The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-11
APPARENT DEF EAT
.0F THE PAYNE BILL
Signal Victory of Democrats
Over Republican Organiza-
ton of House.
THOMAS DIscLAIMs CREDIT
But Was Moving Spirit in Move
mcnt Which Resulted in
Payne Defeat.
(From Our Regulnr CORRESPONDENCE

From Our Regular Correspondent.o
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. March l0.--,rhe
apparent final defeat of the PAYNE bill
which gave to the President the mower
to adjust all the custom house districts
OF the country which would have meant
the abolition Of several custom houses in
Virginia and North Carolina. was a signal
victory for the Democrats, one of the
several they have won tits session over
the organization OF the House. It is
something new, this turning down OF the
Republican leadcrs-not entirely new, but
so rare In sessions OF recent years that
the number Of times IL mas occurred this
session has excited Democratic felclta-
tons OF each other.
Representative Charles Randolph
Thomas, OF the Third North Carolina dis
trict. was chiefly responsible for this last
defeat OF the organization. He modestly
dlsciaims the credit for the victory. re-
farring those who congratulate him to
his Republican associates. for he could
not have won without their aid. But
those familiar with the facts know that
Mr.. Thomas was u moving spirit in In
citing the movement which resulted in
the turning down OF Representative
Payne, the Republican floor leader. The
latter was trying to get the bill before
the Committee OF the Whole for consld-
Grafton. MIR Thomas and Representative
Gardner, OF New Jersey, opposed and hus-
tied with such effectiveness that they
beat the motion about two to one
Victory Over Republicans.
The massage of the bill wonld have
meant the discontinuance of the customs
house ut Beaufort, and also the one at
New Bern. which would have been ca
lamitous to the fishing and TO other mari
go r.. /. hoy
This was not the first time Mr.. Thomas
achieved victory over the Republican
organization OF the house. The speaker
on one occasion refused to recogniZa him
for discussion of the bill to construct a
s1-b, go revenue cutter for New Bern, but
after studying the parliamentary prece-
dents, Mr. Thomas, at the expiration OF
the morning hour. moved 10 go into
committee of the whole to consider the
bill. and his motion carried. He had seen
to IL. OF course, that he had the backing
necessary 10 get the bill up.
Mr. Thomas has TO his credit stu an
other victory OF this character. He had a
bill 10 reimburse the Masonic lodge of New
Perm, in the sum OF 500 for damages
done to its property during the war. Rep
resentative Payne strongly opposed the
bill. but MIR Thomas hung on like grim
death and carried the fight so far that
there was n call of the House on his mo-
ton. The motion prevailed and the bill
was finally passed.
Although good, and frequently success
ful in contests involving knowledge of
parliamentary practice, and tiir' rites OF
the Houss. ike the foregoing, Mr..
Thomas is an attractive speaker. His
argument in favor OF the bill 10 relieve
the New Bern Masons, mentioned above,
was both forcible and eloquent. He made
an appeal in behalf of the obligation of
all sectionalism in legislation, and for a
reunited country in fact as well az in
name. The plea won the day for him and
his bill.