
the Democratic House which puts sus-
pensions of the rules second in the pro-
visions of the calendar. instead Of leav-
ing suspensions third, places the legts-
lative condition of that branch of con-
gress back to the old order of things
which the Democrats Joined two years
ago with the insurgent Republicans in
changing.
Tt is apparent that the Democrats
found that this rule under which the
Republican majority had done business
for so many years was good tnlhg
and for their own protection against
fIibuster felt the dire necessity OF re-
storing it.
Congressman Phil P. Campbell of
Kansas went after the Democrats in a
red hot manner and showed up the in
consistency of their change of front on
this action. In addressing the House,
he said:
IF this rule is adopted, you Demo-
Gratis will undo in 40 minutes what 1t
took a campaign of two years to do.
That campaign was waged in the news
papers, in the magazines, on Chautau-
qua platforms, and on the stump,
everywhere. The country was famed
into a fury for a reform that would
give power to the representatives or
the people by taking that power away
from the Speaker Many rules We're
adopted. but those who wanted real
power for the representatives of the
people were not satisfied until the rule
was adopted that enabled the House to
discharge reluctant committee from
the consideration of a bill. When that
was done, it was proclaimed to the
country that we had brought this
House back to the people, and upon
that boast and that issue the speaker
of the House and the leaders Of the
present majority went before the coun-
try and made a campaign.
They said, We now have rules that
were made by reformers. It is naces-
sary that we shall retain these rules
and in order to do that We must have
a Democratic majority, because the
wicked Republicans will make an OPP
portunity and inaugurate a reaction
against these rules
And They Were Elected.
1.-The country believed it. and many
of you gentlemen on that side are hold
ing seats pro tempore 1nade on that
campaign. Your terms began IL short
months ago; you have conducted the
business for general legislation three
short months; and today you have in
augurated a reactionary movement.
Are you not satisfied with the exer-
else of the power that was given you
by clause 4 of Rule XVII, giving you
the power to take away from a reluc-
tant committee bill that it refused to
report? Why are you giving this power
so recently taken from him back to
the Speaker Of this House?"
Why the ReactiOnary Measure.
Mr.. Speaker, why has this reaction
been 1nadgurated? Is the speaker tired
OF occupying an easy chair; does he
long for the old power, responsibility.
and political leadership of the office in
other days? Is it his desire for power,
or IS the gentleman from Alabama
tired Of the lash and the reins toge4h-
err? From this day on we shall have
two sitting on the box, the speaker of
the house holding the reins and the
gentleman from Alabama using the
lash. daughter and applause on the
Republican gide.) Heretofore the ger
tleman from Alabama has done both.
Is that the reason you have offered an
amendment that will emaSculate this
rule, or is it because you are tired of
being driven, like reluctant slaves, be-
tween teuers, voting down bills that
you have declared that you were in
favor of? You have already voted
against many bills that you have de-
dared for on every stump in the coun-
try and in your districts. You voted
against the following bills under the
rule you nullify:
Vote Against Bills.
"A bill providing for the physical
valuation of railroads.
"A bill to regulate the hours of work
If pAstofflce clerks employed in first and
second-claSS pOStOff1ceS.
"A bill granting pensions to soldiers
confined in so-called confederate pris-
ons
"A bill providing that the statute Of
limitations shall not be interposed i'll
| any suit brought by any laborer. work
claims against the United States to
| recover wages claimed to be due him
under the national eight-hour LAW.
"A bill 70 extend the penny-postage
/ 6nlf Fn~n 7sa4l
matter to postof7ces where the system
of free delivery is established.
"A bill to amend section 2 Of an
act entitled An act to increase the
| pensions of widows.
"A bill to create tariff board Cby
| Mr.. Pay1e]-
"A bill to amend an act entitled All
act granting to certain employees OF
| the United States the right to receive
from it compensation for injuries sus-
| tanned in the course of their employ
ment.'
"A bill to provide and pay additional
| compensa ton to the rural free delivery
| carriers of mail IN the United states
| and providing an appropriation therefor
You voted ali these bills down. e.
/ cry Democrat voted against them while
| every Republican voted for them
KANsANs BUY sUNFLOWER SEED
Import It to Feed Chickens. Pigeons
and Canaries.
Kansas City, Feb. 1o.-A carload Of
sunfower seed passed through here to-
| day billed from Europe for Kansas, tie
| great .'sunhower state
What on earth are Kansans inn
/ porting sunffower seed for2'' the man
| ager of a seed company here was
| asked.
For feeding chickens. pigeons and
1 canaries," he replied.
But why don't they use their own
| seed2''
That's an interesting story went or
| the manager ..Tbe seed from the Kan