Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1910 — CRUMPACKER IN CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CRUMPACKER IN CONGRESS

He Now Proclaims Himself a Progressive Republican. WHAT IS SEEN IN THE RECORD An Abstract of the Progressive (T) Record Made by the Honorable Edgar Dean Crumpacker in Congress. Mr. Crumpacker now proclaims himself as a progresive republican. Whether he is or not is to be proven by his record. Certain bills and 'propositions Came up in Congrc-s on which the “stand-pat me-to” system congressmanvoting for special interests were on the one side and the congressman voting for the public interests were on the other Mr. Crumpacker voted with the."standpat me-to”-system congressman on these bills and propositions, which are as follows:

Chicago and Northwestern Debt. A part of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad (Union Pacific control) was trying to get out of settling a just debt of over four million dollars to the government, and was trying to get commission appointed which would settle and hot report the settlement of the claim to Congress for confirmation. It was an attempt to avoid publicity and settle on the quiet. On page 3980 of the Record of the 56th Congress. Vol. 33, is found Crumpacker’s vote in favor of the railroad’s kind of settlement and against the people. Wall Street needed Crumpacker and it had him. Packers and Oleomargarine. On p. 5288. Part 6, Vol. 33 of the Record, Crumpacker is found voting with the packing trust and against the farmers and dairymen on a proposition to table a resolution asking for information as to what the packers were putting into oleomargarine: it was a case of Wall Street again, against the people. It would change the existing order, however wicked that order might be. Wall Street wanted votes to hold it’s plunder and it had Crumpacker’s. Tariff on Trust Articles. On pp. 6499 and 6500 of the Congressional Record, Vol. 33, Part 7 Crumpacker’s vote is on record against allowing the president of the United States to suspend the tariff duties on any article which was found to be controlled by a trust; it would affect “securities”* o.fWa'l Street; it would act as a big stick over monopolies and trusts. ‘Wall Street needed a vote and Crumpacker gave it one. The people had to whistle. Washington Union Station Grab. The grab of the Pennsylvania Railroad is building the Washington union station is one of the most notorious in this country. Scores of honest men protested. But Crumpacker did not protest. On p. 2680. Vol. 36 Part 3 of the Congressional Record, Crumpacker is found voting for this gift of over four million dollars to the railroad company. It was another place where Wall Street found Crumpacker dependable. Crippling Pure Food Bill.

In the 56th Congress,' when the farmers and dairymen and people desiring pure food were united on the Grout Bill, Representative W ads worth who was recently marked for defeat for his connection with the packers in the pure food bill legislation, came forward in Congress with a crippling amendment to the honest bill, Crumpacker voted with Wadsworth. Page 186 Vol. 34, Part 1. Then after the attempt to cripple the bill had failed, Crumpacker tried to save his record by voting for the original bill. Ridgely BUI (H. R. 8917). This bill was one asked for by the railroad employees of the country, who by reason of their employment in interstate business, were subjected to the antitrust law, made to apply against labor unions, r and to the federal laws " against conspiracies in restraint of trade, and injunctions of Federal judges in behalf of the railroads. All the railroad organizations were desirous for the passage of the bill, and the committee on judiciary felt constrained to report it, which it did, with two amendments practically destroying its usefulness to labor. The committee amendments struck cyit the clause taking labor organizations out of the- operation of the Sherman law, and inserted a proviso which eviscerated the balance of the bill, so far as any benefit to the employees was concerned. Mr. Littlefield, in calling up the bill, put it on its pasr-age until the committee amendments. This would allow no separate vote on the amendments, and would compel the House to adopt the amendments or reject the entire proposition. On \fr. Littlefield’s motion to take up the bill in this way, the Yeas were 54, and the Mays 145. Present 19. Not voting, 135, Mr. Crumpacker was one of the 54 who voted with Littlefield {s6th, 2nd. p. 25v8>. The railroad emp’oyes later* started a fight on Littlefield and he is r.ov. but of Congress. The motion -.va - ft st. and no further attempt was *o get the bill up. 4 Payr.e Wtr Revenue Bill, r (H. R. 12291.) 1 This bill nropo ed, among other things, to repeal tire tax on express receipts, which. Mr. Payne contended, the co:n- , panics compelled their patrons to nay, leaving however, irr the same clause the provision requiring the pay inert of the stamp tax, by the railroads on freight receipts, which, the debate seems to in-

