Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-02-04
HOUSE AMENDS
DISCHARGE RULE
Democrats Find Device Intended to
Expedite Business Will Not
Work.
TOO MUCH POWER FOR LEADER
Part of Authority Taken from the
Speaker and Given 10 Chair
man Returned to Presid-
.-. ing officer.
lFrom q staf corespondent. }


WASHINGTON. Feb. S-Cspeclal Tele-
gram .)-Against the strenuous protests Of
Congressman Norris OF Nebraska, Ienroot
Of Wisconsin and other leaders. the demo-
crat majority OF tho house virtually re-
pealed rule q today, which gives the
house the right to call bills back from
committees which have reposed in said
committees for any considerable length
OF time and consider the same as in COM
mite OF the whole.
| The virtual repeal Of the rule gives
] Speaker Clark as much power as Speaker
Cannon had in his palmy days as to
recognition Of individuals to make mo-
tions and stop legislative procedure.
The repeal Of the rule was fought most
vigorously. but the Velvet Bose" as Mrs.
/ Underwood has come to be called. held
his forces intact and the rule was modi-
fled to suit existing conditions.
Progressive leaders look upon the action
Of the democrats as decided step back
wards and they cannot realize that they
were the allies OF these same democrats
not many moons ago.
How Vote stood.
The action OF the house resulted In an
amendment by Representative Henry OF
Texas being adopted by vote OF $50 to
100. after heated comparisons OF Under
woodism" with "csnnouism" and Reed
ism had been passed between leaders
on both sides.
The success Of Republican Leader Mann
In tying up the democratic house through
the manipulation of the new discharge
calendar" which was part Of the reform
program adopted in the last congress. re-
suited today in the presentation OF an
amendment by Chairman Henry OF the
rules committee. .-....... .. ,......... r
The house took up the rule at once and
began a two hours fight over II. II pro-
poses to change that adopted last year.
The present operation OF the rule 10 dis
charge committees instead OF operating
to prevent the killing OF bills in com
mittees has resulted in congestion OF
business on the so-called discharge days"
Republican Leader Mann has repeatedly
limited to the democratic side that he
would show how the new reform rule
was not workable.
."Gentlemen of The majority, you are on
the back track" cried Representative
Dalzell of Pennsylvania, a republican in
opposing the proposed democratic change
in rules Your reforms are all shams and
frauds. You have taken the power away
from the speaker, but you put It all In
the hands OF the chairman Of the ways
and means committee. Instead Of Can
nonism and Reedism and Crispism you
have today Underwoodism and the gen
ueman from Alabama wears his crown
and seeptre like one TO the manor born"
.. Money Trust Resolution. q.
Chairman Henry OF the house rules
committee today introduced compromise
resolution for the Investigation Of the
so-cailed money trust.
II is designed to meet some OF the OBJ
jections Of Democratic Leader Under
wood The controversy over the proposed
investigation will be fought out on
causus Wednesday.
Mr.. Henry's new resolution provides
for a special investigating committee OF
seven members. four to be chosen from
committees having jurisdiction over the
questions involved and the other three
to be selected from the house member
ship at large.