Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-02
Representatives Restore $12,.
600 Cut Out by Senators.
DISCUSSION OVER MULE
Sims Quizzed About Variety That
Comes From Tennessee.
ADMITS MOTOR CAR IS SAFER
Put Gasoline on Free List Is Sug-
gested by Representative Kuster-
man Of Wisconsin.

The automobile vs. the mule as a means
of transportation was discussed at some
length by the House of Representatives
today.
In the urgent deficiency bill passed by
the House some time ago there was an
item of $4,000 for the purchase and main
tenance of automobiles at the White
House from March to the close of the
present fiscal year. Mr.. Taft has an
nounced his intention of using motor We
hicles instead of horses.
But the Senate struck out the automo-
bile provision. The matter came up to-
day in the House on the question of
agreeing to the Senate amendment. The
automobile developed III advocates. Only
twenty-five members, nearly all demo-
Gratis stood by the mule.
So the urgent deficiency bill goes back
to conference. There the House will prob
ably have it's way
Fun in Debate.
The House was in good humor over
the automobile debate and seemed to take
particular interest in the remarks Of Rep
resentative FISHERMAN of Wisconsin and
Representative Thetus Sims of Linden.
Tenn. The reliable and efficient mules of
Linden are famous all over the south,
principally for the way they can kick.
1t was Mr.. Sims who labored hard and
long to secure the passage of the automo-
bile bill now on the local statute books.
He had some ideas he wanted to incor-
porate into the law, but was unable to
have his way. For instance, he did not
believe automobiles of more than one
and one-half horsepower should be per-
mitted on Pennsylvania avenue unless
preceded by detachment of mounted
police and equipped with fog horn.
Mr.. Sims aired his views on the sub
ject of automobiles today. He thought
it was shame for Congress to even
consider the proposition of giving the
President-elect $12 1000 with which to buy
the blame things. and he said that in
stead of encouraging the already reckless
and desperate and deviliSh motor car
chauffeurs of Washington by recognizing
gress should frown on the proposition.
Mule Is Interjected.
Mr.. Sims had arrived at this psychology
cal point in his remarks when Representa-
tive Mann of Illinois jumped up and asked
if Mr.. Sims favored limiting President
Taft's methods of transportation to Ten
nessee mules. Mr.. Sims. growing some
what hot, remarked that he would at
least permit the use Of Tennessee mules
and would not prohibit It by legislation.
Then Mr.. OImstead of Pennsylvania
rose and asked Mr.. Sims a hypothetical
question.
please tell me- he said, whether
you think you would not be safer riding
down Pennsylvania avenue In your own
automobile than on muleback. and In
constant danger from the automobiles of
Mr. Sims, who weighs about 900 pounds.
thought it over seriously for moment
Then amid laughter from both sides of
the House, he picked out the automobile
as having some advantages at least.
Most of the democrats objected to the
proposition, it seems, just because they
thought it might cost little bit more
to keep automobiles than horses. They
could not get this idea out of their
heads, even when Chairman Tawney of
the appropriations committee and other
members Of that body. both republican,
and democrats. assured them that
gasoline was cheaper than oats any
day.
They also wanted to know what was
going to become of the White House
horses. and whether it would be neces-
sary to build a new garage to house
Specific Appropriation.
Representative Fitzgerald Of New York.
the liveliest democratic member of the
committee, said he intended to vote for
the automobile not because he thought
the government would save any money
as far as these particular items were con-
cerned but because a specific appropria-
ton was proposed for automobiles, and
he had never been able to find out and
didn't think anybody could find out that
there was any limit upon the amount that
might be spent for horses by a President.
He called attention to the fact that the
President of the United States, being
commander-in-chief of the army, could
order as many mounts from the quarter
masters department as he might desire.
He was confident that ii President
Roosevelt had ever thought it necessary
in order to keep in that splendid physical
vigor so essential for the proper discharge
Of the duties of President Of the United
States to spend $500 for horses in four
months, he would have gone ahead
and done 1t. Mr. Fitzgerald said he
didn't know how many horses Mr.. Roose-
Welt had used when he rode 100 miles, in
relays, Ito spread the alarm"
Mr. Tawney yielded one minute to Mr.
FISHERMAN at this point. and that gen.
tleman got up with very solemn face.
Mr.. Speaker" said Mr.. FISHERMAN,
that is reasonable request. But that
gasoline should be on the free list"
1t took the House about five minutes
for the gale of laughter that followed
this solemn utteranCe to spend itself
When 1t did Mr.. Tawney called for a
vote, and the mule of Tennessee and else