dicate, was paid by To this provision an amendment was offered as a substitute by Mr. H, C. Smith (Midi.) which provided that both railroads and express companies should pay the tax and provided for levying it upon them directly. It was argued in opposition to this amendment that the express companies would simply raise their rates. * A Yea and Nay vote was had upon Mr. Smith’s amendment. Mr. Crumpacker voted Nay, with Cannon, Dalzell, Panic, and Tawrfey. Washington Gas Bill. (HR. 13660.) The Committee report contains a letter from the District of Columbia Commissioners, criticizing the proposed consolidation of gas companies and electric light companies in the District of Columbia, and the authorization of unlimited capitalization. The letter cites in this connection thp act of June 6, 1896, which placed upon gas companies a restriction subjecting all stock and bond issues to supervision by the Supreme Cofirt of the District, and recommend that this requirement be not abolished. The bill as reported proposed to grant the Washington Gaslight Companypowers : 1. To extend its works and mains anywhere in the District of Columbia, subject only to the approval of the commissioners. 2. To consolidate and combine, lease or buy all other illuminating companies in the district. 3. To enable the company to do this, it was authorized to' issue any amount of new stock that may be necessary up to a 4 per cent basis on its average net earnings for the 3 rears prior to 1901.

The bill met with such vigorous opposition in the House, and elicited so much -criticism of Mr. Babcock (Wis.), chairman of the committee for misrepresenting important facts and failing to give the people who lived in the District a hearing, that Babcock asked to have the bill recommitted. He was not allowed to take it back -of his own motion, but the House recommitted the bill with instructions to report it back with an amendment reducing the price of gas to 90c at once and 80c after July 1. 1903. On January 28th, 1901. Mr. Babcock tried to get the House to reconsider the vote by which the bill had been recommitted with instructions, and he got a roll call on his motion, Crumpacker voted Yea, that is to reconsider, and he is recorded, ir. company with Cannon, Dalzell. Tawney. and the rest of the faithful of the Gannon machine, on p. 1580 of the Record of the 516th. 2nd. The Yeas were 82, and the Nays were 103, so that Mr. Babcock and the friends of the two or three millionaire capitalists who control the lightning situation in the city of Washington were unable to get the House to withdraw its instruction. . The Elkins Law. (S. 7053.) The purpose of this law was to repeal the imprisonment penalties for rebaters, to prohibit the cutting of published rates, and to provide a civil remedy against discriminations by railroads. In the House the bill was reported by Mr. Mann. From the Committee on Rules, Dalzell brought in a resolution which may be termed a “gag rule.” It limited discussion on this important bill to one hour, and for a vote upon the bill and committee amendments only. Crumpacker voted for this. See 57th, 2nd, p. 2154). Civil Service Commission. In the 58th Congress, second session, an amendment was offered striking out of the appropriation bill the appropriation for the civil service commission. Had this amendment carried it would have destroyed and killed civil service. Crumpacker did not vote on this proposition, but was paired with a democrat, Talcott. of Mary land. The Republican Cannon machine supported this amendment. The Democrats voted against it so Mr. Crumpacker in effect was paired in favor of this amendment. See page 782 Congressional Record for this session. Merchant Marine Commission. In the 58th Congress, second session, a bill was introduced to create a merchant marine commission. The purpose of the bill was to pave the way for Ship Subsidy, and to prevent this, an amendment was offered that no plan or policy shou'd be reported or recommended which would involve the payment of subsidies or bounties from the treasury of the United States. Crumpacker voted against the amendment, which was rejected, and voted for the bi’l upon its final passage. Sec Congressional Record for this session pages 5473 and 5474. This was a bill of the Cannon machine and intended as a means to pave the way for a ship subsidy. The Frye Shipping Bill. This bill was intended to give a monopoly, to the American Shipping interests of all ocean transportation of government supplies and material In effect a subsidy of ten million dollars a year. That this proposition was a subsidy measure pure and simple has never been controverted. On this bill Crumpacker did nbt vote. being paired with Congressman Cooper of Texas, who was a democrat opposed to the bill, j See page 5803 Congressional Record for i the 58th Congress. Second Session. The Philippine Shipping BUI. This bill made coast-wise trade laws of the United States to apply to all ship--1 ping between the main lines and the Philippines. It gave an absolute monopoly to five American shipping companies. Crumpacker voted for the gag rule to get this bill passed, and voted for the rejection of the amendments to improve the bi!L See page 450 Q Congressional Record 58th’ Congress, second session. There was no roll call on the, final passage of this bill. „ The' responsibilities for the passage of the bill rests with those who voted for the gag rule to cut-off debate and limit opportunities for amendment. This bill is one of the worst grafting propositions passed by the Cannon machine. It’ was passed over the 1 protest of Ad-

