Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
MEMBERs=OF CONGRESS
ALMOST COME TO BLOWS. N ].
Moon and Hefin Advancing Toward
Each Other, When Colleagues
Interfere.
ENDS BITTER DEBATE IN HOUSE
Special Rule to Consider Legislation
for Reforms Demanded by Post
Office Department in Connection
with Appropriation Bill Adoptcd.

WASHINGTON. December 19.-After
two days OF he; words, which culmi-
mated to-day in exchange Of invita- :
t'ons 10 personal combat between Rep
resentatives Heflin. of Alabama. and
Moon. or tennessee, the House adopted
n special rule to consider legislation
Tor reforms demanded by the Post-Of-
nee Department In connection with the
annual postal appropriation bill
detection OF Democrats from the
leaders yesterday defeated n similar
rune, which provided for consideration
OF amendments decreasing postmasters'
salaries. elimination of assistant most :
masters. experimental substitution of
contract service for the rural delivery
service, increased salaries for rural
curriers'. changes in the compensation
paiu railroads for carrying the mails
ana other reorganization plans OF the
department
me rule was passed late to-day with
the provisions for cutting postmasters.
saEaries. abolish!ng assistant postmas-
.e,s' ana the rural service substitution
scheme eliminated
a speech by Representative Moon.
hlter defeat OF tho original rule In
"hich lie intimated that some rail
io"o "o influence had operated to shift
democratic votes. caused a bitter de-
pate To-day Representative Heflin de-
a al
ana untrue Mr.. Moon challenged him
to make the same comment off tho &C.
OF the Rouse. and Mr.. Hefiin expressed
MS Willingness to do So The two Rem
resentatives were advancing threatinr
~ toward each other when half n doZ-
en- members stepped in between them
STATEMENT DENOUNCED
AS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE
denounce the statement OF the
gentleman as absolutely untrue" de-
clared Representative Henin. referrinr
to Mr.. Moons statement that Democrnts
VINO voted against the rule had he
trayed the Democratic President. the
democratic Postnastcr-Gcnur the
Democratic Rules Committee and tho
Democratic Post-Oh Committee"
fou don't dare say that to me ex-
stridtng toward the Alabama Represen-
tative.
am willing to say anything out
side that would say to you here" re-
torted Mr.. !ichin. and he started to
meet Chairman Moon.
representatives Clark. OF Florida:
Tribble. OF Georgia: Stanley, OF Ken
lucky. and Mcclellan, OF Tennessee.
stepped between them, and order soon
was restored
Representative Moon said he had no
apologies TO make for his speech criti-
clZinG democrats VINO opposed the rule.
lie said he did not charge corruption
against any one.
But the circumstances OF that
vote. he said. left the impression that
there was some influence at work that
prevented the adoption of this rule re-
questcd by the administration. Was 1t
the influence of postmasters. or rural
carriers or OF the railroads?"
Representative Helm declared that
no railroad had influenced him" and
declared Representative Moons crit
icism "unjustifad and unwarranted."
Representative Ragsdale, OF South
Carolina, sai'l that when the gentle
men charge that there is railroad in
Euence enough on the Democratic side
OF tho House to defeat this legislation.
l don't believe 1t, and repudiate IT."