The Washington herald., 1909-02-28

Hostilities that brought the official mace
from its socket for the first time since the
Fifty-ffth Congress broke out in the
House of Representatives yesterday be
tween Speaker Cannon and Representa-
tive John Wesley Gaines. Of Tennessee.
and for time II looked as if the Ser
geant-at-arns would be sent to the seat
OF Air. Gaines 10 keep him in order.
Both the Speaker and Mr. Gaines
charged the other with using insulting
language. and Mr.. Gaines declared the
chair had no right to reprove member.
anyway.
The Speaker said that II had come TO be
considered that the Speakers tongue was
tied and that members took advantage Of
that
Members Of the House expected a more
serious clash and were relieved greatly
when Representative Gaines took his seat
Gaines Starts TrOubIe.
The trouble started when Mr. Gaines in.
terrupted the reading Of the general def
.iency bill with
Mr.. Speaker. I would Ike TO make an
inquiry"
The Speaker-For what purpose?
Mr. Gaines-If I am in order. I would
Ike TO ask a question
The Speaker-The gentleman cannot in
-errupt the reading
Mr.. Gaines-Then. am not in order.
that is what I asked one never knows
when he is in order. you make so many
-uIes.
The Speaker-The gentleman has served
ong enough in Congress 10 know he is
not in order
Mr. Gaines-I did not know I was not
n order. I had just come into the cham
5sr- had been at work, and public work.
II that, as usual
should Learn, Says Speaker.
The Speaker-The gentleman should
learn-
NIr. Gaines-It takes q student ike the
speaker 10 know all these rules. and he
has TO study them every minute and
rave q man 10 prompt him
The Speaker-The gentleman from
Tennessee is absolutely discourteous and
nisstates the facts
Mr Gaines-The gentleman is not dis
courteous any more than the Speaker IS
5iscourteoUs 70 the gentleman from
Tennessee. The gentleman has not mis-
stated the facts.
The Speaker-The chair. sitting as
Speaker Of the House. desiring 10 be as
nearly impartial as he can. a practice
mas grown on the suppOsition that the
Speakers tongue Is tied. to insult him
ard the Speaker viii not sit silent
Mr. Gaines-The gsntleman's tongue
IS not tied. and he is insulted as otter
ss the Speaker he has done that 70,
twelve years.
Sergeant-at-arms Called.
The Speaker-The gentleman VIII be II
order and the clerk viii proceed.
Mr Gaines-The Speaker VII be II
order. 100. and has no right to lecture q
menber.
The speaker-The gentleman VIII be IL
order.
Nr CainesI am trying to be, Mr.
Speaker
lie speaker-The gentleman viii be II
order. and the Sergeant-at-arms viii set
that he remains in order
Ar G2lnes-A parliamentary inquiry
M Speaker
The Speaker-The gentleman is not
recognized for a parliamentary inquiry
Mr. Gaines-I viii sit down then.
When the Speaker ordered The Sergeant.
alarms 10 restore order. Deputy Serg.
eant-at-arms Pierce took the official mace
OF bis Office from iIS socket and Was
about 70 proceed 10 Mr.. Gaines desk
Don't 90 down there unless you hav,
TO- said the Speaker. soto voce-
What shall I DO when I get there .
whispered Pierce
Il don't know. unless you emulate Ike
HiH and tell him % sit down or you /
peek him in the head" said q near-bl
member Of the House laughing up hi
sleeve.
Last Used in 1899.
The last omciaI use Of the mace in sucl
an emergency was in ISss. in the Fifty
fifth Congress. when Representative Bart
cit. OF Georgia threw q book al Repre-
sentative Brumrn. of Pennsylvania i
the Fifty-first Congress Representative
W. u. Bynum. Of Indiana. had it puIIet
or him FOR calling a distinguished col
league a sewer pipe
Pursued 20 its logical conclusion. TIT
usc Of The mace usually leads 10 an apOI
ogy from the offending member. or, as Al
alternative is censured by the Speaker
Nir. Gaines. however, offered no apolOg,
and the Speaker refrained from continu
ing the argument longer than was neces
sary.
The worst thing that could happel
would be the expulsion OF the member
Most Of the members Of the House be
lieve the matter win be dropped as one o
the passing clashes that Is bound TO come