The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-06
CRUMPACKER RESIGNS
HIS PLACE IN DISGUST
Action in Quitting Ways and Means Committee Nov
Said to BeJResult of Body Being Practically Com
PEELED to Restore Oil Duty for Cannon Votes

One Of the mos interesting phases
Of the special meeting Of Congress.
which developed at the opening of the
session, received Illumination in an un-
expected way in the closing hours. A
little while before che gaveI was brought
down as the signal that the session was
at an end, the Speaker had read from
the House desk letter he had received
from Representative Crumpaeker an
nouncing his resignation from the Ways
and Means Committee.
Representatives are not in the habit
Of resigning from Wsys and Means;
especially in circumstances which make
reasonably certain that they may be re-
tanned. The reading of the letter caus-
ed a mild sensation, for every body real
lied that back of it there was some re-
markable story. Later in the day, after
the new committees had been announe-
ed, the story came out
MIR. Crumpacker was on the commit
tee throughout the preparation OF the
Payne bill, and had been a hard work
er. After the measure had been COM
pleted and was ready for reporting TO
the House, the fight over the election
of a Speaker and the readoption of the
old rules came up. 1t became sharp and
close, and II presently became apparent
that the life of the old organization and
the old rules hung in the balance. and
by a most slender thread.
At the very crisis OF this fight the Re-
publican members Of the Ways and
Means Committee were told on the
cation, thai they would have to re-
organize the bin 50 far as concerned
its relation 60 the duty on petroleum.
Under the Dingley act petroleum was
subjected 10 a cOuntervailing duty. The
committee had removed this and placed
petroleum unqualifedly on the free list.
But the word from the organization was
sharp and final-that cOuntervailing duty
must be restored, because il was nee
essary in order to get certain. votes
which must be controlled for Cannon
and the rules. The committee took
back the biz, and obediently made the
change.
1t was not an easy thing TO do. in
view of the fact that there had been no
opposition In the committee 10 the re-
announced and widely published that
the change to free petroleum had been
made. Pat the committee took its orders
and obeyed them
One member who didn't at all ike
TO make the eieventh-hOur change was
Serene +. Payne Another was Crum-
packer. Indeed, the entire body was hll
ed with disgust and dlsa1ectiOn over
the pfOceeulilSs DuL lue WORD OF the o.
ganiZation was law. CTumpacker WI
so Disguised that he spent three days
in solemn cOntem Olation of whether he
would not write the Speaker a letter,
resigning at once. he talked with some
close friends about it, and was advised
that 10 resign at that time, when the
reports were in circulation about the al
legged deal to Eet votes in exchange for
the oil duty would certainly stir up a
sensation Tt would compel men to talk
about things nobody wanted to talk
about; and in all probability would
cause the introduction OF d resolution
for an investigation, which would be
likely to bring out various embarrassing
things about the eleveuth-hour changes
in the bill and about the interests which
We're taken care Of in consideration OF
special relations 10 the higher power
Of the House.
Crumpacker, to avoid muss ths
would certainly be unfortunate for til 3
party at the very beginning Of the tar
if s consideration, decided not to resign
He took his medicine, acquiesced in
the oil duty, and went through the mo-
lions of regularity. After the BIZ got
into the House the insurgents managed.
on a fiuSe one day, TO get into control