The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-08-25
BURNS HURLS LIE
AT MICHIGAN man
SCENES ENACTED IN
HOUSE.
Caused By Great Speech.
Takes Exception to Statements Made
BY Jimmy" in Debate-"Free
for All Fight" Threatened.

Washington, Aug. 19.-Turbulent
scenes were enacted in the house of
representatives late last night and
again this afternoon by sensational
clashes between Representative
James F. Byrnes, of South Carolina,
and Chairman Joseph W. Fordney,
of the ways and means committee,
who is in charge of the Republican
bill to revise federal taxation. Many
members exchanged fiery challenges
across the inter-party aisle and it
looked as if there might be free
for all fight
Mr.. Byrnes last night was making
one of his sweeping and very effec-
tive speeches attacking the Republi-
can bill, saying nothing unparliamen-
tary and using no stronger language
than has frequently been used in the
course of debate by other speakers.
But the way in which the South Caro-
linian put the case in the course of
colloquies with majority Leader Mon
dell and Representatives Longworth,
Greene and others, seemed to irritate
Chairman Fordney who advanced up
the aisle and pointed his finger at
Mr.. Byrnes, after the latter, who was
making his speech from the wall of
the house in front of the speakers
rostrum, delivered the following on
slaught on the tax bill and it's Re-
publican authors:
Take Burden Off Rich.
"You reduced the taxes on Mr..
Mellon and Mr.. Rockefeller 100000
and 100000 and you levy tax on
medicines, on soft drinks, on candy,
on moving pictures, and on many of
the articles that are used by the peo-
pie. You do not reduce the tax on in
comes from $4,000 to 100000. You
take all off the rich people of this
country who contributed to your cam
paign last fall" (Applause on the
Democratic side.)
Shaking his finger at Representa-
tive Byrnes and interrupting without
permission of the chair, Mr.. Fordney
declared that the statement of the
South Carolinian was untrue and that
he knew it to be untrue when he
made it. Chairman Fordney repeated
this, looking straight at Byrnes. Then
the latter, also throwing aside par
liamentary rules, called Fordney
liar.
Pandemonium reigned for some
minutes, and it looked like serious
trouble, in which many would have
participated, but Majority Leader
Mondell finally obtained recognition
and suggested that both the gentle
man from Michigan and the gentle
man from South Carolina had used
unparliamentary language, and asked
unanimous consent that the obpec-
tionable words be expunged from the
record. This was done.
1t was supposed that the incident
was ended, but this afternoon Chair
man Fordney took the floor and pro-
ceeded to make speech, in which he
repeated what he had said the night
before to Representative Byrnes. The
latter, who was present, then arose
to say that, in the circumstances, as
the gentleman from Michigan had
seen fit to repeat his offensive lam
guage of the previous evening, be
(Byrnes) would also repeat and de-
nounce the statement of Fordney as
a lie.
Again everything was in an up
roar and at fever heat, and it looked
like a fracas of widespread nature.
This time Representative Mann, OF
Illinois, formerly majority leader,
lHS lCuPCSI OS uSSAoAAAS SASS
the gentleman from Michigan had
used supplementary language, CAL
culated to exasperate any man, and
that the record ought to be immedi-
ately cleared of the exchange of the
offensive terms. Again this was done.
It rests with Mr.. Fordney whether
there shall be another repetition of
the unpleasant controversy. Repre-
sentative Byrnes feels that there was
nothing else for him to do but reply
to the unpar rliamentary attack in
kind. The two men have hitherto
been quite friendly personally, IN
spite of their political divergence OF
views. Representative Byrnes was
today informed that Speaker Gillett
had appointed him member Of the
Joint committee of the house and
senate to investigate readjustment of
nav and allowances in the govern