The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-21
Congressman Butler Anes Of
Massachusetts, Uses Some
Strong Language
|PAyNE ACCUSED OF LACK
OF COMMON COURTESY
Payne TO Take Up Canadian Re-
Intions and He Was Treated
With Indifference

Washington, May 20.-A sensation WAS
sprung Unexpectedly in the House late
today by Representative Butler Ames. a
republican member from Massachusetts.
when he obtained the floor for five min
utes and proceeded to read series
of letters which had passed between him
self and Representative Serene E. Payne
l'ef New York, chairman of the ways and
means committee, and republican floor
leader, In which he scored Mr.. Payne in
strong language.
The letters concerned a resolution in-
troduced In the House March 81 by Mr..
Ames which set forth that negotiations
should be opened with Canada with
| view of establishing closer commercial
relations with that country.
| Mr.. Ames resolution was referred to
the ways and means committee and the
author today charged that Mr.. Payne re-
fused to allow the committee to consider
IT, although he himself had presented
petition favoring 1t signed by II repub-
| lican members and also caused President
| Taft to write a letter to Mr.. Payne urg-
| ing the adoption of the resolution.
| Mr.. Ames got the floor today by con-
| sent of Representative Tawney of Minne-
| sofa, who was in charge of the sundry
| civil appropriation bill He surprised the
| Minnesota man with the character of
| his remarks, and Mr.. Tawney refused to
| extend the time granted and informed the
| House that had he known Mr.. Ames con-
| templated an attack upon another mem
ber of the House he would have refused
| him his time.
Representative Olmsted of Pennsylva-
mia objected to the reading of the letters
and when Mr.. Ames asked unanimous
consent to continue reading, Representa-
tive Tawney also objected. Representa-
tive Fitzgerald of New York. who hal
charge of the democratic time on the
bill, granted a few minutes more to COM
plete the reading.
Lack of Courtesy
In his letters Mr.. Ames informed MI.
Payne that the atter's whole attitude in
the matter had lacked in common court
esy and a proper sense of propriety. His
letter to Mr.. Payne, dated May 10. re-
quested hearing by the ways and means
committee on his resolution and enclosed
a petition of II republican members to
that effect
| Mr. Payne replied to this, saying that
the fact that II men had signed the peti-
ton did not change the situation In re-
gard to the resolution,
| The second letter of Mr.. Ames, dated
1 a
Payne's methods. In 1t Mr.. Ames said:
ION three separate days ] approached
your august parsonage and asked verbally
and politely for hearing by your COM
mittee on my resolution. To my first
| request you arrogantly insisted that as
far as you could find out, no one wanted
| the resolution. and 1t was not good polt-
| ical sense
| believing that your lack of courtesy
| was inexcusable and that you were un-
| able to understand or appreciate that
| many republican members of the House
not only wanted the resolution passed.
| but who not yet having lost all touch
with present desires of the party and the
| country generally did believe the resolu-
| ton to be good political sense. ! went to
/ the unusual labor of circulating pet-
| ton which enclosed. said Mr.. Ames.
Taft Favored Resolution
| Continuing. the letter recounted that
the author had seen letter dictated
In his presence by President Taft and
addressed to Mr.. Payne favoring the
resolution. 1t recited that Mr.. Ames
had twice spoken to Mr.. Payne about
| the Presidents letter and Mr. Payne
told him that "his (Mr. Payne's) rela-
tions were such with the President that
en- he wrote you such letter he
did not want the resolution at all"
After expressing surprise that the
petition should have been disregarded
Mr.. Ames' letter continued;
| 1.-THE fact remains, however. that I
| have used every due diligence and
| courtesy to secure such treatment and
gentlemanly consideration as any mem-
ber of the House expects of other mem
bers Your statement that your con-
versation with some of the signers of
my petition does not strengthen my po-
sition,' is at once ungentlemanly and
insulting.
Your whole attitude has so lacked
in common courtesy and a proper sense
Of propriety that I feel forced to make
this written protest. Your letter, Ii
freely translated, should be interpreted
to read The desires of many repub-
lican members and the public be
damned
1T is just such hidebound intoler-
ance of the rights of others that Is
forcing members to advocate opposi-
tion in their bettsr Judgment and ad-
vocate committee of committees in
the House in order to purge itself OF
such Individual abuse of power. 1t Is
lust such domination and disregard of
the public desire that is fostering the
movement of insurgency not only In
the House but also the widespread In
surgency with which we are now face
to face.
Payne's Defense
While Mr.. Ames was reading the let
ters Representative Tawney brought
Mr. Payne to the floor. When Mr.. Ames
had concluded Mr. Payne said he had
Informed Mr.. Ames that he believed
the President sh ould take up the Cam
adian negotiations and after that 1t
would be time for Congress to act.
Continuing he said:
Now. stated to the gentleman, not
with my hand in hand. but as politely
and as suavely as could state, my mis-
sion did not exhibit any contempt
of the gentleman whom l understood
is to be the next senator from his
state IL he gets votes enough. I did
nothing wrong, but l treated him po.
litely.''
Mr. Payne said he conferred with
many who signed the petition and
some said they did not know what they
had signed and others said they did