The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-22
OLIVER NOT ASKED. ID. APOLOGIZE FOR
 SLAPPING DEMPSEY
Alabama Congressman Re- garded as Justified in Striking New York
 Representative
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau. The Herald.
 BOO Davidson Building

Washington. September 21.-(Spe- cial.) a week has passed since W. B. Oliver of Alabama slapped the face of s. Wallace Dempsey of New York, on the floor of the House of Representatives.
 And yet the House has no formal knowledge that difficulty occurred. It is said to be true that never be- fore in history has the dignity of the House been ruffled without de- mand from some member that the dignity of the House be restored by the way of an apology, perfunctory or otherwise.
 The fact that no official knowledge has been or will be taken Is said to be traceable to the conviction of practically all members that Mir. Oliver's action was Justified. There seems to be a strong undercurrent of satisfaction on the part of every body, even the members from New York. Dempsey, himself, is ap- parently without a grievance. Per haps, like the negro the mob hanged in Texas, he "got off light" and Is content to let DYkOH6S D0 Oy SOhOo.
 After the difficulty, Dempsey ex- plained that he had not intended to insult Oliver, and Oliver declared that he was willing to forget what had happened So the chapter is closed.
 Arose Over Channel Project
 But under the surface, there seems to be matter of importance. What prompted Dempsey to lose his head to the extent of resorting to oaths? There are two versons. On the proposed East River channel pro- ject, Dempsey was to speak and Oliver was to speak It was said that Dempsey demanded that Oliver confine himself to very few minutes, that Oliver disagreed. and that In the discussion which ensued, the blow was struck.
 The point on which Dempsey ana Oliver disagreed, however, was. the alleged necessity of deepening the East River channel to forty feet rather than thirty-five. The greater depth made greater cost to the taxpayers in a sum ap- proximating sS3,5oo,O 900. Oliver wanted to save that money to the people; Dempsey wanted to spend if for his district. Indirectly, or course. it would have reflected credit on him, because the popularity Of A member some times depends on the amount of pork" he delivers for the "consumption" of his constituents.
 It Is said that during the World war. the government thought that the channel should be forty feet. Ar ter the war, however, engineers, It is said. determined that depth or thirtv-five feet would be sufficient. At any rate, the Senate ordered the proposed change In specifications In conference, the House conferees, led by Dempsey. refused to agree. IL was necessary that the matter De carried to the House for instructions.
 oliver Knew Case
 MT. Oliver, while serving on the naval affairs committee, became Ia milIar with all angles of the East River channel case. He concluded 70 fell the House what he knew. lie felt confident that when the House was informed, it would agree that inc Senate in saving sSS,5o0,ooo had been not frugal but wise. It IS pos sible that Dempsey reached the same conclusion. At any rate, he gave every indication of desire that Oliver retire from the field ana conviction that if he did not retlre' wa ot,oppa1 raQR with