Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-15
Excitement in House.

Objections to the measure as drafted
precipitated an exciting parliamentary
tangIe soon after the House convened to-
day. The contest was fought out amid
great confusion, with a dozen or more
members clamoring to the chair for rec
ognition.
The Henry resolution was taken up
on the demand Of Representative Parker
Of New Jersey. chairman of the judiciary
committee, for consideration of the un-
finished business.
Mr.. Henry had mustered a number OF
supporters since declining to permit the
resolution to come to a vote yesterday.
He sought to bring about vote today.
Speaker Cannon announced that when
the House adjourned yesterday the pend
ing motion was on the demand. made
for the previous question by Representa-
tive Gaines of West Virginia. chairman
of the committee on the election of the
President, Vice President and members
Of Congress.
Motion Carried and Lost.
Representative Henry OF Texas endeav-
ored to secure unanimous consent to
make a speech. but was denied. Then
Mr.. Gaines insisted on his motion, which
on rising vote, was carried, but which
lost On vote by tellers.
In response to this motion the ayes
were 120 and the noes were 102. After
telers had been appointed and the vote
had been canvassed it was announced
as W affirmative and 12s negative.
Mr.. Henry then asked unanimous con-
sent that consideration of his resolution
be postponed until next Saturday at 4
o'clock, when he proposed that vote
should be taken. Representative NJ. E.
Drscoll of New York objected.
Mr.. Henry again sought recognition.
Mr. Gaines of West Virginia, who had
charge of another measure on the same
subject, moved to recommit the Henry
resolution. Instead of entertaining this
motion, Speaker Cannon recognized Mr..
similar one.
Henry Chides Speaker.
Evidently caught the Speakers ear" ;"
said Mr.. Henry, but the gentleman from
Pennsylvania caught the Speakers eye"
THAT is not d proper statement" an
nounced the Speaker, who explained that
Mr.. Butler, "a little slow, but with
stronger voice, had previously arranged
for recognition"
There followed great confusion and in
sistent demands from every section of the
floor for the right to address themselves
to the subject. Finally making himself
heard, Mr.. Henry shouted:
For the sake of history, Mr.. Speaker,
which gentleman took me off the floor ?''
Mr.. Butler saved the Speaker from en-
barrassment by yielding to Mr.. Gaines.
The motion to recommit the Henry reso-
luton was renewed.
On aye and no vote the motion was
carried.
1t was confidently expected that the
resolution would go through yesterday.
Considerable unexpected opposition devei-
oped and the matter again went over.
Trouble Unforeseen.
Supporters of the resolution were dis
heartened yesterday when this unforeseen
trouble came up. They were confident
they had a resolution which, when per-
fected from a legal and constitutional
viewpoint, would meet with no opposition
whatever.
But yesterday several members got up
and opposed the proposition on the ground
that the only people in favor OF 1t were
residents of the city of Washington, who
considered the inauguration of a Presi-
dent-not from its political. governmental
and constitutional aspect-but purely AS a
fete, IL public gathering, from which it
was possible to make money.
For instance. Representative Perkins
of New York came out with a remark
that he would soon think of changing
the Constitution SO as to guarantee fair
weather to a three-ringed circus as he
would to change it SO as to improve the
chances of fair weather for the great
quadrennial event.
Objection to Heightened Terms.
One of the principal objections offered
by opponents of the proposition was that
ii increased the length of the short ses-
sion of Congress. thus allowing those
in November to assist in enacting legis-
Iation from December to the last Thurs
day in April.
This measure said Representative
Sisson of Mississippi who put in a few
words the meat of this phase of the Op-
position. gives outgoing republicans who
are not responsible to their constituencies
too much time to sandbaS the incoming
administration"
republican, and Representatives Har-
rson of New York, Gregg of Texas and
Sherley of Kentucky supported this con-
tention. Representative Goehel of Ohio
insisted that the resolution did not amend
the Constitution intended.
Mr. Henry of Texas, supporting the
resolution which he introduced. said:
March 4 AS date of inaugurating the
President grew out of a strange series
of circumstances and for lUb years 1t has
proved Il dismal failure.
From an Informal count of noses just
after adjournment it appeared certain. at