Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-28
ABSENT VOTES
DEFEAT TUBES
Postal System Fails When
Four From City Are
Not Present
GtARK's VOTE COUNTS
Washington, June 2s.

Washington, June 2S.
The absence of Philadelphia and
New York members Of the House
threatens abolition of the pneumatic
postal tube service.
After the stormiest meeting Of the
session. what appeared at first to be a
tie vote on the tubes was cast. 149 to
149. Then on recapitulation Speaker
Clark announced that the tubes had
been defeated. 149 to $50.
The few Philadelphia and Pennsyl-
vania members who were present de-
clared that they were cou.:ted out"
and will carefully check up the official
ballot today as the first step in con-
tinuing the fight. The Republican and
Democratic tally clerks did not agree.
Only Representatives J. Hampton
Moore, George w. Edmonds and Joseph
Mclaughlin were present from Phila.
delphia. Representative George S.
Graham waS paired on the vote. The
absence of Representatives William S.
Ware. George p. Darrow, Peter e. Co.'S
tello and John r. X. Scott was noted.
however, and messages were sent to
them by their colleagues. urging their
attendance today. Their votes would
have assured the tube service for
another year, at least.
How Pennsylvanians Voted
The three Philadelphia members
who were present voted for the tubes.
Representative Graham favored the
tubes. and was paired with Repre-
sentative Hastings, of Texas. The vote
| of the.other members of the Pennsyl.
vania delegation follows:
I For the tubes = Butler, Watson,
Farr, McFadden. Rose, Robbins, Tenn.
pie, Clark, Strong, NORM, Garland,
Crago, Republicans, and Kelly, Dem.
ocrat Total, 13.
Against the tubes - Iesher, Brod.
beck, Sterling, Steele, Beshlin, Camp
! bell, Democrats, and Porter, Repub-
lican. Total, z.
Representative Porter first voted for
the tubes and then changed his vote
to no. ~
Absent = Templeton. Kiess. Focht,
Kreider, Rowland, Republicans, and
DeWalt, Democrat. Total, s.
Representative Griest, who favors
the tubes, was paired with Represen
tative Heaton. who opposes them.
Representative Moon. Of Tennessee
chairman of the House Committee or
Postoffices and Post Roads, opened
the fight by submitting to the House
a report Of the conferees on the postal
bill containing provision for leasing
the tube systems until March 4, 1919
while the Interstate Commerce Com
mission decides whether they should
be purchased by the Government.
He moved that the House concur ir
the report but voted against concur
ring himself. His motion was lost
on a viva voce vote.
Clark Vote Decides
4 BY a vote of 1OS to 81 the call oi
the House was made for a quorum
and then Representative Kitchin, o
North Carolina. after a conference
with the two sides, announced that Il
was agreed that a record vote b,
taken on the report without an,
debate.
With a score of members demand
ing veriflcation OF the rollcall, Speakel
Clark announced that the vote wa,
149 to 149, tie. The clerks callet
his name, and he voted AYE" amit
applause from the Republican side o
the House. which regarded his vote a.
vote against Postmaster Genera
Burleson.
Representative Gordon then entere
the chamber saying that he cam
: from the smoking rooml and asked L
! be recorded. The Speaker refused I
permit him to vote. as he was not Il
tine chamber during the calling Of tn
roll.
; Speaker Clark then announced tina
mistake had been found and tha
: the vote stood 151 to $50 against tn
tubes. Representative Moore asserte
that such a result was impossible. a
|, the Speaker had cast the deciding vote