The Washington herald., 1907-01-05
GOVERNMENT SCORED
Representative MahOn Calls
1t a RObber.
TILT OVER THE WAR CLAIMS
Declares milton Is
Unfair and Dishonest in Matter OF
Paying Debts-Payne Takes Issue.
No Action on Omnibus Claims hill.
Name of Speaker I'm Discussion.

/ No Action on Omnibus Claims hill.
Name of Speaker I'm Discussion.
Practically the whole Of the session of
the House of Representatives yesterday
was consumed by a discussion of the
omnibus claims bill reported by the Com
mittee on War Claims
4 sharp debate occurred between Mr.,
Mahon. chairman Of the committee, and
Mr.. Mann and Mr. Payne. Mr.. Mahon Sc
verely criticised the government for its
/ handling of claims. He called 1t a robber,
said it was unfair and dishonest, and de-
clared it was worse in the matter of re-
/ fusing 20 pay its honest debts than any
government on earth.
At one time Mr.. Gaines, of Tennessee,
ventured the remark that II Mr. Mahon
/ had been I'm the House attending to bust
ness all the time, as was his duty, his
bill would not be loaded down with i'm
, proper items. to which such members of
/ his own party as Mr. Mann felt It neces-
@ary to object. Without definite action
on the bill, the House adjourned TO Mon
/ day.
Speaker Cannon. at the opening Of the
session, handed the reading clerk the fol-
lowing statement. which was read:
THE Chair appoints Mr.. EngIebright. Of
| California, a member of the Committee
on Mines and Mining, in place of Mr..
| Williamson. Of Oregon, who has not ap-
peaTed and taken his seat in this House. "
/ he followed II with an explanation that
/ Jefersons Manual authorized the prac-
/ tice Of assigning member TO a commit
1 Tee before he had qualified as had been
done i'm this case. There weEe various
/ precedents, the Speaker said. for the APP
poIntment Of Mr.. Englebright under ex-
listing conditions. but on the whole. despite
the wording Of the statement, he prefer
red that it should be made without obiec-
/ ton, and &c was so ordered.
/ Mr.. Williamson was indicted and con-
! victed in the land-fraud prosecutions IN
stitutcd by the government In Oregon.
[ tie appealed from the judgment Of tbe
/ trial court, and is now awaiting the action
| Of the Supreme Court. He has not APP
I peared in the House since his election 81
I 1904
Claims Provided For.
After agreeing TO adjourn at the close
I of the days session until Monday. Tire
/ House devoted itself to a consideration OF
: bills on the calendar for the payment Of
I claims. Mr. Mahon. of Pennsylvania,
/ chairman Of the Committee on WaT
/ Claims. called up what is known as the
I omnibus bill carrying appropriations as
+ follows: Stores supplies. and occupation
Of property seized by or furnished tc
Union troops in the war Of the rebellion,
/ $5S6S20; miscellaneous claims. S746f7j
/ French spoliatiCn claims. S320.C7!.
/ This was the first time that this com
mittee had taken jurisdiction of the spoil
alton claims. Heretofore Congress has
| appropriated S3.9l0.S6l to pay claims Of thf.
/ character.
Mr. MahOn made the unusual request
/ that the first reading OF the bill. COM
I prising hfty-two pages. be dispensed with;
/ but Mr.. Mann, of Illinois. objected, say
/ ing that he could not obtain copy. and
/ the House should hear it, AS he finished
a page handed him a copy. but he IN
( sisted on the reading. Later he asked
/ unanimous consent that the reading be
/ suspended, there being but a handful OF
members in their seats, but several mem
/ bers. who resented his original objection.
in turn objected, and the reading pro
/ ceeded TO its close.
When it had been concluded Mr.. Mann
made the point of order against the
/ French sp0lation claims. COMPRISING
/ seventeen pages OF the text. on the ground
that the Committee on War Claims had
no jurisdiction. The point was sustained,
and they went out. Chairman Mahon re-
marking that the Senate would put them
back.
rather sharp cOlloquy occurred be
tween MessTs. Aiahon and Mann. the
former declaring that he knew the latter S
purpose to be to kill the bill. and that ne
did not propose to aid him in accomplish
ing it by engaging in unnecessary talk.
MahOn Criticises Government.
A long, desultory discussion Of the
treatment Of claimants by Congress en-
sued. Mr. Mahon said he agreed with
the late President Garfield in his opinion
that the United States government for
her treatment of her private citizens. if
.
ing a striped suit and be i'm the peniten-
tiary for life" Later. he said that the
doctrine that the man who lost his prop
erty in war should not be paid had long
ago been abandoned by all civilized peo-
pies Of the world.
Mr. Payne, Of New York-Does the gen
tleman not think he ought to withdraw
his eXtrava CANT criticism Of Congress?
Nir. Mahon-No. sir; / emphasize it.
Mr., Payne-The gentleman is a part of
Congress, and he is citizen Of the
United States. He ought to have some
patriotic pride.
Mr.. Mahon-I take no pride in a govern
ment that robs her people, This govern
ment is more unfair, more dishonest in
refusing 20 pay the honest debts she owes
her people than any other government on
the face Of the earth. / am a part OF the
government, and as chairman of the Com
mittee on War Claims have been trying
70 get them out.
Mr.. Payne think Congress is disposed
% be eminently fair and just in the pay
ment Of these claims, but the interests OF
the taxpayers require that the Treasury
shall not be robbed by unjust claims
Mr.. Mann supported this position, say
ing that any man who had a Just or legal
claim against the government possessed
a most valuable asset. He gave notice
that. so FAR as ne was concerned, he pro-
posed to see that there was full consider
alton OF every item i'm the bill.
PrecOncerted Plan Charged.
To this Mr.. Mahon retorted that the
niger was out Of the woodpile" When
he saw movements made on the floor
with military precision he thought he
had sense enough to know what was
going on. The pending bill contained
several hmndred IlaIns II rras not rar-