The Detroit times., 1908-10-22
SMITH VOTED FOR
RY. GRAFT WITH
CANNON GANG
WASHINGTON TIMES.
IN SECOND ATTACK FRANK NUN
sgYs PAPER PuRPoRTs TO
TELL HOW MICHIGAN CON.
GRESHAM SERVED PEOPLE.

~
WASHINGTON. Oct. 22.-The
Times, In continuing its attack upon
Congressman Sam Smith, Of Michigan.
as a member OF the District of Colum.
bia committee and for his pro-corpor-
alton attitude In matters pertaining to
the district, will say In another spe-
cial edition to be devoted to Smith:
Rep. Samuel w. Smith has made
especial claim 10 the gratitude of the
public. on the ground that he was
somehow responsible for cutting on
some 100000 from the annual allow
ance to the railroads for hauling the
mails.
Mr.. Smiths claim to responsibility
In this connection II q surprise to peo-
pie familiar with the course of this
measure. Nobody In Washington knew
that Mr.. Smith had any part In that
Victor Mardock. Of Kansas. who made
the fight to cut OF that graft-about
$1,000, 900 of II year--and was beat
en-. II wiz likewise be a surprise to
Postmaster General Meyer. who. after
congress had failed to pass the legls-
lation necessary TO stop this graft. is
sued an executive order which put an
But SMITH Nobody In Washington
ever dreamed that ne had done any
thing to Justify q claim that he had
contributed to the result.
Facts Of Railroad Graft.
The facts In this matter OF the rail-
road graft In carrying mails are, brief
Rep. Murdoch. two years ago. when
the postofhce appropriation bill was
under consideration. pointed out that
hAi N
showed that In the mail weighing pc
Rod each four years. It has been Gus
tomary TO weigh the total amount OF
average. to divide the total by the
number of week days. That 10, in fx-
ing the dtvtsor. every seventh day-ev-
cry rSSundaymwa. cut no out; ,s..o, Cor
doing this. but II had become the Gus
tom to do Il. and II resulted In a big
increase p In the average payment 49,
average daily weight was Increased
from 52.634 to 61.395 pounds. Why?
Because the railroads wanted the
money.
A donation of just 1873 per cent
Rep. Murdoch dug out the facts and
figures and history Of this cheerful
graft. and attacked Il on the floor OF
gest lights of tho session two years
ago. But he failed. Congress stood
by the railroads and their 1928 p0r
CtHt graft
But the airing Of the business had
caused a sensation. and before long
Postmaster General Meyer took n
hand. He issued an order that here
after the weight of mail should be d.
vided by the actual number OF days.
instead of the actual number less Sun
days That seemed TO put an end to
that particular graft.
Railroads Try the senate.
Eut what happened? Were the rail-
willing n mr. THAR o.
ity? BY no means,
They came around at the next SEES
sion. with an argument like this:
four years. and the average then de-
termined constitutes the basis OF our
pay FOR the fun four years period
What we ask Is that as the weight Of
mall Is growing constantly. you give
us a weighing period each year, so that
we will get the benent of the annual
increase
AS the question OF payment OF mail
haulage had been thoroughly aired In
the house the year before. the railroads
did not try to get this new provision
the postoffice appropriation bill to pass
the house. and then carried their
scheme to the senate. There they got
IL inserted In the bill.
this and ether amendments, the
Dill went back to the house. Instanter
there was fight against this prov!s-
lon for annual weighings. II was
paid an excessive rate for hauling the
msils--s rata several times as high as
that for which they gladly haul express
matter-they were not entitled to ask
Congressman Murdoch again led tho
light. He pointed out Congressional
Record; May "a. 1908. Page 7osD that
back TO the railroads from $4,000 900
10 100000 of what had been taken
away. just one year before. by read
He showed that II was simply an In
direct way Of undoing the reform OF
the previous year. and urged that the
house reject the senate amendment
smith Voted for the Railroads.
The debate became a most animated
one. II developed into a fight between
the Cannon organization and the oppo-
sition. II proved that the entire pow
er of the Cannon organization was de-
termined to give back that money to
the railroads.
How did Mr.. Smith OF Michigan vote
that time?
accepting a conference report agreeing
to the senate amendment. On that
question the yeas were 143 and the
nays 1875 Among those voting In the
back to the railroads. by indirection,
what the postmaster generals order
had taken away from them--was SAM
uei W. Smith OF Miehigani
IL was one of the closest votes Of
the session. and one of the first tests
OF strength in which the Cannon re-
gime was defeated.
Cannon summoned to his support ev-
cry follower on whom he could count
through thick and thin-and then was
defeated, a good many members who
ordinarily followed the house organi-
CATION considered this q little too
strong. They bolted.
But Samuel w. Smith wasn't one OF
the boilers. He voted with the speak
err. the organization--and the railroads. |
Among those who on that roll call
voted with Cannon and Smith and the
railroads were Serene K. Payne and
John Dalzeil, the two foremost oppon-
that n trust doesn't want. J. Adam
Bede Of Minnesota, who has since been
defeated for renomin-
alton by the Republican primaries in
his district because of too much Can
nom; John J. Jenkins, of Wisconsin.
likewise defeated, a few weeks ago. |
for denomination, in a night in which
volved: Tawney. OF Minnesota, who.
though chairman OF the great commit
tee or appropriations. had the fight OF
his life for denomination because his
district objected to being represented
by man who so uniformly followed
Cannon.
Ana along with them went Samuel
w; smith--votins for Cannon and the
railroads.
He had to. because Cannon made him
chairman OF one OF the important com
mittees OF the house
Why did Cannon do II? Because he
knew Smith was one or his kind.
That n the true story OF how Smith
served the people by cutting OF the