The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-02-14
FRAME To
DEFENSE OF
THE HOUSE
Continued on Page Four.

Bismarck, N. D., Feb. 14.-Speaker
Frame made the following statement
to the house: .-. E
Because of certain inspired mis-
leading statements made in the
public press recently concerning the
action of this house, your speaker de-
sires to make statement of par
liamentary situation.
On Feb. 6 Mr.. Fox introduced q
resolution which Oh motion s. was
adopted and pursuant to the pro-
visions thereof a committee was ap-
pointed by the speaker and the reso-l
luton printed in the journal, in ac-i
cordance with the usual rule. This
record appears on pages 12 to IL of
the journal for Feb. s.
House Rules Govern.
This house is governed by sixty
two house rules and the rules of prac-
tice of the house OF representatives
of the United states of America, ex-
cept where such rules conflict with
the rules of the house. In addition
to the sixtytwo rules mentioned, the
house is also governed in it's delibera-
tions by certain SPECIAL rules which
have been from time to time adopted
by the house. 1t is the understand
ing of your chairman, supported by
the unbroken line of precedents in
this house and the house of repre-
sentatives of the United States con-
gress, that this house has unques-
toned jurisdiction to inquire into ir-
regularities committed by, or COM
plants made against any public Of
fetal or board. r
Must be Proved Malicious.
1t Is the understanding of your
chairman that any member introduc.
ing such a resolution does so with the
full knowledge of the responsibility
he assumes and that he is acting
within his right as a member of this
body. That until the investigation
discloses that he is malicious or thai
he has not given the matters set forth
In the resolution sufficient considera-
.tion to make reasonable man be-
lieve in the truth thereof, that he is
clothed with a presumption of good
faith and entitled to the protection OF
this house and that no person, much
less one involved in the inquiry con-
lCUlpldLGu Ill6 T6SOluElOH. has a
right to address any communication
to the house, rejecting on either the
house or the member introducing the
resolution.
This has been the constant and un-
varying practice of the house of rep
resentatives of the United States con-
gress and also of this house as may
be seen from a mere perusal of the
precedents of the Official publication
of the house of representatives.
5IaisdeII Case Similar.
This has also been the practice in
this house. Former action of this
house In a similar case will be found
in the house journal Of 1909 at page
1878. In that particular case reso-
luton had been adopted in the house
| of representatives authorizing an in
vestigation of the Office of the Hon.
Alfred Blaisdeli the then secretary of
state of this state.
Mr.. Blaisdell thereupon sent to the
house a communication which was
deemed by the house to reflect upon
the house by it's reflection on Mr..
Ployhar, one of the members thereof
Whereupon the house refused to re-
ceive the communication and ordered
the same returned to the secretary of
state, with permission to him to send
| in such communication as he desired
to make, on condition that it contain
! bare impersonal facts and. that no
reference should be made to members
| of the house. Such expurgated COM
munication was received by the house
on March s, 1909, and may be found
on pages 1878 and 1879 of the house
journal for 1909,
/ On page is Of the journal for Feb
appears the record of a com
4 munication from the attorney general
Special Rule Governs.
1 A special rule of this house which
was adopted on Jan. II, 1913, and may
be found on page of the journal o.
1 that day, prescribes that any com.
Emunication received by the house
4 shall be printed but not read, unless {
request therefore be made by a mem.
Der.
Following this rule, the communi.
cation of the attorney general wa:
handed to the clerk by Your speake
1 when received, to follow the usua
4 course; thereafter a member moves
/ that the same be read and the sam,
was read and found to contain unper
nissible reflections upon the move
Il of the resolution; necessarily this wa
a reflection upon the house itself.
i In all these proceedings 1t is th
| house which has acted, not tn
y speaker, who is bound to follow tn
& directions of the house. The only In
i dividual action of the speaker was ii
Il his Characterization of the communi
cation as Insulting
4 Traditional Legislature on Page sh