Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-20
BLOCKED BY MAUOE
POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST IN
CREASE IN SALARIES.
Heated Controversy in the House
During Consideration Of the
Postal BILL.

A heated controversy which at one time
seemed to threaten a personal alteration
between Mr.. Macon of Arkansas and Mr..
Fitzgerald Of New York occurred on the
floor Of the House yesterday afternoon
while the House had under consideration
the post office appropriation bill. General
debate had ended and the bill was being
read for amendment under the five-minute
rule.
When the paragraph relating to the in
crease Of pay for clerks in first and second
class post Offices was reached Mr.. Macon
made point Of order against the section.
There were cries Of Don't do that" "let it
CO." Mr.. Macon, however, insisted upon
ruling on his point of order and refused
to reserve the point.
Mr. Fitzgerald vehemently exclaimed that
If the gentleman from Arkansas believed
1t his mission to make a point Of order
against the increase Of pay for clerks he
would see to 1t that q point was made
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 traceable directly to
the obstinacy of Mr.. Macon.
Macon's Defiance.
Mr. Macon was on his feet in an instant.
Shaking his finger at Mr.. Fitzgerald, he
exclaimed: you cannot make any threats
against me. You cannot use a whip that
you will defeat the increase for rural car
riers If I insist upon my point of order and
strike out the increase for clerks in the big
post offices. l refuse to be castigated by
the gentleman from New York. If he pro-
poses to rob the rural letter carriers of
their just dues let him bear the sin him
self. am prepared to do my duty ire
spective of the threats of Mr.. Fitzgerald"
Mr 10 xx,ifI rlo Ill
antagonist
Mr.. Fitzgerald rose slowly and with much
elaboration said that it was well known to
every member on the floor that the provi-
SionS increasing the salaries of virtually
every person connected with the postal
service were violations of the rules of the
House. 1t was only by unanimous consent
that the House could pass on these in
Arkansas insisted that there should be no
increase in the pay of clerks in city Offices
because he happened to live in rural COM
munity then the increase for the rural car
rier would have to go too.
Again Mr.. Macon secured a hearing. He
began to speak about 1.-THE pernicious and
obnoxious voice on the floor
He got no further. The chairman's gavel
New Hampshire, in the chair, Immediately
called attention to the rule governing de-
bate and the courtesy that one member
should show to another.
Increase Ruled Out.
The point of order was sustained. The
reading of the bill was then resumed. Mr.
Macon made a 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 the point
was sustained. until the bill figuratively
looked as If 1t had been riddled with shot
significant statement made by Mr.. Over
street during the course of the Macon
Fitzgerald controversy gave the indirect in
formation that a rule would be reported
from the committee on rules today restor-
ing the increases stricken out and giving
the House opportunity to decide by direct
vote whether or not the increases shall re-
main in the bill and taking the amendment
from the domain of objection.