New-York tribune., 1921-06-29
House Elders
Rule Calls 100
Republicans
First Termers Will Caucus
Tonight to Urge Speed
ing Up of Legislative
Plans and Make Protest
Seniority Idea Opposed
Juniors Call for a Greater
Share in Lawmaking;
Hint of Revolt Is Denied
From, The Trtbune's Washington Bureau

bureau
WASHINGTON, June 28. - Almost
100 Republican "hrst-termers" in the
House will caucus tomorrow night to
urge speeding up the entire Legislative
program and make formal complaint
against the seniority rule and methods
Of procedure.
This move by the new membership
or the House, which claims it is being
Disseminated against and prevented
from having any voice in the law
making, bore at first all the earmarks
CT real revolt. But this was i'm
mediately denied by Representative
Martin S. Ansorge, Of New York, and
others behind the movement, who said
the principal speaker at their caucus
is to be Majority Floor Leader Mondeli.
The frst-termers declared that the
two important matters responsible for
the calling of the special session are
tariff and tax revision and that neither
of these has been reported from
committee
Call for Speed Issued
Representative Ansorge, who signed
the call for the caucus, said:
cone of the purposes of the meeting
of the first-term Republican members of
the House is to urge the members of
the steering committees of both parties
to speed up legislation. Almost three
months have passed and two of the most
important matters for which the Con-
gress was called into special session.
namely, reform in taxation and protec-
tive tariff, have not even been reported
from the committee. Nor has the peace
resolution been agreed to. It is true
we have had some constructive legis-
lation, notably, budget reform and the
soldiers relief bill. But business and
labor are patiently awaiting the passage
of the great financial measures, to wit,
tax and tariff reform.
Many of the new members of the
House came here under conditions which
meant supreme financial sacrifice, and
they are becoming restless and impatient
with the red tape, delays and cumber-
some procedure of the House.
II have discussed the situation with
many of the new members. They be-
lieve that meeting of the new mem
bers from time to time and a frank
discussion may serve useful purpose
and can certainly d. no harm.
he seniority rule discriminates
against the new man, and with the
cumbersome procedure and the Rules
Committee Intervening between them
ane Legislation they feel that they have
little or no voice in legislation.
In the past this seniority rule dis
eliminated against but a few men. but
there are upward of q hundred-to be
exact, ninety-one - new Republicans,
and 1T is unfair to disregard so sub
stantlal an element in the party. Hav-
ing come more recently from the peo-
pie, it is the opinion of many of them
that their views should have some
weight.
rev, If any, of them have been con-
suited in respect of legislation and it
is practically impossible for a new
man to introduce and pass bill. Many
important bills and the reports of the
committees thereon are seen for the
first time when they are called up on
the floor for passage. Many of the
new men believe that at least one day
before a bilf is brought up in the
House. the bill and the report Of the
committee should be in the hands of
the members. 1t seems to be the
sense of many of the new men that
calendar should be published several
days in advance of legislation which
will be called up for a vote, so that the
members should know in advance what
is coming up without having to get in
side information from the older mem
bers of the House.
"The meeting is called in the spirit
of cooperation and in no sense is it
revolt, To indicate this, Representa-
tive Frank w. Mondell, of Wyoming,
the majority leader, has been invited
as the principal speaker. Many of the
older members of the House have
given their approval of the movement
and believe that it will serve a very
useful nurDose"