The Washington herald., 1910-05-27

Chairman Tawney, of the House Ap-
propriations Committee, made himself
and President Taft unpopular yesterday
afternoon during debate on the item Of
$2J.0j1 for the travelling expenses Of the
/ President. Ito be Immediately available"
As a result Of Mr.. Tawney's reflections
/ upon Southern hospitality. Of his charge
that one OF the Presidents hosts in the
South charged him board. and OF the
fact that he read list, furnished by the
White House, containing the names Of
! Southern members Of the House who had
accepted the Presidents hospitality on
his train. and yet opposed the "imme-
diately available" portion Of the travel
/ ing expense item. the Democratic side
! Of the House is red hot
Everything started smoothly enough
when Representative Macon. of Arkan-
sas. mildly made point OF order against
! the item
Mr.. Tawney began his reply and expla-
nation quietly enough, but he warmed
up so rapidly that Representative Bart
/ lett, Of Georgia. who was Air. Talts
/ host at his home in Macon during the
| Presidents Southern trip, and half a
! dozen other Democrats, were on their
( feet trying 10 interrupt him.
ReprOveS His Colleagues.
After the President has accepted tho
I invitation of members of this House 10
! visit their States" said Mr. Tawney Bit
terly, and he has accepted that invita-
/ ton. knowing fun well the expense, and
while they on that trip accepted his
/ hospitality. they turn around here now
and criucise the President for accepting
/ their invitation"
! Mr.. Bartlett bounced out Of his seat as
( If he had received an electric shock. and
/ demanded that Mr.. Tawney yield the
4 floor Mr.. Tawney declined.
| Il don't blame you" cried Mr Bart
lett excitedly. Il would TOO, Il were
/ IN your place.
/ Twenty-Five Democratic Representa-
1 tives." continued Mr. Tawney, called at
/ the White House and extended to the
/ President the hospitality of their dis
tricts, urging and begging him to ac-
/ cept their Invitations, which he did. And
/ yet when we are appropriating 10 defray
! the expenses incident TO accepting their
( invitations they now critcise him. Is
! that Southern hospitality? Can there be
/ a meaner man than he who invites an
other man to accept his hospitality and
then when that man becomes his guest
J haa 1,
accepted the invitation. cr.ticising him,
and even charging him for his bcard?"
/ Where was he charged board2' de-
manded Mr.. Bartlett.
In Georgia, I think" replied Mr.. Taw-
ney. blandly
That is not true" yelled Mr. Bartlett,
shaking his fist in the air, THAT is
/ absolutely false"
/ well" said Mr. Tawney, Il can cite
an instance where YOU were the guest Of
| the President on this present trip"
| Wonder if he bought his own meal
{ ticket?" interjected Representative Ha-
mer OF Idaho
7 did" cried Mr.. Bartlett, and paid
! my own fare"
! But you didn't pay your own board"
I suggested Representative Hinshaw, Of
/ Nebraska.
Yes, did" shouted Mr. Bartlett. "and
/ paid out large amount Of money to
defray my own expenses"
Guests on Taft Train.
/ Then. reading from his White House
( list. Mr. Tawney mentioned that Repre-
/ sentatives Taylor. Of Colorado, and Bart
lett and Hardwick, OF Georgia. had been
! the Presidents guests on his private car
during the trip in question
( Representative Fitzgerald, Of New
/ York. suggested il was extremely remark
able that Mr.. Tawney had been able 10
secure from the White House a list Of the
( Democrats who, at the behest OF the
people in their district, had urged the
I President to visit various sections OF the
country.
Il am inclined to think" he said, that
perhaps after the 5th of last August no
1 Republican governor desired the Presi-
/ dent in his State defending what he de-
clared to be the best tariff law ever
I passed
NO one ever imagined that the Presi-
| dent would spend most Of the time during
Congress away from Washington. They
DO not approve Of this any more than
/ they approve Of the whole government
closing up shop in warm weather and the
! cabinet officers establishing their Offices
| in different parts of the United States
Last summer the Attorney General hired
an Office in New York adjacent to the
Bar Association and made that his head
quarters. The people are commencing to
be convinced that these men should con-
! duct their public Offices from the seat Of
| government
! THE President went to New York not
to engage in some great public function
but to defend his administration and his
party, and It came with exceedingly bad
grace for him. on Lincolns birthday. 10
ridicule his political opponents after hav-
| ing expended the public's money to travel
over there"
Hardwick Gets Heated.
Just about this time Representative
| Hardwick. Of Gergia. who had been out
Of the chamber. came back on the floor
and was informed by some Of his col
! leagues that Mr.. Tawney had dragged his
name into the debate or this item, in no
! very complimentary way. So Mr.. Hard