Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-20
johnson Berates Peacemakers.

Johnson berateS TeacemakerS.
Keep out of there. John" and the
attorney walked down the long corridor
and disappeared. A few minutes later
there was the sound of opening doors in
the committee chambers, and Chairman
| Johnson reappeared with towel In his
hand. He was extremely caustic toward
| the clerks of the committee who had held
him and Shields and prevented further
fighting.
The trouble arose from a smothered
flame in the District committee. In the
last Congress Mr.. Shields represented
the crossing policemen of the city In
an attempt to pass bill putting them
on the same salary plane the other
policemen. There were rumors. and
several newspaper stories resulting
therefrom, to the effect that the po-
licemen had paid Mr.. Shields a large
fee. Today, when Shields appeared be-
fore subcommittee, headed by Rep
resentative Crosser. to argue in favor
of the Kahn bill to allow f1remen and
policemen to ride on street cars
in the District free, Representative
Johnson was present. it being his first
appearance at his office for several days,
as he has been suffering from cold.
After a statement from Representative
Kahn. and when it had become evident
that the members present were in accord
as to the equity of some arrangement
whereby the policemen and firemen would
not have to pay their own fare. Ben
Johnson arose and made a statement.
somewhat after this manner:
Refers to Lobby Fee Rumor.
1T appears that the members of this
subcommittee are all new members. and
believe it would be well to tell them
some of the things which happened in
the last Congress. At one time the COM
mittee had before it bill to place the
crossing policemens pay on the same
footing with the other policemen. 1t APP
pears that every member of the sub
committee was in favor of the bill. but
Notwithstanding that rumor had II that
Mr.. Shields collected large lobbyist fee
from these men. | investigated the mat
ter. and asked crossing policemen right
near this building. and he said Yes, ne
had promised to pay a certain sum per
month until the fee had been wiped out.
Then i asked another crossing police
man and he told me practically the same
thingn.
Il simply wanted to lay this matter
before YOU so that you could know you
might be voting to allow firemen and
policemen TO ride without paying their
fare, but at the same time you also
might be voting to pay some one $1,000 or
5000 in lobbying fees.
Members of the committee who saw
trouble impending. rushed through mo-
ton to call crossing policemen and take
their testimony. ana also Il "
adjourn Shields face was getting redder
by the second. and his hands shook. He
arose and asked whether he was to DE
allowed to make reply. Ben johnson
walked around the long table and stood
next to him. almost touching him:
There will be another hearing, said
Representative Crosser in soothing
voice.
Then do | understand that | am
denied the privilege of making replies to
r-I sta is 81
Shields.
That was enough for Ben Johnson.
Shields Face Johnson's Target.
He shot !. crashing blow straight from
the shoulder into the face of John
Shields. who countered and came back
strong. However Shields was knocked
down. his jaw striking sharply against
a chair Members and others all over
the room jumped into the fracas. but
no one could prevent the two men from
punching each other all over the race
and head knowing the consequences OF
accusing u kentuckian of making false
statement Representatives Reed. Cross
er and others. including the two commit
tee clerks. threw themselves i'll between
the struggling conlbatants and probably
felt the force Of some OF the lighting.
johnson turned while in the thick of tho
scramble and faced the door of the COM
mittee hearing room - door Leading 10
his private office.
Shields took the opportunity to hammer
a few blows on the back of Johnson's
neck johnson then struggled to get
loose Representatives Reed. Winslow
and others endeavored to lock the arms
of both men, and it was then that the
kentuckian broke away entirely, running
toward the inner office, shouting that he
would kill Shields.
Repre- sentative Keister of Pennsylvania
led the retreat from the room. advising
all others present to do the same thing.
The vacant hall was filled with more
District committee members than it has
held at one time for several months. In
the midst of the retreat was one member
Of the committee on safety who kent