Arizona republican., 1919-03-06
RO[PH DEMANDS EXTRA SESSION WITHOUT AVAIL
Bitter Controversy Rages In The Conference Of Governors And Mayors At Capitol.

WASHINGTON, March 5.-Bitter controversy ragged in the conference of
 governors and mayors today before
 the report of the committee on reso-
 lutions, making a great variety of recommendations on public questions,
 finally was adopted, Even after the I viva voce vote, delegates from the
 west, led by Mayor Rolph of San
 Francisco, attempted to force a record
 vote to show that they dissented from
 the majority, but were oveFruled by
 Secretary of Labor Wilson, who pre-
 sided.
 Adjournment was taken after Mayor
 Rolph and Governor Cox of Ohio, | chairman of the committee on resolu-
 tions had arisen on questions of per-
 sonal privilege concerning the cham-
 pionship of opposing sides in the de-
 bate.
 The resolutions, which Governor ! Cox announced were submitted unani-
 mously after elimination of all part-
 san subjects, condemned doctrines
 which inveigh against God and gov
 ernment. They also recommended
 that the government should not only
 prepare for the transportation neceS-
 sities of prosperity, but use the rail- roads as the means of helping private
 industry" by carrying out the program
 of improvements.
 Expressly disclaiming approval of
 fixing of costs, the resolutions sane
 toned government approval of price
 schedules, as a step toward establish
 ing a new basis of values. Reduction of freight rates on all building ma
 terial, especially road material was | enc T4 Joclo hot duction of wages should come only Us
 a result of reduced living costs. P Recommendation was made thai the , federal government continue it's help ful offices with view to averting
 serious consequences" in the finan- 2 cial affairs of public utilities. Settle ) ment of government contracts, lifting , of governmental restrictions on indus try and materials as soon as possible, - and continuation of the federal survey f of natural resources, started during the war, were asked. The conference : also deplored discOntinuance of fed ] eral employment agencies and urged demobilization of the ar myby local
 draft boards.
 The section relating to publicAatiil- ties was attacked vigorously by Mayor : Hoan of Milwaukee, who moved that [ Y supported by Mayor Meyers of Mime !, apolis E. M. H. Harbor of Kansas g City, and others. Mayor Hoan wanted 2 to know who sent the ''stacks of tele- = grams" which Governor Cox reported il had reached the committee favoring
 the declaration. He and Mayor Mey-
 CTS declared the clause interfered with
 local sovereignty, and MT. Harber
 said aid like that given by the war
 labor board in the Kansas City strike
 did more harm than good
 Mayor Baker of Portland, Ore, an- - swered for his colleagues of the com
 mitte, Governor Cox, Governor Bilbo Of 2 Mississippi. Governor Sprouts of Penn . sylvania, Mayor Peters of Boston and
 George Foster Peabody. representing
 the governor of New York, said the
 telegram had been addressed to Presi- k dent Wilson who sent them to the 1t committee.
 l. Mayor Baker Answers Back n ''They came from the traction inter " ests,' shouted Mayor Hoan. If Don't get excited the Portland eX- v ecutive replied I've pulled that cor IS poration stuff just as you are doing m and it goes well with your constituents, 10 but I advocate this section because We ,o ought to have some government agency If to help us in difficulties which cannot 10 be settled locally"
 ,o Motion to strike out the cause was .d defeated, A to 21
 ,+ The controversy between Governor Cox and Mayor Rolph arose over the T resolution which the mayor introduced 70 early in the day, demanding that Pres ~ ident Wilson reconvene congress to os pass appropriation measures, condemn I ', ing the building of American ships in u' Chinese and Japanese yards, while " contracts in this country were being cancelled, and favOriHg the principle al of collective bargaining.
 e' In reporting the committees decision lo not to accept the resolution, Governor 'n Cox said he would be glad to give req UT sons if desired
 Mayor Rolph failed to obtain post : CT ponement of consideration of the re- lS port until a night session and then r. promptly demanded that the governor e. give the reasons for eliminating the
 mayors resolution. Governor Cox did ne not reply and the fight over the adop- It ton of the report began. Later Gov el ernor Cox did not reply and the fight on over the adoption of the report began
 Later Governor Cox rose to a question
 of personal privilege.
 Nothing in word or spirit was in
 tended to convey asperity to the mayor
 of San Francisco" he said The com
 mittee desired to avoid subjects whicl
 are matters of political controversy" ., Rolph Wants Action |)I Mayor Rolph heatedly replied thaf lU there was no intention of bringing N politics into the gathering; that he haC
 criticised the republican filibunte
 which defeated the appropriation meas
 ure, but that the only way to "ge nj congress back on the job" was to hav' a. the president call an extra session. rt- An effort to have the conference en s dorse government ownership of rail e. roads was defeated by exclamation. 70, At the morning session, disSatisfac rs tion of western delegates at what the "a, regarded as the failure of the confer -es ence to achieve concrete results brolI h. forth in a storm of debate, durin no which Secretary Houston, who was [ ad have spoken. left the room in the de
 partment of interior Where today ,a, sessions were held.
 v~ Director General Hines, who wit on Secretaries Glass, Redfield, and Lane in addressed the conference today, sai ve the railroad administration was con mi sidering the reduction of freight rate
 on roa building material.
 Inc Plans for the organization of a ge American mayors league" were dis l3t cussed tonight at a final meeting o in many of the mayors who attended tn v- three days conference. A committe to of five was appointed to confer wit "a, the department of labor as to feas no ibllity Of forming such an organlzation II, To deal with the present industria " and labor situation. the organizatio, id would be subject to the call of the sec
 ratar.- of lahOr at any time for On,