Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-22
TARIFF AUTHOR IS SCORED
Serene E. Payne Bitterly Criticised in
Address by Congressman Ames.
CHARGE COVERS RESOLUTION
New Yorker Accused of Refusing TO
Consider a. In Committee-Let-
tiers Are Read ss Evil
dence.

WASHINGTON, May 20-A sensation was
sprung Unexpectedly in the house late to-
day by Representative Butler Ames, a re-
publican member from Massachusetts,
when he obtained the floor for five minutes
and proceeded to read a series of letters
which had passed between himself and
Representative Serene E. Payne OF New
York, chairman of the ways and means
committee and republican floor leader In
which he scored MIR. Payne In strong
language.
The letters concerned a resolution intro
duced In the house March 81 by MIR. Ames
which set forth that negotiations should
be opened with Canada with a view to
establishing closer commercial relations
with that country. Mr.. Ames' resolution
was referred to the ways and means COM
mittee and the author charged that Mr..
Payne refused to allow the committee to
consider It, although he (Ames) presented
a petition favoring II, signed by seventy
seven republican members and also urging
the adoption Of the resolution.
Ames states Case.
ION three separate days approached your
august person and asked verbally and po-
ltely for a hearing by your committee on
my resolution" said MIR. Ames in one let
ter ITO my first request you arrogantly
insisted that as far as you could find out,
no one wanted the resolution and 1t was
not good political sense Believing that
your lack Of courtesy was inexcusable and
that you were unable to understand or
appreciate that many republican members
of the house, not only wanted the reso-
luton passed. but who, not yet having lost
all touch with present desires of the party
asa liz 4 hail Nha
resolution to be good political sense.
went to the unusual labor of circulating
petition which 1 enclosed"
Continuing the letter said the petition was
signed by seventy-seven republican MEM
bers, but Mr.. Payne had given 1t no con-
sideration. 1t was recounted that its
author had seen a letter dictated in his
presence by President Taft and addressed
to Mr.. Payne favoring the resolution. II
recited that Mr. Ames had twice spoken
to Mr.. Payne about the presidents letter
and that Mr.. Payne told him that his
(Payne's) relations were such with the
president that when he wrote you such a
letter he did want the resolution"
MIR. Payne's Reply.
Mr. Payne replied saying that the fact
that "seventy-seven men have signed your
petition does not change the situation in
regard to your resolution"
After expressing surprise that the petit
ton of seventyseven republican members
should be disregarded. Mr.. Ames' letter
continues: your whole attitude has SO
lacked in common courtesy and a proper
sense of proportion that / feel forced to
make this written protest Your letter, If
freely translated should be interpreted to
read: The desires Of many republican
representatives and the public be damned.
1T is just such hide-bound intolerance
of the desires and rights of others that il
forcing members to advocate, against their
better judgment, a committee of commit
tees in the house to purge itself of such
individual misrule and abuse of power. 1t
is just such domination and disregard of
the public desire that is fostering the move
ment OF insurgency, not only In the house,
but also the widespread insurgency with
which we are now face to face"
When Mr. Ames had concluded Mr..
Payne said he had informed Mr.. Ames that
he believed the president should take up
the Canadian negotiations and after that
it would be time for congress to act
Continuing he said: Nov, l stated that
to the gentleman, not with my hat in my
hand, but as politely and suavely as l
could state 1t. i did not exhibit any con-
tempt of the gentleman, who, 1 understand
is to be the next senator from Massachus-
sets, IL he gets votes enough. 1 did not
do anything Of that kind. but treated him
nnhtaIy