Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-26
Wisconsin Member Says Iowa Member Is
Against Express Section. .'
EMPHATIC DENIAL BY cLARlNDAsTATEsMAN
Mr.. Cooper Refuses to Give the Name of
his Informant
BOTH BECOME EXCEEDINGLY ANGRY

WASHINGTON, May 25,-In the house Of
representatives today the question OF We
racity was raised between Mr.. Cooper OF
Wisconsin and Mr.. Hepburn OF Iowa over
a conversation in which the latter Is al
legged to have participated in with a mem
Der o. the senate and in which Mr.. Cooper
asserted the member of the house and the
senator referred to agreed that the So
called express company amendment" to
the railroad rate bill should not remain
in the bill. Both Mr.. Hepburn and Mr..
Cooper were exceedingly angry and they
glared at one another during the collouuy.
The house was turbulent during the con-
sideration Of the rule sending the rate
bill to conference. the fear OF many mem
bers being that the rule which disagreed
TO the senate amendments en- bloc might
have an influence on the conferees and
give them an opportunity II they so de-
sired to vote out the express company
amendment. the amendment relating to pipe
lines and the sleeping car amendment.
With the assurance that the wishes Of the
house would be considered on all tho
amendments. the rule was adopted. twenty
Ave republicans voting with the democrats
taking the position that they would like
to vote directly in facor OF concurriug IN
the senate amendments relating to the sub
jects named. After the rate bill was dis
posed of the remainder OF the day was de-
voted to pension legislation.
Rate Rule Reported.
When the house met today the commit
tee on rules reported the Hepburn rate bill
resolution favorably. II provides for nom
concurrence in all the amendments of the
senate and sends the bill to conference
After the previous question had been or
dered on the rule-yeas 152, nays &c. present
l6-Mr. Dalzell CPa.) explained that the
resolution was simply for the purpose Of
sending the rate bill to conference.
Mr.. Norris (Neb) wanted to know II the
house would have a chance to vote on sep
arate amendments, as some OF the amend
ments adopted by the senate ought to be
discussed in the house.
Mr. DalEell replied that the rule was only
intended to facilitate business and that
there would be ample opportunity TO dis
cuss the conference report So far as he
was concerned there were some amend
ments that he was not in favor of and
wanted chance to consider them.
Up to this time It seemed as II the rule
was to be agreed upon without any great
amount OF debate.
But a clap of thunder came from an un-
expected quarter. Mr.. Cooper (Wis)
wanted to know what objection there was
to letting the house pass on the amend
ments now. He said: Let us vote on the
express company amendment" applause
on both sldes).
Mr. Dalzell replied that the house could
easily nonconcur in the conference report
and instruct the conferees as to the wishes
OF the house. Then Mr.. Cooper. in q very
impressive manner said that he had been
Informed by a gentleman in whose integ-
rity he had the fullest confidence that some
gentlemen. he would not say whether they
were members Of the house or senate, but
they were entitled to be .conferees on the
bill. had agreed that the express company
amendment should go out OF the bill.
Hepburn Demands Names.
| Mr. Hepburn Qa.) jumped to his feet ex-
claiming that he did not take any stock
in what one member said to another on
matters OF this kind. "will you state the
names Of the persons who have thus de-
clsred themselves?" called out Mr.. Hep
burn.
Mr.. Cooper-"Oh. don't want to offend,
especially the gentleman from Iowa"
Mr.. Hepburn-"You can't offend me by
answering that question"
Mr.. Cooper-'I will say this. that they
were two gentlemen in whose word have
confidence"
sIr. Hepburn GoudIy)-"Nams them;
| name them"
Mr.. Cooper-"I am not going to name
men who come to me and tell me matters
IN confidence The gentleman from Iowa
places me in an embarrassing position, but
since he asks me. I will say that ne Is
said 20 have remarked In conversation.
oh. the express company amendment will
20 out ."
Mr.. Hepburn, greatly wrought up and ex-
ceedingly nervous replied: ANY man who
told the gentleman that Shaking his fist al
Mr.. Cooper told a faleshood and until The
gentleman from Wisconsin names the In
dividual who made this statement to him
shall hold that the gentleman Is drawing
upon his imagination.
Mr. williams: I call the gentleman
from Iowa to order for his language"
Hepburn Apologies 20 Williams.
Mr. Hepburn: II withdraw the language
which is offensive to the gentleman from
Mississippi"
Mr. williams: 1T was not offensive e
me. II was offensive 10 the house and con
trary to the rules"
Intense excitement prevailed during thii
exchange Of words members crowding th'
aisles and filling the space In front Of th'
speakers desk. The speaker pounded 10
order. but to no purpose.
When he could be heard above the up
roar Mr.. Cooper said that he was not tn
only gentleman to whom similar statement
were made. There are other members o
the house to whom they have been mad
and there Is no purpose no object. on m!
part 20 deliberately misrepresent that state
ment."
Mr.. Hepburn: why don't you say VIII
II was that told you that?"
p Mr.. Cooper responded by saying that h
4 could not understand why the gentleman
{ asked the question unless he had heard IN
: rumor going round. You placed me In g.
5 embarrassing position and had 20 tell yo
D what was told me. And l told the trui
> and that is the first time that any ma
E on earth has accused me Of telling a false