Evening star., 1909-04-12
CORRECTS TARIFF BILL
Refined Oil Products Put on
Free List by House.
MEASURE IS CALLED BACK
Speaker Rules That Special Session
Can Take Up Any Business.
RESOLUTION ABOUT JAN1T0Rs
Representative. Macon Opposes Con-
observation-disclosures Bill Called Up
and Amendments Considered.

The House of Representatives met to-
day to straiglrten out kink In the tariff
bill and to put the product OF refined oil
on the free list, as intended, instead OF
under right smart duty. Correction of
this oversight was accomplished by the
House authorizing its clerks to get the
bill back, from the Senate and make the
required change.
That the present session of the Con-
gress. called to enact tariff legislation, Is
not restricted to that subject was the de-
cision OF Speaker Cannon today. -,
The question came up when Macon
(ATkO objected to the House pass
ing on some resolutions from the
committee on accounts providing
for the pay of a number. of jani-
tors The. Speaker declared he was not
aware Of any constitutional provision that
would prevent the House transacting any
business it desired under the rules.
Mr., Hay (Va-) promptly inquired II a
committee on accounts had been ap-
pointed for this Congress. The Speaker
ruled that the law recognized the old
committee as temporary one until the
House was fully organized.
House In Gay Mood.
Representative Hughes of West Vir-
ginia. chairman of the committee on ac-
counts. was the author of the little reso-
luton authorizing the employment of
seven tanitors to take care of the rooms
Of such distinguished committees as
Improvement of the levees of the Mis-
sissippi," Coinage weights and meas
ures," education and the like.
Having gotten the important business
for which it was called together out of
way, the House was in a hilarious mood
and evidently wanted to enjoy itself.
these seven janitors stirred
up as much dust-almost-as the entire
Payne tariff bill
the proceedings with any degree of Sc
riousneSs was Representative Robert
Bruce Macon of Arkansas. Mr.. Macon
just moment or two before this had
been on his feet when Mr. Tawney Of
Minnesota. chairman of the House ap-
committee, had offered a
resolution crediting each member with
1925 for stationery during the short ses-
sion; they to draw the cash II they didn't
use the paper.
Mr.. Macon thought it was shame to
rout the public treasury In this high
handed manner. He didn't believe there
was member who could use $125 worth
of stationery during the couple of months
of this short session. As Mr.. Tawney
had brought the proposition by asking
consent. Mr.. Macon objected
with vigor.
Then Mr. Hughes offered his "seven-
janitor'' resolution. Mr.. Macon objected
again. But this time 1t didn't go. for the
committee on accounts is a privileged
body and its matters are considered by
vote.
The discussion. however, that followed
about this matter of seven janitors was
lively enough and extended enough to suit
anybody. Mr.. Macon was supported In
his fight against this attack upon the
the enormous pay of
seven janitors for two months work-by
Martin B. Madden of Illi-
nois.
Mr.. Madden spoke of reckless" extrava-
gance involved in the hire of janitors to
wait on the chairman of these distin-
gufshed committees" and said he thought
the House should rise up with indigna-
ton and block the committee on accounts.
Representative Fosters Plea.
Representative Foster of Vermont regis
tered plea for the passage Of the resolu-
ton. Mr.. Foster told the House he did
tored room in the House office building.
but had to be content with little cham
ber way down In the bowels of the Capt.
tol where the light of heaven never pene-
trated and where a janitor was looked
upon as a curiosity.
He told Of how he had to sweep up in
the morning. dust the furniture and make
things presentable, or otherwise dig down
in his own clothes for the price of a
imam of all work.
Mr.. Macon made a five-minute speech
full Of classical allusion, demanding that
the fingers of the seven janitors be kept
out of the Treasury. Representative F'itz-
gerald of New York followed Mr. Macon
Then there was a general debate for an
hour or SO.
On one of a half dozen amendments Mr.
Macon demanded a yea and nay vote Not
even one democrat supported him.
Then he made point of no quorum.
about fifty less than the required num-
ber, the Speaker managed to materalize
about forty more members and gravely
that 1917 men, quorum, were
present.
A motion, made by Mr.. Fitzgerald of
New York. was adopted, to recommit the
Hughes resolution.
Then Mr.. Tawney called up the propo-
sition he had attempted to get before the
House earlier. with reference to station
cry and some other matters.
Mr.. Macon. all alone. stood against the
Tawney resolution. Finally Mr.. Cannon
saw Mr.. Macon. Pointing his gavel at
the lone opponent of the Tawney resolu-
ton. the Speaker said:
Sixteen gentlemen have arisen In the
negative"
Quorum Is Collected.
Then Mr.. Macon again made the point
of no quorum. This time even Speaker
Cannon was unable to see a sufficient
number of members in the chamber.
The doors were closed and the sergeant
alarms and his assistant were sent to
drag back enough members to permit
the House to finish its business and ad-
journ to Thursday.
After about three-quarters of an
hours delay a quorum was secured, the
resolution was passed and Rep
resentative Crumpacker of Indiana,
chairman Of the census committee.
called up the census bill passed by the
Senate Saturday, and the House i'm
went to work to consider the
Senate amendment.
ITALY's TOBACCO PURCHASES.