The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-13
REPUBLICAN ASKS
. FOR INVESTIGATION
OF HOUSE METHODS
Minnesota Congressman Says
He Will Campaign Against
Secret Caucus
OBJECTS TO SOU7H'S
CONTROL OF CONGRESS
Declares That Nine Southern
States Dominate Caucus and
Therefore House---Intro-
duces Resolution

WASHINGTON, Sept IA thor
ough investigation of the legislative
practices of the house by a commits
sion on legislative methods and prac-
tees" is proposed in a resolution in
troduced today by Representative An-
derson, of Minnesota. Republican. who
surprised the house last night by re-
signing from the ways and means
committee as a protest against Demo-
cratic legislative methods.
Under the resolution a commission
of nine members of the house would
Inquire:
Whether any system, method or
practice has been used or Is being
used. the effect of which is to unreal
sonably deprive any member of his
rights or prerogatives as a member Of
the house of representatives under
the constitution or laws of the United
States
Hits Secret Caucus.
In the statement accompanying his
resignation Representative Anderson
announced that this was the beginning
of a general campaign against the
secret caucus and secret cor&mittee
work in legislative practice. Discuss
ing the situation in the house the
statement said:
For n period after the War Be-
tween the States the South was with
out representation in the national leg
islature. The result was the passage
of unwise and oppressive legislation
affecting the South. This great Sec
ton country Ia t,ors- TIL
der the ill-results of the legislation
of that period. Today the situation
has been reversed. The South Is in
the saddle, iegislatively, while the
North, so far as practical participa-
ton in the making OF legislation is
concerned. is practically DISTINGUISHED.
As a result the legislative acts of the
house. particularly in the present ses-
sion. have shown a very marked lack
of appreciation Of commercial and in
dustrial conditions in the North. es-
pecial1y as regards the interests OF
those engaged in agriculture in tho
great northwest"
Scores Caucus Methods.
Representative Anderson, in resign
ing his membership on the ways and
means committee yesterday afternoon,
made a speech which bitterly arraign-
ed the ironSclad caucus methods OF
legislation by which the Underwood
tariff bill had been driven through the
house. Mr.. Andersons speech fol-
lowed close upon other Republican az
we'll as Progressive complaints that
the gag and the steam roller are be-
ing operated by the Democrats to such
an extent that no member of the mi
nority is of the slightest use to his
Mr.. Anderson declared
that the caucus Is now the essential
legislative method, and that the eau
Gus Is secret.
In explaining his resignation, Mr..
said:
Il am Induced to resign my rnern-
bership on the committee on ways and
means because the rules of this house
and the system of legislation in vogue
here deprive me of my opportunity for
service to the country on that commits
tee and because my continuance on
that committee must be construed into
an acquiescence in fraud upon those
who have right to believe and do be-
ieve that ! have had or shall have
some part in framing the legislation
by that committee.
Deprived of Giving Service.
THE rules of the house. written and
deprive me of my oppor-
unity for service and the system OF
legislation, visible and invisible, which
obtains here, strips me of my preroga-
ives as representative of the people.
4 the present system continues the in
result must be that men OF in-
iustry and ability will no longer seek
membership in the house,
He received the course of the tariff
bill through the ways and means COM
nittee and the house, and said.
II have had no part in the framing
II the tariff bill which passed tho
house and senate. shall have mons.
am overwhelmed. discouraged. dis
by the uselesness and
of 1t ALL
In an analysis of the operation OF
he caucus system, Mr. Anderson de-
lared that fourteen Southern States
Aiabama, Arkansas. Florida. Georgia,
Louisiana. Mississippi. Mis-
ouri. North Carolina, Oklahoma,
'outh Carolina, Tennessee. Texas and
firginia--alone send 1873 Democrats
O the house, or enough to control the
legislative policy of the caucus, ana
renee of the house"