The Washington herald., 1914-12-19
SWUNG
Vote, HE SAYS
Democrats Under Railway
Power, Representative
Moon Charges.
INVESTIGATION LIKELY
Member from Tennessee Brings Charge
After twenty-five Change Vote on
Railroad Mail Measure.

The House was stunned yesterday when
Representative Moon, of Tennessee, the
Democratic chairman OF the Committee
on Postoffices, made the charge in open
debate that a railway lobby had been at
work in an effort to influence members OF
Congress.
Mr.. Moon who Is one of the leaders
of the House, asserted that twenty-five
Democratic members yesterday changed
their votes on the question OF adopting
rule to facilitate a readjustment of
railway pay at the behest Of agents Of
the railways. Representative Henry, of
Texas, backed up the assertion of Mr..
Moon by declaring that the railroads had
attempted to exert undue influence upon
the Rules Committee, of which Mr.. Henry
is chairman. The Inference was that the
railways are dissatisfied with provision
in the postofice bill readjusting railway
mail pay. and that they had lobbied to
defeat II.
The accusations of Messrs. Moon and
Henry followed the action of twenty-five
Democratic members in changing their
votes on a proposed rule providing for
consideration of the railway mail pay
provision. On the first roll call the vote
in favor of the rule was I52 to H. The
switch of twenty-five votes resulted in
the defeat of the rule.
May start Lobby Injury.
As a result Of the accusations made
by Mr.. Moon and Mr.. Henry. 1t Is alto
gether likely that an inquiry may be
ordered to determine their truth or
falsity.
The names Of the members whose votes
were changed today follow: Webb. Of
North Carolina; Moss, Cline. Peterson.
Rauch, and Adair, of Indiana; Bartlett,
of Georgia: Barkley, Fields, and John
son, of Kentucky; Jacoway and Goodwin,
of Arkansas; BOrland and Decker. of
Missouri; Carlin and VinsOn. of Virginia:
Collier, of Mississippi; Connolly, of
Iowa: Edwards, OF Georgia: Hefiin. OF
Alabama; Kftchin, of North Carolina;
Lee. of Georgia; Taylor. Of Arkansas;
Sisson, Of Mississippi; White. of Ohio.
The explanation was made in behalf of
the members named that they had
changed their votes because of their OBJ
lection to economies effected by the re-
duction Of postmasters' salaries and fur
ther reductions in the rural free delivery
service Mr.. Moon declared that this
was a mere subterfuge.
Look at the men who went up ana
changed their votes" he said. Gentle
men, like craven towards. destroy every
vestige Of respect and follow the lead
Of the Republican party, thus repudiat-
ing the Democratic administration.
would rather be a devil than thief
Did they change their votes at the de-
mands Of the railroads or Of the rural
carriers? I think more of my country
than the Democratic party. If We are to
return a Democratic majority to the Six
ty-sixth Congress, let it be Democrats
who stand by the republic, and not the
railroads"
Ignores Mann's Challenge.
Mr. Henry interrupted TO remark that
he knew ''the only opposition came from
influences"
Republican Leader Mann defled Mr..
Henry to submit proof Mr.. Henry took
his seat without replying. Mr.. Moon
said he was convinced that railroad in
f,uence was at work on the Democratic
side of the House Ito force the betrayal
of Democratic policies"
Much ugly feeling has been aroused
by the accusations made by Mr.. Moon.
This is the first time in years that mem
bers have been accused on the floor or
the House of yielding TO railroad innu-