Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-03
Kentucky Representative Com.
plains in House Of Sergeant
alarms Action.
OTHERS ARE INVOLVED
DURING CONTROVERSY
Question Is Left in the Air, How.
ever, When Members Proceed to
Business Of the Day.

Ben johnson. chairman Of the House
District committee, refuses to sign the
docking slips" which Sergeant-at-arms
Gordon circulates before he will pay
| salaries to members Of the House. and
in turn Sergeant-at-arms Gordon has
docked the tall Kentuckian two months
salary Representative johnson arose in
the House at noon today and made a
protest against the entire proceeding so
vociferous and comprehensive that he
dragged in a large share Of the member
ship with him. and gave Representative
Mann of Illinois an opportunity to place
the attendance schedule of Representa-
tive Henry of Texas in the pecord. Rep.
! resentative Johnsons particular kick
was that Sergeant-at-arms Gordon
knows he has been in the House practi-
cally every day for two months. has
seen him, has talked to him and yet
he has refused to pay him his salary.
The row which Mr.. johnson stirred
up today was thoroughly appreciated
and enjoyed by everybody except Ser
geant-at-arms Gordon, who took q
front seat in the House and looked ill
Representative johnson announced,
on arising to question of privilege.
lldl ne udQ Deeu away only LQTSe OF
four days during this Congress, and
recited the dates on which these alb
sences occurred
Absent on One Day in Month.
"T have been here on the floor every
day for the month ending September 1
except for an absence August q. when
attended the laying of corner
stone of a public building in my dis
trict.
''The record and the journal show
that answered rolls that were called
during that time, and, furthermore, the
sergeant-at-arms has sat down beside
me and talked to me in that month, and
have called his attention to the fact
that he saw me at those times. And
yet because 1 refuse to act as Judge,
jury and witness in my own case he
docks me for the time that have been
actually present. And now / learn that
because I retuse to sign the slips he
will dock me for the month ending to-
day"
Representative johnson said that the
sergeant-at-arms had never performed
his duty laid down by the law, which
declares that he shall deduct a days
pay for every day absent from Con-
gress, not accounted for by illness. He
declared he had no fault to find with
the law, which he said hadn't been OBJ
served, but he made a terrific fuss
about signing the little slips which the
sergeant-at-arms has sent around for
the members to sign ever since Repre-
sentative Underwood introduced the
docking resolution in order to force
quorum. What Representative johnson
suggests is that the sergeant-at-arms
find out for himself whether members
are present or not.
"He talks with me, acknowledges to
me in conversation that l am here.
said Representative johnson. "and yet
he docks me for the very days 1 am
present" He asked Speaker Clark II
he could advise him how he was to get
his salary due today. Speaker Clark
did not undertake to answer, and the
Kentuckian replied that it looked to
him as though the sergeant-at-arms
could drive every member to court or
starve them out by refusing to pay SAL
aries.
rogated?" suggested Representative
Henry of Texas.
But that won't change the law"
snapped Representative johnson.
Up to Auditor of Treasury.
Representative Mann, in answer to
general question as to what House
committee audits the accounts of the
sergeant-at-arns, said the burden was
on the auditor OF the Treasury-that
he ought to disallow payments not
authorized by law.
Should we, who make the laws, stand
on a technicality?" suggested Repre-
sentative Garrett of Tennessee.
About this time nearly every one in
the House seemed to be willing to
take a hand in the debate, and several
of them did.
rs there no limit to this?" piteously
begged Representative Donovan of
Connecticut, who Mad been roaring for
regular order"
"Yes, there's limit, and it's one
hour" announced the Speaker, with
decision.
Representative Mann suggested that
| the signing of certificates, stating the
facts as to presence or absence, seemed
to be perfectly gentlemanly way to
| handle the matter. and there was a
| running fire of comment, it all coming
back to the general proposition, which
| Representative Johnson stated for the
second or third time:
1.-The sergeant-at-arms has paid men
| who were absent, and he has not paid
me, who was present"
Others Are Brought In.
Representative Cooper of Wisconsin
hurled some remarks about absences
of Representatives Underwood and
| Henry into the melee. Representative
Underwood got back at. the Wisconsin
| man. but Representative Henry had
difficulty. as Representative Hay of vir-
ginia made the point of order that "the
gentleman from Kentucky was not dis
| cussing a question of privilege"
| II don't care whether the point Of
order is sustained or not" commented
Mr.. johnson, "as have said all cared
to say"
| The docking question, SO far as the
House debate was concerned, was left
in the air, but Representative Henry man
aged to make a retort to Representative
| Cooper:
| Il was absent" he said, engaged in
running for reelection. and do not be-
! lieve the country suffered any by my
| attempts at reelection"
| Later Mr.. Henry made point of no
quorum and it was in the neighborhood
Of 1 AS before the House got fairly
launched in real business
Declared Contraband of War.
| PARIS, October 3.-The French gov
1