The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-07
Corrupt Practices Measure
Is Cause of Personal
Exchanges on Floor
I OKLAHOMA MEMBER is
MAKING BIG EFFORT
Cancels Speaking Engagement to Sc
cure Vote on Proposition. Which
Will Come if Adjournment Is
Not Forced by Leaders

Washington, September e.-while the
Senate was waiting today on the rev.
enue bill confcrees. the Owen corrupt
practices bill was taken up, and made the
vehicle for several hours of acrimonious
political debate. Democratic and repub-
lican senators INDUCED in personal ex-
changes and regaled their fellow sem
ators with accounts Of campaign contrib
buttons and the rewards given some con-
tributors in the past.
The vote to take up the bill was 80 to
IA. nine republicans voting with the ma
jority to consider the measure, and seven
democrats voting against 1t. Senator
owen tonight cancelled speaking en-
gagement tomorrow before the Ohio
democratic convention to remain here to
fight for the bills adoption. 1t prob
ably will be taken up again before noon
tomorrow and the Oklahoma senator in
tends to keep it before the Senate until .
vote is secured or what is more possible.
adjournment is forced by the leaders.
SENATORS CLASH
Senator Curtis of Kansas. republican,
and Ashurst of Arizona, democrat, fur
nished the excitement of the days de-
bate in an interchange which looked for
a few minutes as if it might result in
personal encounter.
The bill would restrict campaign ex-
penditures of candidates for the Senate.
the House and for the presidency and
vice presidency to a greater extent than
existing law. Senator Curtis argued that
such a measure. passed when a campaign
is half over, might work unfairly against
men who have already spent the stipu-
lated amount. He advocated more
stringent law than that proposed, and one
that would particularly restrict the use
of the congressional frank to prevent
senators or representatives from sending
out campaign appeals at government ex-
pense. He read a letter from Senator
Ashurst to a constituent reciting his REC
ord as a basis for support. and said he
understood that 10000 of these had been
ranked out in violation of the privilege.
IF the senator charges that this is a
violation of the aw,' said Senator Ash
urst when he got the floor. he has
sweetbreads for brains
LETTER is EXPLAINED
He explained that his letter had been
submitted to and approved by the post
master general and zone of his assis-
tants as government matter which could
be franked and told how former Presi-
dent Taft when in the Philippines and
the then Secretary of War Root ex-
changed cablegrams at 50 cents a word
paid by the government, to discuss Mr..
Taft's health and a horseback rida
Calling Senator Curtis the "Pharisee'
from Kansas and brushing aside several
chairs. he strobe across the center aisle
and shook his finger under Senator
Curtis nose. Senator Smoot. seated just
between the two, moved back in mock
alarm as Senator Ashurst approached.
Senator Curtis smiled but kept his seat
A little later, Mr.. Ashurst turned on
Senator Penrose. who said he had noticed
"a copper lobby around the capitol.
whose members have been talking with
the Arizona senator.
"If." said Mr.. Ashurst. the senator
means to say that my vote has been In
fluenced by copper lobby or any other
lobby, he lies. Several senator's objected
to this language and Senator Ashurst
after explaining he had said 'if' agreed
to withdraw his remark.
TELL OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Several senator's told of large contri-
buttons to campaigns in various states
Senator Owen said former Representative
A. Mitchell Palmer of Pennsylvania had
stated that $4,000 was spent in one Penn
sylvania election. Senator Penrose in
answer said that Mr.. Palmer's statement
had never been supported by evidence
and declared he could give better proof
that several hundred thousand dollars
had been spent in Oklahoma in the recent
primary campaign which resulted in the
denomination of Senator Owen.
Senator Pomerene said Myron T. Her
rick and the Myron t. Herrick voters
league in Ohio spent more than $1,000
in the recent primaries which chose Mr..
Herriek as the republican senatorial cam
didate.
Senator Curtis asserted that 1t was well
known that the democrats were in favor
of the bill because Secretary McAdoo and
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