The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-08-04
FRENCH ADDRESSES
SUMMER STUDENTS
TELLS THEM OF THE INNER
WORKINGS OF THE
LOWER HOUSE

Some dOlngS IN congress tnaC are
not found in books,' was the subject
of a very informal talk given before
the summer school students by Rep.
Burton l.. French in the regular Fri
day morning assembly.
MI. French very graphically de-
scribed the workings of the house of
representatives to the summer school
students telling them how business
was actually carried on in that large
body. He colored his talk by relating
incidents which illustrated the points
made.
He began his talk by showing the
difference in the various kinds of bills
to be legislated and gave reasons in
a very interesting way of why GER
tain bills had the right-of-way over
others.
Explains House Calendars
In some detail he explained the
functioning of the several calendars
of the house upon which were placed
the bills falling under the different
heads, such as appropriation, ways
and means, rules and other c1assif1-
cations, and the special bills as well.
He dwelt some time upon the adop
ton by the house of the calendar of
unanimous consent calendar that al
lowed an easier channel for the in
PRODUCTION of bills which before the
adoption of that measure had no
specific calendar in which to be plac-
ed for regular and systematic con-
sideration.
The lessening of the power of the
speaker of the house who formerly
held the powers to appoint commit
tees and to determine whether or not
some bill outside of the generally
recognized calendar of the house
should be given hearing, he said was
gradually achieved through the adop-
tion of committee on committees
whach had the task of making ap-
pointments to the various commit
tees solely independent Of the speaker
and through the adoption of the cal
endar of unanimous consent which al
lows certain days for the consider
alton of miscellaneous bills
Mr.. French a1sos poke at some
length upon the functionings and pur-
poses of party conferences and eau
cuses which he described as move
ments within the. different parties to
get together on some especial 1egis-
lation in harmony with party princi-
pies. He stated the caucuses and
conferences, though informal in ma
true, really were the means Of reduc-
ing the discords of sentiments of party
men to composite and mutual agree
ment.
House Complex Organization
Mr. French further, spoke upon the
complexity of the present organ1za-
ton OF the house, which now consists
of 435 members, over the difficulties
experienced at the beginning of the |
American congress when there were
but small handful of members.
He said the problems of the conduct |
ly left up to the members of the house
by the constitution which specified I
but very few requirements for the
transaction of business
Some of the present issues that
confront the congress were also dis
cussed by Congressman French, who
maintained that although the congress
s1onal system was not yet perfect it
had taken a long step forward in the
last few years.
The entire address was brim full of
information of value to those present,
many of whom will go out into the
public schools and have occasion to
use it later on.
Prior to Mr.. French's talk the audi
ence united in singing "My Idaho,"
one of the best university songs.
Dean ]. F. Messenger introduced the
speaker with the witticism that he
was a former teacher who had fallen
from grace to become a member of