The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-01-11
Representative Gaines of Ten
nessee Attempts to Assault
Representative Mahon.
TROUBLE CAME UP IN
DOCKING BILL DEBATE
Confusion Reigns on the Floor,
but Peace Is Finally
Made.

WASHINGTON, Jan. lO.-Bate TINS
afternoon Mr. Gaines of Tennessee aud
Mr. Mahon Of Pennsylvania were only
prevented from meeting in personal
encounter by the Intervention of mem
hers on the floor of the House. Mr..
Gaines was making a speech on has
bill 10 dock members pay for alb
sence from the House, and was beng
twitted by both sides Of the chamber,
10 his evident embarrassment. During
his speech he charged Mr.. Nahon with
being absent from the House 80 per
cent of the tune.
Mr.. Gaines had read excerpts from the
record in relation to the Withholding
Of pay in the Fifth-third Congress and
the part Mr.. Mahon had played at that
time.
Mr. Mahon remained silent through
out Mr. Gaines's speech, with the ex-
ception OF interlecting remark or two
had concluded Mr.. Mahon rose. He
explained how in the Fifty-third and
Fifty-ffth Congresses he had $1,000 due
him and that Speaker Crisp had given
him IN order on the Sergeant-at Arms
for the amount. which was paid. Then.
coming 10 the crux of Mr.. Gaines S
charge Mr.. Mahon thundcred;
Given Lie Direct.
"Anv man who charges me with be-
ing away from this House % per cent
of the time tells an untruth-
Mr.. Gaines started down the aisle
from his seat No man can tell me
| le.' be exclaimed,
Mr.. Mann (Illinois). who was IN the
chair, ordered both men to their seats,
Nh Mshon obeying the command,
while Mr Gaines stood two seats away
from the center Of the chamber, shak
ing both fists and head al the Penn
sylvanian.
When order had been restored Mr..
Mahon again rose, Having been eau
toned by the chair that ii was against
the rules to address member in the
second person he measured his words,
saving he would speak in the fourth
person. He then said;
''The charge OF the gentleman from
Tennessee that | am away from this
house % per cent of my time is de-
liberate falsehood.
With a rush Mr. Gaines reached the
center of the chamber, making direct
" toward the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vanla, insisting as he went that no
man could call him liar without per.
soual chastisement
House in Uproar.
The House was in an uproar by this
time. the chair adding 10 the noise, If
not 10 the confusion, by pounding the
desk with his gavel, His efforts finally
caused the head of the gavel to fly off,
and il bounded into the body of the
House. almost striking one of the mem
bers.
The rush of Mr.. Gaines upon his ad
versary brought dozen members be
fore the Speaker s desk. Messrs. Ollie
James of Kentucky. Taylor of Alabama,
oil
sippi, the minority leader. and Stafford
of Wisconsin grabbed Gaines. who. re-
sisting vigorously, was forced back 10
his seat.
Mr.. Mahon seemed to wait for the
impact which never came. With Mr..
Gaines back in his seat, the Pennsyl-
vanian made his speech Of explanation
as to how he became connected with
the invoking of an old statute com
pelling members to forfeit pay for The
time absent from the House He said
the charge that he was away from the
House o per cen; Of the time was a lie
on its face. and that he was there 95
per cent of the time, as every member
who cared 10 inquire could ascertain
Mr.. Lacey of Iowa called for the
reading of the statute relating TO the
docking of members pay, and he was
followed hy Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio,
who explained the reason for the
statute, Mr.. Dearmond of Missouri
asked that the minority views OF the
Judiciary committee on the statute be
printed.
Friends Make Peace.
When this coloonv was in progress
the friends of Messrs Gaines and Ma.
hon were engaged in an effort 10
bring about reconciliation, in which
they were successful, and at its CON
clnsion Mr.. Mahon rose to question
Of personal privilege He stated that
he did moi desire to impuen the motives
which prompted Mr., Gaines 10 utter
what was an untrnth about his ah-
sence from the House. but ne desired
10 say that his informant was incor-
rect. He had no desire TO offend
the gentleman from Tennessee He
classed him among his friends, but
wanted him TO understand the person
from whom he obtained his information
misrepresented the facts.
Mr.. Gaines Immediately arose aud.
showing deep feeling. said that the
gentleman from Pennsylvania had al
ways been his friend, but that he had
been goaded beyond endurance. He re-
GREETED extremely the turn affairs had
taken.
Mr. Mahon rushed across the cham
Der, The two men clasped hands amid
loud applause.
The committee rose, and at 4;45 n.
m. the House adjourned