Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05
EMPLOYS HARSH EPITHETS
Writer Attempts Assault for Ian
guage Used.
BITTER WORDS IN HOUSE
Trouble Begins When Macon Objects
to Increased Salaries in
Agricultural Bill.

AhdIiSdS WIS q STORM center III the
House Of Representatives for several
hours yesterday. Continuing the policy
he has pursued for several years Of at
lacking every increase in salary of
government official in the annual appro-
priation bills, he began with the first
reading OF the agricultural bill to make
points of order against proposed in
creases to chief clerks and various other
employees.
Whereupon several members arose and
strenuously objected to this method Of
personal legislation and appealed to
Mr.. Macon to desist. He stoutly declined
to do anything of the sort. Then the de-
bate, which had begun along parliament
tary lines, soon became personal and at
last resolved itself into a wordy war be-
tween Mr.. Macon and Representative
Stanley Of Kentucky. The language be-
came so bitter toward the end Of the con-
troversy that friends of the two members
interviewed, and after somewhat strenuous
efforts succeeded in patching up a peace
which resulted In all Of the debate be-
tween the two irate southerners being
stricken from the record.
Writer Of Item Denounced
The calm which was thus restored, how
ever, was short lived. Mr.. Macon got
hold Of a copy Of an afternoon newspaper
containing on the first page in big black
letters the headline Macon Is Denounced
by Clerks Friends Then he was angry
sure enough. and rising to a question Of
personal privilege he demanded to see
1.-The eye and the color of the hair Of
any one who had denounced him. No one
responding to this challenge. Mr.. Macon
"a cd A, I~
himself. Thereupon he assailed the au-
thor OF the item as "a deliberate, willful
liar, a dirty little pilferer OF words, a
contemplate little ass" and a few other
an atom should be excluded from the
press galleries.
The House, however, took no action.
Useless Procedure, Says Scott.
When Mr.. Macon first began to inter
pose his points of order yesterday. Chair
man Scott OF the committee on agricul-
ture declared that without investigati ting
the individual cases, or inuuiring as to
the merit Of the proposed promotions, the
gentleman from Arkansas was invoking
an arbitrary rule Of the House. This
procedure, he continued was useless. #
saved the Treasury nothing, for the Sem
ate always restored the increases and the
House conferees always agreed to the
senate amendments. Mr. Scott suggested
that the increased salaries be nut to q
vote OF the House; then he said the con-
ferees would be bound by that decision
When l first came to Congress- inter
oected MI Macon, Il was simple enough
he AIDED never again."
Representative Schackleford OF Mis-
souri,, then entered the lists. He said
ne didn't think it the part Of the chair
man of the committee on agricultnro
to boast Of the fact that House con-
lerees had deliberately thrown down
the House on the Senate amendments
He asserted that increases in salaries
In the government service should be
provided for by special bills instead Of
being sneaked through as an amend
ment to appropriation bills" and "sin
lister methods" in violation Of the rules
OF the House.
Scott Defends Committee.
Mr.. Scott deplored the use Of such
harsh terms and warmly defended his
committee, which he declared was fol-
lowing common practice and doing
what all House committees have done
for years.
Representative Sims Of Tennessee al
so came to the defense Of the commit
tee.
Then Mr.. Macon wanted to know IL
Mr.. Sims meant to "impugn his in
tegrity or to question his sincerity" in
making the points Of order. Mr.. Sims
declared he impugned nobody.
Nhereupon Representative Mann Of
Illinois arose to remark that 50 long
as the rules OF the House stand as
they are, no one had right to find
fault with Mr. Macon or any other
member invoking them. II the demo-
Gratis didn't like the rules. he suggested
they would soon have an opportunity
to change them.
''Pets in the Departments" l
Mr.. Macon had charged in explana-
ton Of his course that nearly every
member OF committee in the House
had some pet" in one of the govern
ment departments whom he was anx-
ious to promote. And to this end he
declared the members were willing
that other pets should also go up in
the salary scale.
This charge called Representative Stan
ley into the battle OF words. and from
that time on he was the chief opponent
OF the gentleman from Arkansas.
Mr.. Stanley declared that an assertion
like that made by Mr.. Macon impeached
the whole House and should not go UNI
answered. He challenged the gentleman
to show that any member Of the agri-
culture committee had been guilty Of
this Infamous conduct--this petty pilfer-
ing from the Treasury OF the United
States" Mr.. Stanley said he hoped Mr..
Macon had information to Substantiate
III not" he continued. III It be naked
suspicion, it reflects not upon the sus-
pected.
II hope that there is no man of this
House so mentally constituted as to sus-
pect that righteousness. like that Of the
prophet OF old. will die with him, and
that he alone Is immaculate In his in
tegrity-a solitary figure In this House.
the one honest man whom Diogenes
might find without lantern II he should
wander this way"
Mr. Stanley asserted the belief that
the vast majority of members on both
sides Of the chamber were men Of STAIN
less integrity and lofty patriotism.
Mr. Macon denied that he attempted to
assume that he was the only honest man
in the House, but he said he tried to do
his duty by his constituency and by his
country. and intimated that there were
others not quite SO conscientious.
Comparison Of Activities.
Matters rested there for awhile, but
not for long. Mr.. Stanley arose an hour
later. He said his purpose was almost
one of personal privilege The gentleman
from Arkansas, he declared, had taken
occasion to refer somewhat disparagingly
to the activities. of other members Of
Congress. Feeling that although the
statements made were intended to be
kindly, the people at large might take
them wrongly. Mr.. Stanley said that for
himself ne would like to insert In the
record some facts concerning his own
'illustrious record" the latter with a
Mr. Stanley said that, for instance he
ha Il introduced n resolution In the IInueo