The Washington times., 1909-02-15
Lower Branch Says Plan TO
Reduce Cabinet Salary
Not Legal.
TAFT NOT PRAISED
FOR FAVORING IT
Vote Is 179 to 123 Against Plan
TO Discharge Gaines Com
mittee From Duty.

The House today defeated the bin 10
make Senator Knox eligible as secre-
tary OF State in the Cabinet OF Presi-
dent TAFT by a vote Of 179 to 123.
In a measure. party lines were swept
aside, Democrats speaking IA favor a.
well as against the bill. and Republicans
doing likewise.
The most sensational speech OF the
DAY was that Of Representative Mann
OF Illinois, when he declared ne would
not be a party 10 a conspiracy designed
70 violate the provisions OF the Cousti-
tuition. He referred TO the attitude Of
President Roosevelt toward the Consti-
tuition, and said it haa been hoped that
President Taft would hold the Constitu-
ton invioIable and sacred.
There was immediate objection by
Rucker Dem., MOI the ranking mem
Der Of the committee. He asked TO have
the time OF debate extended TO Two
hours.
Gaines refused. Rucker then demand-
ed a second to Gaines request, nenry
Dem, Tex refusing TO give unani-
nous consent to the request Of the West
Virginian that the second be considered
as ordered.
A second was then ordered by vote
Of 1l6 to CO.
The Speaker then announced that de-
bate would last forty minutes, twenty
to each side. There was instant objec-
ton to this on the minority side.
Clark Dem, Mo- asked unanimous
consent for an hour on each side. Rep
sentative Payne (Rep., y. y objected
declaring that the oIner business or the
House was too pressing 10 use this
Henry .oen. Tex then proposed an
evening session, bat Payne again OBJ
Jected.
Champ Clark Against It.
Representative Champ Clark opened in
opposition to the bill He said:
The question is not ene Of salary.
would vote for a bill TO reduce the
salary Of the Secretary Of State and
other Cabinet officers, but the question
is TO try to make a man eligible who is
ineligible under the Constitution, and
this bin is a simple effort TO override
the Constitution by statute. We are
asked 70 stultify our bills in order that
a man may be persona graUa at the
White House All the statutes this Con-
gress can pass between now AID March
4 will not make Senator Knox eligible
20 this office. This Is not q political
question Of the construction or the Con
StitutiOu, and q question OF understand
ing plain English. The fathers VINO
made the Constitution were wise IN put
ting in this provision J. is there ana
you cannot take IL out. It IS right, and
/ for one do not propose 10 stuitlry
a
State"
Mr.. Clark remarks were greeted with
loud applause on the Democratic SIDE.
He was followed by tWO-miEute
speech Of Representative Gillespie Ot
Texas, who insisted that the effort was
clearly one TO amend the Constitution
by legislation, and who dramatically ez-
claimed that he would Ieel forever hu-
inflated II Congress would pass this act,
deliberately trampliug the Constitution
Lassiter Is for It.
Mr.. Lassiter Of Virginia. a member
Of the committee which reported the
bill. and the only Democrat on the
committee who yOred with the Repub-
Ilcaus, declared that the bll was not a
party. measure and that IL could not
and should not Je decided by a party
vote He declared that both sides OF
the House should vote TO make possible
the election OF Senator Knox as Secre-
taIy Of State
fRfr. RuCker Of Missouri. in opposing
the bill, said that the members OF the
House cannot hide behind the bill.
lis il true" questioned Dir. RucHers
chat there IS only one man In all or
the United States who is available as
Secretary or StsLe, and that one man
is barred by the provisions OF the Con
stitution2 Congress knows that Eend-
tor knox IS lneilBlDLes ana We seek 20
make him eligible. sWOre before the
Speakers desk TO support The consul
tuition The bin now before us has Tor
its sole purpose the aunulmeut OF IndL
Others Are Opposed.
ETr. Hacket of North Carolina, declared
that he was opposed 10 the bin for
many reasons, aside from the question
OF coustitutionality involved
Mr.. Hardwick Of Georgia, also a mem
ber Of the committee. declared that
every man on the floor Of -he House
knew that Senator Knox IS barred by
The Constitution; that the Constitution
meant what it said and said what IL
meant and that therefore Congress
should not seek to eVade us PROVISIONS.
Mr. Henry OF Texas declared Ilal et2's-
/ eress cannot wipe out the COusIlLuJ5o-3-s-
disqualification of Senator Knox 5e
said that the act would be a violation
of the spirit as Wei as the letter OF Ihe
Constitution and that his oath as
member of the House would make lJ
/ imDossible for HIN to vote tOg fhe BILL
/ Mr. webb of North Carolina made
similar argument
Representative Mann of Illinois was
the first prominent Republican 20 speak
against The bill, and mis- argument WAS
so f0rceful that It startled the support
ers of the measure
II cannot bring myself SAID MT.
Mann, Ito be party 20 a conspiracy
arranged for the purpose of vioIauHs
/ the Constitution and 10 allow the next
President OF the United states, imme-
Continued on Eighth paEe)