Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-26
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS ACTS
UNDER ORDERS OF CHAIR
Representative Murray of Massa-
chusetts Brings on Turmoil.
TRIES TO MAKE ORDER POINT
Proposition for Two Battleships Is
Voted Down by Considerable Ma
jority-But One Vessel Pro-
vided For.

| The forcibe election Of Representative
Murray of Massachusetts from the steps
| leading to the clerks desk by Deputy
| Sergeant t-arms H. W. Ketron threw the
House into an uproar this afternoon dur
| ing the consideration of the naval eppro-
| priation bill. Mr.. Murray was insisting
upon making a parliamentary inquiry.
and Representative AleNtnder. who was
| in the chair. refused to recognize him
until he returned to his seat.
Mr.. Murray refused. Chairman Alex
| ander called upon the serseant-at-arms
| to remove Mr.. Murray from the steps OF
| the clerks desk. Mr.. Ketron. when Mr..
| Murray persisted in refusing to return
| to his seat, grasped him by the arm and
hurled him down the steps
Before Mr.. Murray regained his balance
he was quickly surrounded by his friends
and urged to return to his seat. The
House was in utmost confusion. Many
members clamOred for recognition. Speak
er Clark entered the chamber at this
juncture, and, taking the chair, raped
loudly for order.
AS soon as order was restored he rec
ognized Mr.. Murray, who stated that he
believed himself to be within his rights
when he stood at the clerks desk and
demanded permission to make a point of
order He said that he recolected see
ing Representative Littleton make a
speech from that position. He was in
terrupted by cries of NO, no.
Mr.. Murray said that his parliam entary
inquiry was to ascertain whether Chair
man Alexander had been correct in ap-
pointing Chairman Padgett of the naval
committee and Representative Tribe Of
Georgia tellers for the pending vote on an
amendment to substitute one battleship
for two battleShips in the naval bill, when
both of them favored one battleship.
He said it was his impression that it
was the custom. IL not the rule, for the
tellers to be chosen from each side.
Speaker Clark's Ruling.
Speaker Clark declared that Mr. Muir
upon addressing the chair from the steps
of the clerks desk. He said also that
while it was the custom to appoint tellers
from each side of a question. it was also
the custom to appoint the chairman Of
committee whose bill was under consid-
Grafton as one of the tellers and that
Mr.. Alexander had been justified in his
selection.
The question was raised as to whether
the sergeant-at-arms or his deputy had
the right to lay hands on a member OF
the House without first threatening him
with the mace, the symbol of his power.
Representative Roberts of Massachusetts
setts both insisted that this course
should have been followed.
Minority Leader Mann insisted that Mr.
Murray had been in the wrong in Great
ing u disturbance in the House. and that
Mr.. Murray owed the House an apology.
To this Mr.. Murray replied that il he had
been guilty of any infringement upon the
rules of the House or its decorum he
was sorry This brought round Of ap-
plause and within few moments peace
was restored in the House.
Two Battleships Voted Down.
The House resumed consideration Of
the naval bill, and Representative Padgett
| asked to be relieved from serving as one
! of the tellers. Representative Hobson,
| who favors two battleships or more. took
! his place. The vote resulted IA to 133
| in favor of one hattlcship and against
| tive Previous to this vote Mr.. Hobson
amendment for four battleships and foS
! three battleships had been defeated. and
| Nr Saunders amendment for no battle
| Ships was also defeated by vote Of IA,
/ to III.
Fight Opens Early.
| The fight over battieships began as
soon as the naval bill came up in the
| House this morning.
Chairman Padgett attempted TO get an
agreement for "a vote after debate or
| two hours on this proposition, but 1t was
refused. Representative Hobson immedi-
! ately offered an amendment to have four
| battleships provided for, instead of two.
| He declared, in support of his amend
i ment. that opponents of the increase of
| the navy go on the principle that the eX-
| penses of the navy should be considered
| in connection with the expenditures for
! rivers and harbors. good roads. public
buildings and other internal matters.
He said members of Congress should re-
| member that internal affairs cannot
progress unless protection be given from
without. He pointed to the fact that the
United States now occupies the Panama
Canal Zone, Porto Rico, the Hawaiian
/ Islands, the Philippines and other stra-
tegic Points. and they must be adequately
| protected.
Amends Hobson Amendment.
| Representative Tribble offered an amend
ment to the Hobson amendment. provid-
ing that only une battleship be provided
He argued that one ship was all the coun-
try could afford to build.
| Mr.. aobson then offered n substitute for
| the Tribble amendment, making the pro-
gram three battleships. and Representa-
| tive Saunders of Virginia offered an
/ amendment To the substitute providing
that mo battleships be provided.
! Mr.. Saunders insisted that there was
no need for building up a great navy. He
said the talk that the United States must
| have a big navy to enforce the Monroe
| doctrine was ridiculous lie said that
! when the Monroe doctrine wa; laid down
| the United States had practically no
navy to enforce 1t, and yet its provisions
! had been observed by foreign powers.
Majority Leader Underwood said that
nearly every one who had spoken was in
| favor of an adequate navy. but they diff
| fcred in regard to what was an adequate
navy. He said that the battleship pro-
gram determined the size of the navy.
| since collicrs, torpedo boats and auXil-
| iares must be provided to round out the
navy If the country is to carry out the
battleship program of the N;-vy Depart
/ ment, he declared, it will cost the coun-
try about S1JO.O0.O00 a year.
| Mr., Underwood said he believed one
| battleship n year was a sufficient naval
pEogran. He declared this country would
never be invaded by foreign power.