The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-05-26
SO THIS IS
AMERICAS
CONGRESS!
Boys Razz One Another and
Sing Songs as Business
of Nation DragS.
BY ROBERT TALLEY
Times STAFF Correspondent

Itmes stan Correspondent
E-3ASHINGTON. May 26.-The
IWI thick. creamy smoke of good
tJ cigars, mingled with the soul
full strains Of My Old Kentucky
Home" and frequent outbursts of
hearty laughter. issues from behind
the swinging doors that lead to the
Republican cloakroom.
There are. too. a few dozen men
scattered around the big chamber,
some Of them reading the afternoon
newspapers, some of them telling
jokes and none Of them apparently
paying much attention to what was
going on.
The House Of Representatives of
the United States Of America. in
Cons. ess assembled" as the official
RECORDS put it. is in session.
Three hours before it had recessed
until p. m. under an agreement
to t Ike W the McNary- Haugen farm
cred. IS bin at a night meeting, and
nov ne old clock over Speaker Gil
lets desk denotes the hour of 815.
and IT'LL there aren't enough mem
bers present to make a quorum.
Absentees Stroll In
In he midst Of a hot parliamen-
tary argument by three members
over a motion to adjourn. some Of
the absentees begin stroIling in.
Representative Nick Longworth,
Ohio, the Republican floor leader, Is
ragged with a lot OF good-natured APP
plause when he appears.
Ray for Tincher! Ray for
Tincher!" is the shout that greets
Representative J. Napoleon Tincher.
Kansas, as he puts his 250-pound
form through the doorway.
Keynote, keynote!" yells the
crowd at Representative Burton
(Ohio). who is to deliver the key
note address at the Republican ma
tionaI convention.
Each newcomer gets a big mock
ovaton-and a lot Of razzing.
The boys in the cloakroom, who
have now tuned up on "Old Black
joe" are interrupted in their sing
ing again and dragged out for an
other roll call. Thirty minutes more
for this, but still no quorum.
Mr.. Speaker" says Representa-
tive Longworth, ST move that the
sergeant-at-arns be directed to send
for and arrest the absent members
wherever they may be found asa
bring them in here"
The motion carries. amid loud ap-
plause and shouts of "Ray for
Nick; you bring EN- in, Nick!"
Declared Unconstitutional
Mr.. Speaker" yells Representa-
tive Lowrey. Mississippi, above the
din. "a point of order. please! The
Constitution Of the United States
forbids the infiction of cruel and
unusual punishments.' I think it is
unconstitutional to require these
gentlemen to come here under ar
rest and listen to that singing in the
hall"
One by one, and in twos and
threes, they begin streaming into the
chamber.
Representative Rathbone, Illinois.
captured at the City Club, where he
was delivering an address. appears.
Representative John Phillip Hill,
Maryland, fresh from a dinner party.
arrives in a swallow-tailed coat and
hard-boiled shirt.
MIR. Speaker" shouts Represent
alive Hill, Il wasn't arrested; came
here voluntarily.
Song Birds Assemble
Again are the cloakroom song
birds, now singing There's a Long.
Long Trail" dragged forth to an
swer a roll call Thirty minutes
more for this one and-well, by gosh,
there's a quorum present at last!
Exactly PIG members are here, so
the counters say.
And so the business of the blouse
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress as
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