The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-27
ALMOST ENDED
IN FIST FIGHT
ON THE FLOOR
Byrd of Mississippi and Ford
ney of Michigan TangIe Up
in the Tariff Debate.
LATTER LOST TEMPER
AND USED "CUSS" WORD
POOR MOUTH PUT UP IN BEHALF
OF THE LUMBER BARONs-
SPEECHES PRO AND CON.

Washington, March 26.-The monotony
CO the tariff debate in the house was re-
leved for time today by a clash be
tween Messrs. Fordney of Michigan and
Byrd OF Mississippi, which came near end
ing in blows. Mr.. Fordney had been dis
Cussing the lumber schedule when he was
interrupted by the Mississippian, who in
sisted that the lumber manufacturers, OF
which NJ. Fordney was one, were in a
trust. Mr.. Fordney peremptoriy denied
The statement and said that Mr.. Byrd
did not know a damned thing about it
Mr.. Byrd made a move toward Mr.
FOrdney and was in the act of removing
his coat when some of his Democratic
colleagues interfered. Later it developed
that the incident grew out of misun-
Outstanding, and both men made mutual
explanations and apolog1zed-
Mr.. Fordney in his speech pleaded for
better protection on that product in the
rough. Opposed TO him was Mr.. How
land of Ohio, who wanted the product
placed on the free list
others who spoke were Messrs. Pou of
North Carolina and Bacon OF Arkansas.
both of whom arTaigned the Payne bill
for not accomplishing what it was claimed
ii would do, while Mr. Humphrey OF
Washington advocated a tariff on shin
eles and lumber high enough to enable
the lumber and single manufacturers of
his state to compete with those of Brit
ish Columbia employing cheap Oriental
labor.
Took Issue With Payne.
When the tariff bill was laid before
the house Mr.. Humphreys took issue with
some statements made by Mr. Payne in
his opening speech regarding the number
of Orientals engaged in the lumber mills
in British Columbia. Mr. Payne said that
lie thought there were fewer Orientals
working in such there than in the state
OF Washington. That statement was er-
roneous, he said. He declared that over
30 per cent of the men engaged IN the
lumber and shingie mills OF British Co
lumbia, were OTientals paid lower wages
than American mill labOrers. and that
therefore the cost of production was less
out of the 1850 men employed in the
single mills of Washington, Mr.. Humph-
rey said there were but foTty-one Ofien-
ksls He also said that of the 10000 men
Employed I'm the lumber and Single in
tiustry of that state there were but LOO
Orientals.
Higher Duty Asked.
Mr. Humphrey in pleading for an in
creased duty on shingles. warned the Re
puhIicans that they could not escape their
responsibility in so far as the problem OF
Oriental labor was concerned.
Now" he said. we have an oppor-
tunity to see whether or net we are going
back on what we have said about pro-
tecting the labor of this country from the
rIinous competition Of foreign coun-
tries"
While the Payne bill. ne said. has pro-
tected the industries of New England,
PENNSYLVANIA and New York. ana they
were in operation. out in Washington the
conditions were exactly the rev erse.
Our mills are closing he said, and
men being thrown out Of employment.
He recounted the benefits derived under
the DingIey bill and inquired how he, as a
Republican and a proteCtionist- could go
hack 30 his constituents and say that the
Payne bill was better than the Dingley
bill
on the authority Of Mr. Fordney OF
Michigan the Washington member said
that the witnesses before the committee
on ways and means who wanted lumber
nut on the free list were men interested In
canadian timber. while those who asked
for the retention of the DingIey duty
were men interested in timber in the Unit
ed States.
we ought not 70 hesitate long when
the question is presented, he SAID, Tor
who shall we legislate for
Wanted to Punch Fordney.
AIr. Byrd asked Mr.. Fordney if it were
MOI true that a combination existed
among the retail dealers of Mississippi.
TO which Mr. FOrdneys firm, which Is
operating in that state, was party.
Mr.. Byrd added that he knew whereof
hs, spoke when he charged the existence
Of such a combination
THE gentleman does not know a
damned thing about" shouted Mr.. Ford
ney,
Immediately Mr.. Byrd made his way to-
ward Mr. Fordney, bur several Demo-
cratic members stopped him. Mr.. Ford
nev apoIogized to the house He added.
however that Mr.. Byrd could not say
that his firm was a member of the lum-
Der trust
Mr.. Byrd then explained that It was
not mis- intention to make such charge
and the incident was closed.
Mr. Fordney. who is a member OF the
u-avs and means committee and an
avowed high protectiouist. discussed at
length the lumber schedule
some Deople he said. had gone into
mysteries over the question of free lum-
her. He challenged anyone present to
rioi- out q single prominent Industry N
the United States that has as low ad
xalorem protection as lumber.
In response to various questions re-
Harding the Canadian competition in iun-
far Mr.. Fordney declared high and low
rret,Ie Canadian lumber were met with
heir respective grades in the United
Continued on Page 2.