Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-25
1t is Voted to Pay President $4,000,
Including Travelling Expenses.
BATTLE WAGES FOR SIX HOURS
Speaker Cannon Has His Name Called
and Votes Aye.
NO UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE
Provisions for This Omcer and for
Fourth Assistant Secretary of
state Are stricken from
the Measure.

WASHINGTON. Feb. A-with It's war
paint on the house OF representatives today
by sweeping maioritfes many times defied
the senate by rejecting its amendments TO
the executive appropriation bill providing
for salary increases for the president, tine
vice president the speaker. the judiciary
and for the creation OF the offices OF under
secretary and fourth assistant secretary Of
state Party lines we're obliterated COM
pletcly
The battle waged for more than six hours.
at the end Of which the bill was sent TO
conference. So much time was consumed
that a night session was made necessary In
order that further discussion of the sundry
civil appropriation BILL which had dragged
along for several days. might be had.
Prenidents salary Reduced.
The house today began considering the
senate amendments to the executive, legis-
Iative and judicial appropriation bill. The
paragraph increasing the presidents salary
to sIe0.o00 was stricken out This vote re-
suIted-yeas In. nays 100. Before the an
nouncement was made Speaker Cannon d.
rccted that his name be recorded In the
affirmative.
An unusual scene followed. Members
were on their feet in a general scramble
for recognition for motions of one sort or
another The speaker, unruffled by his
beseiEers, held that a motion by Mr.. Wat
son Qnd) TO recede from the amendment
and amend It so as to make the salary
ST5,O0c was preferential Mr. Watson
sought to shut off debate. by moving the
previous question. and on that proposition
the roll again was called.
The previous question was ordered. and
on the vote being taken on the adoption
Of the amendment It was carried. 1s3 to 149,
amid republican applause.
The amendment will make the president 5
salary equivalent 10 the present salary
plus the s25,OOo appropriation heretofore al
lowed for traveIing expenses. the latter
appropriation being stricken out
No Under Secretary of state.
A long debate was prccIpitated by Mr..
Bingham offering an amendment TO the
amendment Of the senate designating the
proposed new official OF the State depart
ment as "vice secretary" instead of under
secretary" and reducing the salary from
$4,000 TO 1900
Strenuous objection and ridicule even
came from all sides to both the titles. Mr..
Fitzgerald IN. " In defining the word
under said il meant. among other things
the under dog or goat, and in international
useage. the nation that had been defeated
In an International settlement.
The charge having been made in several
quarters that the United States was trying
20 ape" foreign powers, Mr.. DENLY
(Mich) disclaimed such a suggestion. The
idea. he said. was to make the department
conform to the diplomatic usage OF all the
world. The amendment was vigorously
supported by Mr.. Watson Qnd), while Mr..
Mann ulL), In opposing the proposed crea-
tlon OF both the office of under secretary
and fourth assistant secretary. maintained
that II was simply another way OF giving
office TO two additional people.
Without opportunity being afforded to
vote on the Bingham amendment, the house
by vote OF 80 TO lS4 rejected the whole
amendment.
All remaining senate amendments per-
tanning to the State department were like
wise rejected.
The next battle was waged on the senate
amendment increasing the salaries of
Judges. Including those OF the supreme
court OF the United States. Finding them
selves In helpless minority. the confer
ence committee moved a noncOncurrence
In all the amendments. This action was
taken and the bill sent back to confer
ence.