Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1909 — INSURGENTS WIN IN HOUSE FIGHT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INSURGENTS WIN IN HOUSE FIGHT

Successful Is Campaign For Change of Roles. CANNON GIVEN 204 VOTES Amendment Offered by Representative Fitzgerald of New York Is Adopted—Speaker Announces That In Making Up Committees Minority Leader Will Not Be Consulted—Wife of President Taft Spectator at Btormy Session. Washington, March 16. After a stormy session the house of representatives, regardless of party alignment, adopted, 211 to 172, a resolution by Mr. Fitzgerald, a New York Democrat, whereby the rules were amended in several important particulars. The resolution substituted for one offered by Champ Clark, the minority leader. This vas accomplished only after the “insurgents” with the aid of the Democrats, with one or two exceptions, had won a preliminary victory by voting down a resolution by Mr. Dalzell of Pennsylvania, making the unamended rules of the Sixtieth congress applicable to those of the present congress. Changes Are Analyzed. As analyzed by parliamentarians, the amendment makes these important changes: First, it establishes a "calendar for unanimous consents,” the effect of which is to enable a member to have a proposition brought be fore the house without having to go to the speaker for recognition. This change, they say, will be a relief to the speaker. Second, when consideration of a bill is concluded and the previous question is ordered the rules heretofore have provided for a motion to commit with or without instructions. It

has- been the practice to recognize a member of the majority party to make this motion and thuß prevent the minority from offering such instructions as it may desire. The new rule gives the minority the preference in making such a motion and thus enables them to get a record vote on propositions which would otherwise be settled in committee of the whole house, where no record vote is possible. Third, it protects the calendar Wednesday by requiring a two-thirds instead of a majority vote to set it aside. Fourth, it is also claimed that the amendment will have the effect of preventing favoritism by the action of the committee on rules In special cases. “Improvement," Says Cannon. Speaker Cannon Is inclined to regard the amendment as a slight improvement on the present rules, in thatinstead of throwing the responsibility for recognition on him, it sets aside certain days for the consideration of measures under unanimous consent; but, he says, under the new rules members will have to wait for those days. In the balloting for the speakership Joseph G. Cannon received 204 votes as against 166 for Champ Clark, 8 for Cooper of Wisconsin, 2 for Norris cf Nebraska, and 1 each for Esch of Wis consin, and W. P. Hepburn of lowa, p.n ex-member. All the Democratic mem tiers voted for Clark, so that the scattering vote represented the Republican defection from Cannon. One of the most interested spectators during the session was Mrs. Taft, who remained for four, hours.

CHAMP CLARK.