The Washington herald., 1921-07-16
SENATEDHAYS
BONUS ACTION
AMDDlSORDER
Roar of Storm Fails to
Drown Threats of
Fist Fight.
ADMINISTRATION
WINS BY Al TO 20
McCumber and Reed Pre-
vented from Exchanging
Blows in Chamber.


soldiers bonus bill was sidetracked
yesterday indefinitely, according to
President Harding's desire, by a
vote Of a. to 20.
This action was followed by
scenes of disorder and near vio-
Ience never parzlleled within the
memory of the oldest Senator. The
dignified and august Senate was
Transformed into a veritable mad
house. defying the efforts of the pre-
sfding oficer to restore order.
Threatened isticuffs. superheated
epithsts. a score of Senators de-
manh recognition at once. be-
viIderih parliamentary entangle-
ments. and a cloudburst on the roof
of the Capitol. combined to create
almost unprecedented pandemonium.
Fist Fight Threate.ed.
The chief belligerents were Sens-
tor Mccumber. Of North Dakota,
Republican, Senator Reed. of Mis-
souri,, Democrat. and Senator Robin
son, of Arkansas. Democrat Only
the most polished fnesse on the
part of peacemaking colleagues pre-
vented Senator McCumber and SEN
ator Reed from engaging in a fistic
encounter.
The battle began when Senator
McCumber, Immediately following
the vote on the bonus, took the
noor 10 assure the Senate that the
bin would not remain sidetracked
lsng. He promised that 1t would be
brought back again from the Fl
nance Committee within the present
sesxion- n
Democrats at once began To
heckle the North Dakota Senator.
Then they tried to choke on his
speech, Senator Robinson making a
point Of order against IL on the
ground that the bonus bilt was no
longer before the Senate. He
CHARGED that Senator McCumber
was ~uxing up the Senzte's time try
ing to apologize for the vote on the
stsra rDowns Noise.
parliamentary maneuvers ensued.
scores Of Senators shouting at the
tons of their voices. demanding rec
oenition from the chair. To add to
the confusion, the worst storm Of
the season burst upon the Capital
at this moment The roar of torrents
OF rain on the roof of the Senate
wing, mingled with incessant
crashes of thunder. rendered the de-
bate virtually inaudib1e. Vice Presi-
dent Coolidge finally ruled In Sena-
tor McCumber's favor. An appeal
was taken by Senator Robinson,
Senator McCumber moved to lay the
appeal on the table, and by party
vote the Senate sustained the Vice
President. Round one thus ended
With Mr.. Mccumber again in posses
sion of the floor.
Proceeding with his speech, Sena-
tor McCumber informed the Senate
that the bonus would come forward
again as soon as tax, tariff and re-
funding questions were out Of the
way. Here Senator Reed entered
the arena
since the Senator from North Da-
kota states" said Senator Reed.
: that this bill is not to pass until
our foreign debts are refunded, IL
may be of interest to him to know
that the Secretary of the Treasury
objects to a Limitation of his pow
ers to i've years saying that 1t may
require more than that time to get
these matters adjusted"
Il know there Is no such state
nent," retorted Senator McCumoer.
Reed Makes Threat.
1T seems to be getting to be a
habit in this chamber Senator Reed
replied, when make a statement
of fact for somebody to get up and
say il Is not true. That habit may
be INDUCED once too often some Of
these f1ne days"
IF the Senator thinks" Senator
MeCumber thundered back. That 1t
will be INDUCED in once too often in
my debate and in what l have said,
the Senator Is entirely mistaken in
the character Of the man he is deal
ing with. II the Senator from Mis-
souri, wants to call me to order. he
may do that outside and his call will
be accepted"
with reference to the physical
courage and provess of the Senator
from North Dakota, he is at perfect
liberty to parade 1t here in the SEN
ate chamber to his hearts content,
Senator Reed declared.
But the Senator challenged me
and I. will meet him outside" per-
sisted the pugnacious Dakotan.
Thus ended round two.
There was q brief trace while Sem
ator Reed discussed some of the
technical features OF the situation.
The row blazed up hotter than ever
a few minutes later. however. when
Senator Reed declared:
II never saw a blackguard yet
that didn't want to go outside to
settle something"
Bare knuckles or pistols and cof-
fee at sunrise appeared close at
hand
MeCsas>r Gees After Reed.
Senator Mccumber Ieaped to his
feet and moved across the chamber
toward Senator Reed. Senator will
Jams. OF Mississippi, Democrat, came
down the aisle between the two
Senatorial giadiators bent on stop
ping the bout. Senator Tom Watson.
of Georgia, assumed the role OF sec
~ond to Senator Reed. He hurried to
the side Of the Missourizn. Charging
! that Senator Mccumber had been in