Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-01-22
HOUSE STOPS ABUSE
WlLLErT OF NEW YORK REviLEs
THE PRESIDENT.
FORCED TO TAKE HIS SEAT
Senate Fixes Speakers Salary at
S15,0oo-President Asks Authority
to Proclaim Lincoln Cen.
tennlal a Holiday.

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Washington. - A sensational and
bitter attack on President Roose-
welt was made in the house Of repre-
sentatives Monday by Mr.. Willett Of
New York. His remarks, which were
delivered under the license of general
debate on the pension appropriation
bill, were cut short by vote Of the
house that it would hear no more Of
them.
So vehement was the denunciation
of the chief executive that 1t seemed
as if the New York member raked the
dictionary for words which would prop
erly express his feelings. The presi-
dent was characterized as "gargoyle,
tyrant, pygmy descendant Of Dutch
tradespeople, hay tedder, fountain of
billingsgate, POPULARITY, imitation Of
king, and bogus hero"
Finally SiIenced by House.
AS 1t was, Mr.. Willett had complet-
ed the reading of about threefourths
Of his speech when, after repeated APP
peals to the chair by numerous Repub'
licans that he be called to order, he
was compelled to take his seat. It was
on motion by Mr.. Gambler Of Missis-
sippi that the New Yorker be allowed
to proceed lin order" that the house
voted him off the floor, Is to 126. Mr..
Willett freely remarked on the floor
that the action Of the body put an
end to free speech"
BY a vote Of 81 to 81, the senate
fixed the salary of the speaker of the
house of representatives at $4,000,
instead of $4,000, as at present, and
instead of $4,000, as proposed by the
committee on appropriations. A Wig
orous speech against any increase was
made by Senator Bailey, and numer-
GUS addresses were made in support
of the proposition. ,.
Senator Rayner endeavored to have
the senate adopt resolution calling
on the attorney general for informa-
ton as to whether the president had
ordered suit brought against the
New York World and the Indianapolis
News because of alleged libel in pub
locations relating to the purchase OF
the Panama canal property, and under
what, statute this action had been ta-
ken. Mr.. Rayner declared that there
was no statute authorizing such legal
procedure and that the attempt to sue
the newspapers in the name OF the
United States, If entered upon, was
an attempt to apply the sedition laws
long since repealed. He declared there
was no law under which the libel laws
could be made to apply to statements
respecting the government. Under OBJ,
lection the further consideration was
postponed until today.
Lincoln Centennial Message.
The president sent to congress a
special message recommending the
passage Of law authorizing him to
issue proclamation setting apart
February IL, 1909, as special holiday
in recognition Of the centennial ami.
versary of the birth of Abraham Lin.
coin. The message follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatives: / have received from the
committee Of the Grand Army of the
Republic, with the approval of its com
mander-in-chie a communication run
ming in part as follows:
".Pursuant to the recommendation
of the committee authorized by the
forty-frst national encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic, and ap-
pointed to take into consideration the
fitting celebration of the one hun
dredth anniversary Of the birth OF
Abraham Lincoln, which was made a
report to the forty-second national en-
campment that was unanimously
adopted, the undersigned have been
appointed committee to prepare a
proclamation for the occasion, met in
New York city October 10, 1908, and
submits the following as the result OF
It's deliberations:
Plans Of the G. A. r.
".1. That the commander-in-chief be
requested to invite the president OF
the United States, governors of states
and territories and mayors of cities to
participate with the Grand Army OF
the Republic in public recognition OF
the centennial anniversary of the
birthday Of Abraham Lincoln, Febrl.
airy IL, 1909, and by proclamation as
far as practical, recommend that the
day be observed as a special holiday
II regard the proposal as eminently
proper. It will be from every stand
point desirable to observe this hun
dredth anniversary Of the birth OF
Abraham Lincoln asa special holiday.
| recommend that congress pass law
authorizing me to issue a proclama.
ton setting apart this day as a special
l~Mlaxx Thoodnro Rn0SPVplf ~ :.