The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-19
BYRNES REBUKES
OPPOSITE PARTY
In Speech in House He Asked That
Republicans Name Their Work.
Rv p H. MCGOWAN in The State.

an opposite party IN congress was
handed the Republicans of the house
today by Congressman Byrnes of
South Carolina. He raped them
fore and aft and sent his shafts deep.
He accused them of having done many
things they should not have done and
having perfected practically no legis-
lation Of any value to the American
people. In part, Mr.. Byrnes said:
ssThis is the first time in the his
tory of the house that the committee
on rules has brought in for the con-
sideration of this body rule that
provides for -four hours political de-
bate and provides for the considera-
ton of a report which recommends
no affirmative action by this body.
The minority of this house has CO.
operated and will cooperate with the
committee on rules for the considera-
ton of every legislative measure that
is brought here for consideration by
the committee, but this rule provides
for filibuster against the legitimate
business of this house. Last spring
the Republican party clamored for an
extra session of congress in order that
you might consider reconstruction
legislation. What reconstruction legls-
lation has been considered? l call
attention to the calendar which came
into your Office this morning. Look
ing at page 20 you will see a list Of
house bills which have become law,
a list of the legislative achievements
Of the Republican party in this house.
Take from that list the appropriation
bills, which were framed by a
Democratic house and which were
filibustered to death by the Repub-
licans at the other end Of the capi-
tol, and you have left nothing but
bills providing for the payment of
private claims and bills authorizing
the construction of bridges across the
streams of this country. Read it. In
this history of your reconstructlon
measures, we find bills to build
bridges across the Susquehanna
river, St. Johns river bridge, one
for the relief of Carey, Sulphur
river bridge, Mississippi river
bridge, Rainy river, bridge. Recon-
struction measures? Then we have a
Snake river bridge, White river
bridge, a Red river bridge. Gentle
men of the house, instead of meeting
for the purpose of considering meas
ures of reconstruction, it is quite EVIL
dent the Republicans wanted the ex.
ira session to consider bills OF
bridge construction and that is all
they have, done.
Nothing to Do?
SIS it that they have nothing to
do? No, look at the calendar. Over
10000 bills have been introduced
and among them are bills promoting
the safety and prosperity OF the
people of America, bills on the imml..
grafton question, on the activity Of
the Reds in this country and while
bows of the American Legion are be-
ing shot down in the streets OF
America, and the attorney general
asks for legislation, you come here
and ask.us for four hours Of political
debate in order that you may criticize
the army that fought for the safety
of America.
ssOn the calendar you have legis-
lation providing relief for soldiers
asked for BY the American Legion,
and instead Of the committee on
rules bringing in a rule which would
enable this congress Is consider that
kind Of legislation, you bring in this
rule which seeks to criticize them. |
The gentleman from Kansas, Mr..
Campbell, says it is not so: He says
this makes in order a criticism Of
those who conducted the business of
the army and not the officers and
soldiers in the field. Who conducted
the business Of the army? No one
but the officers of the army, officers
selected in a more democratic man.
ner than have been the officers of any
army in the history Of the world.
They came from Republican homes.
They came from Democratic homes.
They came in every instance from
American homes and reflected credit
on this country. The gentleman from
Kansas says they do not criticize the
men in the field. They do criticize
the men in the field. You sent one of
your subcommittee abroad, l think
you sent nearly all of them abroad,
and | am glad to see the members OF
this select committee, as result of
that trip, in better health to day than
have ever seen them before during
my service here. I like them. l
am glad they had these trips. Put
when the gentleman from Kansas
says you are not criticizing the men
and officers in the field I call atten-
ton to statement issued by one of
these subcommittee, when an at
tempt was made to hold up General
Pershing as he was leaving France.
They insisted that it was essential to
this investigation that he be brought
before them Immediately. America
will never forget the position in which
you sought to place the commander
of the American forces. He told you
he would not appear. Then you said
he treated you with scorn and con-
tempt, and yet you have never had
the nerve to come into this house and