Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-26
Cooper Of Wisconsin and Hepburn
Of Iowa Over Question Of
veracity.
WAS INTENSE EXCITEMENT,
Iovan Demanded That Badger Give
Name of His Authority FOR State
mcnts, Not Getting 1t.

veracity was raised between Mr.. Coop
err OF Wisconsin and Mr.. Hepburn OF
Iowa over conversation I'm which the
latter is alleged 10 have participated
with a member OF the senate. and In
which, Mr.. Cooper asserted, the men,
her of In house and the senator re-
ferred 10 agreed that the s0-called "eN"
press company amendment TO the rail-
road rate bill should not remain in the
bill. Both Mr.. Hepburn and Mr.. Cooper
were exceedingly angry, and they glar-
ed at one another during their colloquy.
The house committee on rules de-
clded to report the Hepburn rate bill
resolution favorably II provides for
non-concurrence In the senate amend
ments. and sends the bill TO confer
ence.
The previous question having been or
dered on the rule Mr. Dalzell (Pa) eh-
planned that the resolution was SIM
My for the purpose OF sending the RAN
70 vi bill TO conference
Mr.. Norris ,Ncb.) wanted to know II
tne house would have a chance to vote
on separate amendments as some OF
the amendments adopted by the senate
ought to be discussed in the house.
Mr. Dalzell replied that the rule was
that there would be ample opportunity
10 discuss the conference report. so
far as he was concerned. there vera
sone amendments that he was not IN
favor of and wanted a chance To con-
slider them.
Up 10 this time Il seemed as II tho
rule was 10 be agreed upon without any
great amount Of debate. But a clap OF
thunder came from an unexpected
quarter. MIR. Cooper (Wis) wanted to
know what objection there WAS 20 the
house passing on the amendment now.
He said.
LET us vote on the express company
amendment" Applause ON both sidesD
Mr.. Dalzcll replied that tho house
could easily concur In the conference
report and Instruct the conferees a.
TO the wishes 0f the house
Then Mr.. Cooper, In n very impressive
manner, said that he had been inform-
I'd by gentleman in whose integrity
he had the fullest confidence that some
geutlcmen--he would not say whether
they were members of the house ~
senate, but they We're entitled TO be
conferees on the hlll-had agreed that
the express company amendment
should go out OF the bill
Mr. Hepburn Ga) jumped to his feet,
exclamlng that he did not take any
stock In what one member said to an
other on matters Of this kind.
"Will you state the names of the per.
sons who have thus declared them
sclyes?' called out MIR. Hepburn.
Mir. Cooper--Oh. don't want 10 Of
fend. especially the gentleman from
Iowa
MIR. Hcpburn-Oh, you can't offend
me by answering that question.
Mr.. Cooper will say this that they
we're two gentlemen In whose word
have confidence.
Mr.. Hepburn-I will say this. that
they we're two gentlemen IN whose
word have confidence.
Mr. Hepburn QoudlD -Namo them,
name them.
Mr.. Cooper am not going to name
men who come to me and tell me mat
tess IN confidence. The gentleman
from Iowa places me IN an embarrass-
INK position, but since he asks me l
VIII say that he Is to have remarked
IN conversation, "Oh. the express CONF
pany amendment viii go out"
MIR, Hepburn, greatly wrought up
and exceedingly nervous. replied
ANY man who told the gentleman
that Shaking his fist at Mr. Cooper
told a falsehood aud until the gentle
man from Wisconsin names the indl-
vidual who made this statement to him
7 shall hold that the gentleman Is
drawing upon his imagination"
Mr.. Williams call the gentleman
from Iowa to order for his language,
Mr.. Hepburn withdraw the LAM
guage which is offensive to the gentle
man from Mississippi.
Mr., WillinmsIt was not offensive
90 me. II was offensive to the house
and contrary to the rules.
Intense excitement prevailed during
this exchange Of words, members
crowding the aisles and filling the
space I'm front OF the speakers desk,
The speaker pounded for order but
TO no purpose.
When he could be heard above the
uproar, Mr.. Cooper said that he was
not the only gentleman to whom SINH
lar statements were made
"Thcre are other members Of the
house TO whom they have been made,
and there is no purpose on my part to
deliberately mlsrcpresent that state-
ment"
Mr. Hepburn--WhY don't you say
who II was who told you that?
Mr. Cooper responded by saying that
he could not understand why the gem
tleman asked the question unless he
had heard the rumor going round.
You placed me In an embarrassing
position and I had to tell you what
was told to me. And l told the truth
and that IL the first time that any man
on earth has accused mo Of telling a
falsehood. The statement was made
10 me In confidence, and concerning
the gentleman from Iowa and there
fore cannot give names"
This closed the Colloquy
Mr.. Williams and Mr. Dearmond,
tMo), both autagonized the rule. Mr..
Williams insisted that IL the amend
ments were sent TO the conference in
gross the house would be at the mercy
OF the conferees, and he desired to
have vote on some OF the amend
ments. He admitted that the bill had
come back from the senate to the
house in better shape than when Il
left and intended Ia safeguard the
measure and instruct the confere,s on
some amendments He referred par
ticularly TO the express company
amendment and insisted that the
house should have a chance To go on
record on those amendments. Mr.
Dearmond followed In much the same
strain.
Mr. Hepburn rose to explain his
position and said he stood with Mr.
Williams In presenting solid front to
the senate, and that IL was understood
between the leaders of the two sides
Of the house that there should be a
non-concurrence IN gross.
The rule was then adopted, yeas,
a. nays 105. y
Speaker Cannon appointed as con-
ferees Hepburn. Iowa.. sherman, (N.
", and Richardson, (AlaD.
Twenty-Five Republicans voted with
the Democrats against the rule send
Ing the railroad rate bin to conference.
as follows. Adams, Ames, Bede Bird
sail, Brown, Burton, Campbell, Coop