Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-04
CHARGE OF COWARDICE
HURLED AT MAJORITY
Rule Prevents Amendments in Inter.
est Of Government Clerks.
ALL ITEMS CLOSELY CONTESTED
Dismissals From the Departments Of
Employees Who Reach the Age Of
Sixty-Five to Be Undis-
turbed.


evident determination to railroad through
all the new features of legislation for
which the democratic members of the
appropriations committee believe the
country will stand, adopted a gag rule
late this afternoon which will probably
have the effect of shutting off all de-
bate on many features OF the bill.
In spite Of the republican accusation
that this gag rule is adopted as a cow
ardly subterfuge, SO that the democrats
will not have to go before the country on
record in any vote on the provisions of
this bill, which eliminates entire bureaus
and slashes salary lists, the rule was
adopted by a vote of 139 to lO1.
After Representative Mann had warned
the democrats Of the House of Repre-
sentatives today that they were leading
their legislative, judicial and executive
appropriation bill straight in the path Of
a presidential veto. Representative John
son, in charge of the bill. arose on the
floor Of the House and said he proposed
to strike out that section of the bill
which would throw out of employment
all government clerks in the District Of
Columbia who reach the age Of sixty
five years.
Tho bill made little progress in the
House this afternoon other than that in
dicated. as the big fight was on Repre-
sentative Henry's resolution to introduce
a gag rule, which would prevent those
opposed to the amendment aimed at the
clerks from making a point OF order.
Representative Henry introduced this
vii Ia
mentary lodging, and about one hour
and a half was lost before it was finally
voted upon.
Representative Lenroot of Wisconsin
made a violent attack upon the PROPOSE
ton to railroad the bill through in this
manner, and Representative Mann called
the democrats towards and said they
were afraid to go before the country in
a vote that would be recorded on these
obnoxious provisions Of the bill.
Effort to Insure Success.
An attempt to apply gag rule to in
sure the passage Of vital sections in the
legislative bill was made at the opening
resentative Henry, who had been in con-
ference with Representatives Fitzgerald,
Underwood and Clayton. The resolution
offering the rule was read. when Mr..
Lenroot, republican member Of the rules
committee. objected. saying the rule had
not been adopted at meeting of the
committee. Representative Henry with
drew the resolution. saying a formal
meeting would be held Immediately and
the resolution reported later in the day.
After a brisk parliamentary skirmisl
Representative Gillette OF Massachu
setts, republican, prevented the demo
cratic House from cutting the salary o.
vla
D. d. Hiles from 1850 to $4,000. MT
johnson of South Carolina in charge o
the BILL said the committee had originally
fixed 5000 as enough pay for the job
but in compromising with the Senate
had been raised to 81 500. Former Speake
Cannon approved the amendment Of Mr.
Gillett to retain the salary at $500. Mr.
Cannon contrasted the salary Of the sec
retary to the President with the salar1e
paid other officials Of the government
Democrat, Republican, "What Not.
IT don't know who will be inauguratet
next 4th of March, said Mr.. Cannon
.'It may be the Speaker of this House.
whereupon there was an outbreak Of ap
plause from the democrats-''it may be
democrat. a republican. or what not"
This expression was greeted with laugh
ter on both sides of the chamber.
''Oh." said Mr.. Cannon, Il did not NEAR
to call Bryan by name"
Continuing, he said that whoever th
President is he will be every man
President. and he objected to ''peanu
next Presidents secretary.
BY a vote Of 40 nays to 40, the Hous
refused to agree to the Gillett amend
ment, which fixed the salary at $500
so that as the bill now stands the pa.
of the Presidents secretary is to be $500
!, F%or Norch pext and Slrhiect Tn the ac
ton Of Congress thereafter.
Stringent Rule Foreshadowed.
Representative Gillett objected to tn.
item in the Department of State section
authorizing $500 for the chief Of the
bureau Of manufactures and trade rela
tions. This was the first step in the
fight on the transfer of part Of the duties
of the Department of Commerce and La
Dor to the State Department. The gas
rule" resolution made it's appearance a
this point. and the committee arose te
Representative Underwood asked for q
call Of the House.
Following the roll call the Henry reso
the use Of q point OF order against tha
section of the bill which cuts or tn.
heads Of clerks sixty-five years Of ag,
and over.
Not only that. but. according to tn.
views Of many, it clothes the other new
sections of the bill with an impenetrablt
armor to withstand the sharpest point.
of order, and introduces a new amend
ment covering q uniform system o
handling certain government accounts.
Representative Campbell OF Kansa
wanted to see how the House lined III
ON the effort to swing the ak on govern
ment clerks and on the other provisions
which are attempted to be shove<
through under this rule.
A roll call vote was taken.
House Votes to Consider.
The vote was on the question Of per-
hitting the resolution to be considered
and was carried by 1877 to 1O7. Mr.. Hen
ry fhereupon started to defend the "1as