The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-11
LIKE WAR
CONGRESS
Gaines and Mahon Nearly
Come to Blows in House.
ASSEMBLY IN AN UPR0AR
Representatives In Hot Dispute
Over Charge and Counter.
charges.
ASSEMBLY IN AN UPR0AR

WASHINGTON, Jan. ll.-Congrcss.
man Gaines (Tcnn.) attempted 10 as
sault Mr.. Mahon pa on the hoor OF
the house during the session.
Mahon had declared that statement
Gaines had made was not true. ana
Gaines had 10 be forced into his seat
and held there while congress was In
an uproar.
The house for time took on the APP
pearance OF the closing days OF the
Flfty-nfth congress, commonly known
as the 'war congress" when alterca.
tons between members were frequent.
Mr.. Gaines and Mr.. Mahon were on
~ prevented from meeting In a person
al encounter by the Intervention OF
members. Mr.. Gaines was making
speech on his hill 10 dock members
pay for absence from the house aud
was being twltted by both sides OF the
chamber, TO his evident embarrass'
ment. when he charged Mr.. Mahon
with being absent from the house 10
per cent OF the time.
Previous 20 this sweeping assertion
Mr.. Gaines had read excerpts from the
record In relation Co the Withholding OF
pay In the Fifty third congress AMI the
part Mr. Mahon had played at that
time.
Mr. Mahon remained silent through
out Mr.. Gaines speech, with the excep
ton OF INTERPRETING a remark or two at
the beginning. when Mfr. Gaines had
concluded Mr.. Mahon rose. lie cx-
planned how In the fifty-thlrd aud
Fifty fifth congresses be- had 5000
due 10 him and That the then speaker
Crisp, had given him an order on the
sergeant az arms for the amount. which
was paid.
Then. coming 10 the cruX OF Mr.
Gaines charges. Mr Mahon Numbered.
ANY man who charges me with b.
Ing away from this house ~ per cent
Of the time tells an uniruh"
Mr.. Gaines started down the aisle
from his seat. NO man can tell me
lic." exclaimed the Tcnnc-seean
Then Mr.. Mann an. WHO was In the
chair. took hand ln the alteration
Both men were ordered q their seats
Mr.. Mahon obcying the command
while Mr. Gaines stood two sets away
from the center 81 the chlmh r.. shak
lng both H., aud head nj the rcnusyl
vanian.
When order had been restored Mr.
Mahon again rose. Having been eau.
toned 10y the chair That Il was against
the rules 20 address a member in the
second person. he measured his words
saying he would speak In the fourth
person" lie then said:
The charge 81 the gentleman from
Tennessee that I am away from this
house % per cent Of my time j. a de
libcraie falschood"
Mr.. Gaines rushed down the aisle
toward Mr.. Mahon aud was grabbed ln
front Of the speakers desk 10y Mr..
James (KyJ aud others. who pulled
him back into his seat aud held him
there while he struggled 70 get free.
Everything was In confusion. the
chairman 81 the committee ~ the
whole. Mr.. Mann. pounding bis gnvcl
70 hard that the head new on on 20
the iiOor.
Until order was restored Mr.. Mahm
continued his charge that what Mr..
Gaines had uid WIS absolutely un.
true.
Mr.. Mahon finally rose 10 n question
Of personal privilege. lie stated that
he did not desire Ia impugn the mo.
tive which prompted Mr.. Gaines 10 W..
ter what was an untruth about bis ab.
sencc from the house. but he desired
TO say that his informant was incur
rect.
lie had no desire 10 offend the gen.
tleman from Tennessee, whom be-
classcd among his friends. but he
wanted Mr.. Gaines 30 understand that
the person from whom he obtained his
information misrcprcsenicd the facts.
Not 60 be outdonc In chlyalry. Mr.
Gaines Immediately arose aud, show
ing deep feeling. said that the gentle
man from Pennsylvania had always
been his friend. but that he had been
goadcd beyond endurance not only NJ
the present time. but on former oc
caslon. He regretted extremely the
turn Affairs had taken.
Are you satisfied with thatf' he
asked OF Mr.. Mahon.
For answer Mr. Mahon rushed across
the chamber. and the two men clasped
hands amid loud applause
The house passed the army appro
prIatlon bill and began the considcrn
ton Of the Notifications hill
The senate passed the railroad bill
limiting the hours Of railway employ
ccs 10 sixteen hours OF service. followe'
by ten hours Of rest. by vote Of q
90 1.
Senator Tlllman gave notice he woul'
address the senate tomorrow on ih'
Brownsville ARRAY. and Senator For
aker announced he should endcayor q
get n vote on the investigation rcsolu
ton the same day.