The Washington herald., 1908-04-08
ROW IN COMMITTEE
''Tit for Tat" Game by House
Filibusters.
NO GORE sPILLING FIGHT
Bloody Battle Just AveFted at Meet
ing 90 Consider Campaign Pub
Iieity BilI-DemOcratic Members
Claim Republicans BoIted to De-
story Presence of Quorum.

Congressional courtesy was forgotten
for the nonce in the House Committee
on the Election Of the President. Vice
President. and Representatives in Con-
gress yesterday.
The rule under which this committee
considered the Mccall campaign publicity
bill resembied a cross between those sc-
credited TO the Marquis Of Queensberry
and those Of Hitachiyama. the japanese
wrestler.
While no gore fleeked the sea-green
carpet Of the committee room after the
nonce had faded into history and the
present came leaping into the limelight
hot words were exchanged and blows al
most fell. The whole matter seems 10 be
a practical presentation Of the great
game Of tit for tat"
According 10 the best authorities, the
Democrats have. for several days. been
conducting a well-organized and highly
industrious and most successful hlibuster
on the floor OF the House Naturally.
some Republicans have become indignant
Yesterday, when the committee. whose
history almost became bloody, met to
consider the Mccall bill, there were FIVE
Democrats and three Republicans pres
ent.
Was & Quorum.
AS the committee consists OF thirteen
members, it viii be seen at once that a
quorum dominated by the Democrats was
present. Chairman Gaines did not seem
to be very anxious to have the bill taken
up. although Representatives Cochran
and Mccall were both present to argue in
its favor.
Here. however is the committees own
version Of the whole affair-excluding, of
course, the fght-signed by five Demo
cratic members. who were conscious of
that signing:
Hon. Joseph II. Gaines Of West Virginia, char
man of the Committee on Election Of President
Vice President. and Representatives in Congress
called meeting Of the committee for 1870 this
morning.
The chairman convened the committee, and upon
rolcan Mr. Burke Of Pennsylvania. and Mr.. Dieke-
ma, Of Michigan Republicans, and all five Of the
Democratic members Of the committee answered
present.
This constituted a quorum. Upon motion made
By one Of she Democratic members the chair called
up II. X. 2ii2. introduced by IT. Mccall. Of Mas
sschusetts, and popularity known as the campaign
contribution publicity bll.
Chair Read Bill.
The chair proceeded to read ssld bill at length
and at the conclusion Of the reading one Of the
Democratic members Of the committee moved that
the bill as read be ordered faToraby reported and
on that motion demanded the previous question.
The chairman suggested that gentlemen present
who are not members Of the committee, had been
invited 70 attend the committee meeting to discuss
the provisions Of this bill. and asked if it was the
purpose 10 report it without hearing from those
gentlemen.
The answer was that as the committee had a very
short time in which to act and as Congress was
fast approaching the close Of the present session.
and as these gentlemen and others had previously
been heard on similar bills. the motion would be
insisted upon
About this time the chairman engaged in whis-
pered conversation with Mr. Diekems and Mr.
Burke the two Republican members present after
which they Immediately left the room The chair
then announced 20 the Democratic members all Of
whom were present that no quorum was present
and that he would not put the motion TO report
the bill
One Of the Democratic members asked the chair
man II, upon a roll call within five minutes
responded. Yes" Then he was asked if the two
Republican members who had Just retired from the
room did not absent themselves at his suggestion
and he replied to this query: The chair does not
Was Opposed to II.
The chairman expressed himself as being oppcsed
to the Mccall bill referred to. however. and said
he did not feel like maintaining quorum to report
out Dill to which he was opposed The FIVE Dem
ocTatie members Of the committee were in favor
Ct reporting the Mccall bill, and It would have
been favorahly reported bat for the fbustering
tactics Of the Republicans in breaking the quorum
This Is a concise statement of the proceedings of
the committee. submitted without comment.
tSigned by an the Democratic membersl
". r. RUCKER,
o. ". GILLESPIE,
FRANCIS RIYES LASsITER.
THOMAS w. HARDWICR.
R. ~ HACKETF.
The statement OF the Democratic men,
bers occasioned some comment yesterday
as It is one Of the unwritten laws OF the
House that nothing which transpires in
committees shall be given out TO the
press. That the Democrats were willing
TO violate this rule shows 1t is said, that
they are very much in earnest in their
desire 10 have the publicity bill passed.