Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-25
DENOUNCED AS FALSE
Hepburn Repudiates Report of
His Remarks.
EXCITING SCENE IN HOUSE
Rule Regarding the Rate Bill Under
Discussion.
EXCITING SCENE IN HOUSE
EXPRESS COMPANIES PROVISION
Representative Cooper Repeats What
Had Been Told Him Concerning
the Iowan's Intentions.

By vote of IA to 105 the House of Rep
resentatives this afternoon adopted the rule
sending the railroad rate bill to conference
without debate on any of the Senate amend
ments. Representative Hepburn of Iowa,
author of the bill, Representative Sherman
or New York. chairman of the republican
congressional committee and Representa-
tive Richardson were named as conferees
on the part of the House. The omission
from this list of the name of Representative
Townsend of Michigan one of the members
who has been most instrumental in framing
rate legislation and the author of the bill
that passed the House last year. is vigor-
ously denounced from some quarters
lhere was one very interesting feature of
the brief but extremely lively discussion OF
the rate rule That was a hot set-to be-
tween Representative Hepburn and Repre-
sentative Cooper of Wisconsin. The latter
opposed the sending of the bill and its
amendments to conference in the manner
contemplated by the rule. He gave as one
reason for his attitude the fact that Rep
resentative Hepburn. who was certain to be
one of the House conferees had been
heard to remark the other day to one of the
prospective conferees that the express COM
panes within the purview o. the bill would
be knocked out" in conference.
Mr.. Hepburn angrily denied that he had
ever made any such remark to anybody.
Representative Cooper also very much
excited, reiterated the statement, and said
that 1t had come to him from a source in
which he had the most implicit confidence.
Name the menu demanded Representa-
tive Hepburn.
at was told to me in confidence" replied
Mr.. Cooper, land I will not do So"
Name the men," cried Representative
Hepburn again, "or will consider that the
gentleman from Wisconsin is drawing on
his imagination"
Mr.. Cooper turned to Representative
Hepburn and, shaking both fists at him.
cried out that ii was the first time In Con-
gress or out of it, in his own state or any
where else on earth, that he had ever been
accused of telling a falsehood.
Things looked very stormy, and members
came running from all over the House to
crowd around the desks in front of the two
excited members, but the expiration of
Representative Cooper's time and the Wig
ororus pounding of the Speakers gavel
broke up the controversy and the atmos-
phere became normal again.
Rule Reported From Committee.
Immediately after the approval of the
journal In the House Mr.. Dalzen (Pa) re-
ported a rule from the committee on rules
providing that the railroad rate bill, with
the Senate amendments, be sent to confer
ence. Mr.. Dalzell demanded the previous
question. and the roll was called.
The previous question having been order
ed on the rule-yeas 1872 nays So, present 10
Mr.. Dalzell explained that the resolution
was simply for the purpose of sending the
railroad rate bill to conference.
Mr.. Norris (Neb.) wanted to know If the
House would have a chance to vote on
separate amendments as some of the
amendments adopted by the Senate ought
tc be discussed in the House
Mr.. Dalzell replied that the rule was IN
tended only to facilitate business and that
there would be ample opportunity TO dis
the ference renOrt far q
was concerned, there were some amend
ments that he was not in favor of, ana
wanted chance to consider them.
Up to this time 1t seemed as If 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.) want
ed to know what objection there to
letting the House pass on the amendments
now. He said: Let us vote on the ex-
press company amendment. applause on
both sideS)
Mr. Dalzell replied that the House could
easily non-concur in the conference report
and instruct the conferees to the wishes
of the House.
manner. said that he had been informed by
gentleman in whose integrity he had the
fullest confidence that some gentlemen he
would not say whether they were members
of the House Senate, but they were en-.
titled to be conferees on the bill, had
agreed that the express company amend
ment should go out of the bill.
MI. Hepburn Aroused.
Mr.. Hepburn Qowa) jumped to his feet.
exclaming 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 declared themselves" called
out Mr. Hepburn.
Mr.. Cooper-"Oh don't want to offend,
| especially the gentleman from Iowa"
Mr.. Hepburn-"Oh, you can't offend me
by answering that question"
Mr.. "copper" will say this. that they
were two gentlemen In whose word /
have confidence"
Mr.. Hepburn Qoudly)-"Name them.
Name them"
Mr.. Copper am not going to name
in confidence. The gentleman from Iowa
places me in an embarrassing position.
| but since he asks me l will say that he Is
said to have remarked in conversation,
| oh, the express company amendment will
go out
Mr.. Hepburn, greatly wrought up and ex-
ceedingly nervous, replied: ANY man who
| told the gentleman that Shaking his fist at
Mr. Cooper told falsehood and until the
gentleman from Wisconsin names the In
| dividuai who made this statement to him
| shall hold that the gentleman is drawing
| upon his Imagination
| Mr.. Williams: II call the gentleman from
| Iowa to order for his language"
Mr.. Hepburn: II withdraw the language
which is offensive to the gentleman from
Mississippi"
Mr.. Williams: ''t was not offensive to
me. 1t was offensive TO the House and
contrary to the rules