OCR Text |
Show o THE SPEAKERSHIP. "One man power" has never been very popular in this country. Yet there are single positions in our government govern-ment scheme that have gained an ascendency never contemplated con-templated in the Constitution. The most notable of these is the speaker of the national house. By the power of the house rules and the appointment and control of committees commit-tees he comes about as near being a dictator as republican republi-can institutions permit. Even a dictator has to consider public sentiment. The speaker must consult with party leaders. He can not proceed pro-ceed far on any policy that does not have their sanction. But it gives a masterful personality a chance to impose his will. t The appointment of committees is a matter that should not be too much under any one man's control. The obituary obitu-ary om many a good bill is written the day it is referred to a hostile committee. There are a hundred ways of dillydallying and only one of prompt action. There are a thousand excuses that can be offered. A bill can be shunted along from one hearing to another until the end of the session,. when it is impossible to get anything through. Pigeon holing a petition is the politician's favorite and artistic method of doing it to death. If it is taken up and beaten, odium is incurred. The members are driven from cover and forced to record themselves. If it can be quietly qui-etly smoothed, the people can't blame anyone in particular. particu-lar. The committee is the favorite method of doing that, and the speaker the man who drops the tip to the committee. com-mittee. This spring, when the vote on the speakership is so close and not yet f ullv decided, is a good year for thought on these matters. The house as a whole should take a hand in the naming of committees, and see that active men are placed in charge, whose tendency will be to get things done, to give good proposals a fair chance. |