New-York tribune., 1909-02-16
MAKE KNOX ELIGIBLE
HOUSE PASSES SALARY
REDUCTION BILL.
THO Eotes Required to Enact Meas
ure-No5o Needs Only Presi-
dents Signature.
dents Signature
from The Tribune Bureau.

Washington Feb. 16.-The last trace os Sbe con
strutionai obstacle TO the acceptance Of the port
fonc Of State by Philander c. Knox. junior Sen
ztor from Pennsylvania. removed to-day when
the House. by vote Of 17S to III, passed the Hale
bin. which had already been adopted by the Senate
and which provided for the reduction Of the salary
of the post 10 SS6G1
There have been various reports TO the effect
that Mr Knox had become so sensitive over the
arguments against the proposed action of Congress
make him eligible for the Cabinet that he would
probably decline the offer, but il is learned that
there is no foundation for these reports. When
the constitutional bar his acceptance was first
discovered. Senator Knox disposed to ask Mr.
Taft 70 recall the offer but after learning that all
his legal friends felt that the obstacle would be
completely removed by the legislation which Con-
Eress has enacted that the President-elect was Of
opinion. and after satisfying himself that
such opinion correct. Mr.. Knox changed his
view. Moreover. he has been receiving letters and
editorials from all parts Of the country expressing
the same view. and he has come 10 the conclusion
that the proper course for him to follow is that
desired by President elect Taft rather than that
prescribed by group OF Democrats and few
Republicans who are exceptionally strict IN their
methods Of constituting the Constitution.
The first attempt pass the buI in the House
not successful It was sought TO suspend the
rules and pass The Gaines bill This required q
tvo-thirds vote account OF the suspension of
rules, but a poll OF the House showed only I7e
votes for and 12S against the motion It was then
decided by the House leaders to have the Rules
Committee bring in rule providing that the Hale
hill might be taken from the Speakers table and
passed after forty minutes debate This was done
and the rule adopted and the resolution passed
by the vote indicated above
The leaders opposing the measure were Repre-
sentstves Mann. OF Illinois: Caulfeld and Clark. Of
Missouri. and Williams. CT Mississippi Repre-
sentative Ornsted. of Pennsylvania made the CHIEF
speech IN favor OF it
The Republicans who voted against the bin vers
Representatives Bede. CaulheId. Cook. OF Colo
rs6o; Dsrragh, Fuller, GiIhanls, Hayes. RUster-
mann. Mccall, McCreery. Marshall Mann. Miller,
Murdock. Nelson Nye. Prince. Roberts, Stafford
stevens. Wilde and Wheeler. The Democrats vot-
sns for Il Representatives Adair. Bartlett OF
Nevada; BrOusssrd. Clayton. Crawford. Craig De
Almond. Fitzgerald. Goldfogie. Griggz. Hackney.
Hsmond. Howard, Johnson, OF Kentucky: JONES'
q Virginia; Kipp Lassiter, Lever, McFIenry. May
ns-d, Noon Padgett. Peters, Richardson. Splght.
suEer, Taylor. Tou Velle, Watkins and Wilson. OF
Pennsylvania
AS the bill passed by the House is the one which
had been previously passed by the Senate, and i
was not amended it will not be necessary tor II to
70 10 conference The measure requires only the
signature. Of the President TO make l. q Law.