The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-20
HEATED TALK OYER
POSTOFFICE BILL
MACON OF ARKANSAS GETS PALE
WITH ANGER AS HE REPLIES
RIERS.

Washington, February ia heated
controversy which at one time seemed to
threaten a personal alteration, between
Mr.. Macon of Arkansas and Mr.. Fitzger-
aid of New York, occurred on the floor
of the House today while the House had
under consideration the postoffice appro-
pria ton bill. General debate had terminal
ed and the bill was being read for amend
ment under the five minute rule.
When the paragraph relating to the
increase of pay for clerks was reached
In first and second class postoffices. Mr..
Macon demanded a point of order There
were cries of don't do that; let it 60"
Mr.. Macon, however, insisted upon a
ruling upon his point of order, and re-
fused to reserve the point. Mr.. Fltz-
gerald vehemently exclaimed that if the
gentleman from Arkansas considered his
mission to make point of order against
the increase he would see to it that a
point was made against the increase in
the pay for rural carriers for which the
bill provides He would have the country
know that the failure to increase the pay
of rural free delivery carriers was trace
able directly to the obstinacy of Mr..
Macon.
Mr.. Macon was on his feet in an instant
shaking his finger at Mr.. Fitzgerald, say
ing:
You cannot make any threats against
me. You cannot use whip that you will
defeat the increase for rural carriers if
l insist upon my point of order, and
strike out the increase for clerks in the
big postoffices. | refuse to be castigated
nv b1o f1apao frTt, RI
This bill, 1t is said, increases the sala-
ries of clerks $1,000 000," he continued. I'm
my capacity representative | propose
to do what | conceive to be my duty
without any promptings from the gentle
man of New York. II he proposes to rob
the rural letter carriers of their just dues
let him bear the sin himself. | am pre-
pared to do my duty irrespective of the
threats of Mr.. Fitzgerald"
Mr.. Macon had grown pale with anger
by this time, and as he sat down glared
at his antagonist.
Br. Fitzgerald rose slowly and with
much elaboration said that 1t was well
known to every member on the floor that
the provision increasing the salaries of
virtually every person connected with the
postal service were violations of the rules
of the house. 1t was only by unani-
nous consent that the house could pass
on these increases. IT, therefore, the gen
tleman from Arkansas insisted that there
should be no increase in the pay of clerks
in city offices because he happened to
live in a rural community, then the in
crease for the rural carriers would have
to go, too.
BY this time members had gathered
about Mr.. Macon in an effort to persuade
him to withdraw his point of order, but he
remained obdurate, and the chair sus-
tanned the point of order.
The reading of the bill was then re
sumed and Mr.. Macon made point of
order against the section in relation to
the increase for city delivery carriers.
Again there were loud protests but the
chair sustained the point of order. again
and again Mr.. Macon objected and as
often the point was sustained until the
hill looked as If 1t had been riddled with
shot.
A significant statement made by Mr.
Overstreet during the controversy gave
tie, Indirect information that rule would
be reported from the committee on rules
tomorrow restoring the increases stricken
out. and giving the house opportunity to
decide by a direct vote whether or not
the Increase shall remain in the bill.