New-York tribune., 1912-08-16
Representative Mann PreCIpI-
tates Acrimonious Debate IN
House by Exposing Scheme.
HOTLY ARRAIGNS GAG RULE
House Refuses to Instruct Con
ferrees to Accept the Bourne
Amendment and Expects
Senate to Yield to
Makeshift Service.
lFrom The Trlbune Bureau.l J

Washington, Aug. 15.-Exposing a
Democratic scheme TO sidestep record
vote. and thus TO defeat the Bourne par
GELS post amendment TO the postoffice ap-
preparation bill, Representative Mann,
the Republican leader, precipitated in
the House tonight one of the most acri-
monious debates that body has heard I'm
many a day. The minority leader was
thoroughly angry, and the height of
partisan feeling was reached when
Representative Finley, South Carolina
Democrat, accused Mr.. Mann Of making
au untrue" statement as 10 the motives
underlying the gag rule brought In by
the Rules Committee.
IL am sober enough 10 know what I am
doing" was the retort OF Mr.. Mann, with
emphasis on the 81"
The Rules Committee reported an
adroitly worded special rule TO take the
postofice appropriation bill from the
Speakers table and send II direct to con-
ference, without a separate disagreeing
vote on any Senate amendment, ANY
regular rule Of the House TO the contrary
Notwithstanding"
IF we adopt this resolution IL Will ena-
bic Congress TO adjourn within forty -eight
hours" said Chairman Henry of the
Rules Committee. in his most suave man
uer, Mr.. Henry moved the previous dues-
ton and proposed to shut off all debate
until the minority leader informed the
-. aI,, ssafa
would mean no progress for the remainder
Of the session. Mr. Mann. was finally
Welded twenty minutes.
Says Plot is Plain.
The purpose Of this resolution" he
said as a starter lis not to expedite ad-
iournment 1t IS 10 defeat parcels post
legislation at this session. 1t is TO deny
the members Of the House the privilege
Of voting for the Senate amendment pro-
viding for a real parcels post, instead OF
the makeshift carried in the House bill.
The plot l. plain. We are not 10 be given
opportunity TO instruct the conferrees.
Every man who votes for this rule votes
against the parcels post"
Representative Moon said the House
might express its attitude on the parcels
post provision when the conference report
was made.
That is an absurd statement" said
Mr.. Mann. Every member here knows
that when the conference report is pre-
sented it must be voted on in its entirety
that none can demand separate vote OF
the parcels post. The time TO vote for OF
against a parcels post is tonight, before
the bill is sent to conference. This gag
rule is brought I'm for the sole purpose
Of preventing the acceptance of the
Bourne amendment. which provides for
a real parcels post.
In all the years I have been in this
House I have never seen a more auto
cratic proposition than this The ex-
Speaker of the House, in the Teputed
heyday Of his power, could never have
devised a more Czarlike, autocratic rule
than this. When we regain possession
Of this body We will have learned a few
lessons in legislation by gag rule
Representatives Moon. Finley ami Other
Democrats declined TO admit outright thai
the rule had been prepared in order tha
the House conferrees should not be in
structed 10 accept the Bourne amend
inent, but during the debate the Demo
Gratis practically admitted that they wer,
opposed to the Senate parcels pos
amendment, and the motive for the rul
was patent to all friends of parcels pos
legislation,
IL Democrats Vote with Minority.
on the rolcall fourteen Democrats re
fused 20 sanction the gag rule presented
by the rules committee, voting with Mr.
Mann and the minority.
The rule was adopted by vote Of 10
70 49, Mr. Mann then moved to instruc
the conferrees Oh the parcels post amend
ment.
But the rule says no intervening mo
ton shall be considered, and that th'
chair shall appoint the conferrees." SAT-
Speaker Clark.
Exactly" said Mr. Mann, and
merely offer my motion TO show nov
autocrat;c this sort Of proceeding is. 4
cannot be considered Of course"
Without Instructions 10 accept Tn,
Bourne amendment the House conferreei
expect TO force the Senate to yield, anC
10 agree TO the makeshift experimental
parcels post carried In the original House