Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-30
UNDERWOOD HELPED
NORTH IN ENACTING
PENSION GAG RULE
By His Action Southern Con-
greSSnen Who Have Fought
Private Pensions Are Made
Helpless
ny RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON, April 18th fight
against private pension bills in the house
of representatives has been checked as
a result of an agreement between DEM
ocratic Leader Oscar W. Underwood and
Republican Leader James r. Mann, Of
Illinois. The militant southern congress-
men, who have been fighting the pri-
vate pension steals, have been muzzled
by the adoption of a special rule, which
reads as follows:
Ordered, that on the second and
fourth Fridays of each month during the
present session it shall be in order for
the speaker to entertain one or more
motions to suspend the rules and pass
private pension bills"
The special rule was adopted by the
house on Monday, April 10. The indigna-
ton it aroused among southern con-
gressmen escaped notice at the time on
account Of the excitement incident to the
Titanic disaster. The horrible tragedy Of
the sea so overwhelmed everybody and
everything that the latest pension grab
in congress escaped attention in the
press.
The special rule will be found on page
1904 of the Congressional Record Of April
Is. It was offered by Mr.. Russell, Of
Missouri, who admitted that the purpose
pass private pension bills without de-
lay. It's purpose was to shut off Con-
gressmen Anderson. Roddenbery, Samuel
Tribble and others. who have engaged
III relentless war on private pensions
RUSSELLS STATEMENT.
On page 5O65 of the Congressional Rec
ord of April Is will be found the fol-
lowing statement by Mr.. Russell:
"The matter was considered and dis
cussed, and the gentleman from Illinois
Cdr. Mann) and the leader upon the
Democratic side of the house (Mr. IN
derwood), suggested that it (the rule)
these difficulties
The "dificuIties' to which Mr.. Rus
sell referred were the obstacles placed in
the way of private pension legislation by
Representative Roddenbery and others.
1t is stating the case mildly to say
that the southern Democrats generally
and among them some of Mr.. Under
woods warm friends were surprised to
find that he had conferred and agreed
with the Republican leader as to the
best way to expedite the passage of
private pension bills for union soldiers.
UNDERWOOD HELPED.
Many of these southerners looked to
Mr.. Underwood to deny or at least cor
agreement. between the gentleman from
Illinois and the gentleman from Ala
bama," but instead of making a cor
rection Mr.. Underwood made a speech in
defense of the rule. His remarks will be
found on page 5O67 of the Congressional
Record of April Is.
The special gag rule was passed by a
vote of 151 to 81, which will be found
on page 506S of the record. Mr.. Underwood
was one of the few southern Democrats
who voted for it. Not a Georgia member
followed the Democratic leader.
Before the gag rule was passed there
was short debate, in which Judge
Bartlett, of Macon, took an active hand.
This is what he said of the rule:
JUDGE BARTLETT SPEAKS.
cit occurs to me to say that this
is about as radical a proposition as I
have seen in the II years of my service.
16 of which have been in Republican
house. most of the time presided over
by former Speaker Cannon. I have
never heard it from him or his side dur
ing the years of his service a more
radical proposition to change to rules
without notice or without action by
the committee on rules.
Last congress there were passed
9,640 private pension bills and both
houses have passed a service pension
bill; still, the calendar is crowded with
other private bills, yet because those in
charge Of pension bills have not been
able to pass them with the celebrity
and rapidity they desire to do. because
some members of this congress have
seen fit to exercise their constitutional
right to be heard in opposition to pen
sion bills, it is now said, in order to
crush out few members and keep
fbavn from being heard from crificising
those bills and showing their want of