miral Converse and over the recoin tcendatior. of Taft who was then Governor of the Philippines. The ship ping combine f barged eight dollars pet ton freight for coal to Honolulu whet Cartiff cbal should be bought for $7.9. laid down at Honolulu. On April 22nd 1908 the House voted to repeal this act, only four votes being against re peal. Cong. Record 60th Cong. Is Session page 5084. The Congressional Mileage Grab. There were three sessions of the 58t! Congress, the first being a special ses sion occasioned by the Cuban Tarif treaty. Although no time intervene* between the first and second session, and there was no opportunity for con gressmeti to travel to their homes be tween these two sessions, the idea oc curred to some brilliant System “states man” that Congress might as well pat itself one hundred and niney thous and dollars mileage allowance. Then was inserted in the Urgent De ficiency Appropriation Bill of the seconi session of the 58th Congress an appn> priation of one hundred and ninety thousand dollars for mileage for sena tors and congressmen. This item wa. and congressional election** of that year but after the election the mileage grab bers came back and put this mileagi grab through. Not a single congressman traveled a mile for this mileagi and it is therefore wholly indefensibl and as pure a Steal as was ever per petrated upon the people. Crumpacker voted for the grab as did all of th« leaders of the Cannon machine. Set page 3815 Congressional Record, 58tl Congress, 3rd session. Enlarged South Dakota Homesteai

BUI. This bill provided that a homesteac should be slit hundred and forty acre! instead of one hundred and sixty acres The bill was inspired and put througl by the land grabbers. Every amend ment to safeguard public interest wa; rejected. Crumpacker voted to rejec every amendment to improve the bill an* for it on its final passage. See pagi 3774 and 3775 Congressional Record 58tl Congress 3rd session. All of the Can non machine leaders voted for the bill Eight-Hour Day'in the Canal Zone This question came up on the rul* that the following amendment shoult in order on the Urgencv Deficiencj Bill:

“The provisions of the act entitled at act relating to the limitations of th* {jours of dai’v service of laborers anc mechanics employed upon the public works of the United States and th« District of Columbia, approved Augus Ist, 1892, shall not apply to alien la borers employed in the construction o‘ the Isthmian Canal within the Cana Zone" On this question Mr. Crumpackei dodged by answering "present’’ and die not vote. See Congressional RecorC page 1608 for the 59th Congress, firs 1 session. The affect of thii amendment was that alien laborers could work ovei eight hours and contractors w'ould there fore give a’ien labor the preference ovei American labor. The Cannon machin* and its ’eaders voted for this rule. Lake Erie and Ohio River Ship Canal This bill provided for the incorporation of a company empowered to con struct such canal without hardly an) limitation upon the corporation. Ever) amendment proposed to safeguard the public interest was voted down by th* standpatters. Crumpacker voted to defeat the proposed amendments and sot the bill on its final passage. See pag* 3068 and 3069 Congressional Recorc 59th Congress, first session. Ship Subsidy. There were six roll cal’s on this bil and Mr. Crumpbacker voted with the subsidy grabbers every time. The graft in this bill amounted to $4,000,000 This was a pet measure of the standpatters and the Cannon machine. Set pages 4372 to 4377. Cong. Rec. for th« 59th Congress, second session. Aldrich Deposit Bill. This bill provided that all govcThmen' money should be deposited, except th* working balance, in the favored nationa banks without interest. When the bil came to the House, the machine applied the gag ru’e. Crumpacker voting for the gag rule and then for the bil on its passage. Amendments that th* deposits of money should be equitably distributed among the states and that the banks in which such money was de posited should pay 2 per cent interest on daily balances were offered by Jame; of Kentucky but not permitted undei the gag rule adopted. This Bill was in the interest of the favored New York banks so that they could get more government money in case of a stock flurr> to loan, as Senator Nelson said, at 2, 3 4 and 5 per cent a month, Th< Federal Government’s daily balances on deposit in such favared banks averages during a year between one hundred and fifty and two hundred and fifty million dollars. In Indiana th* bankers are eager to get the public money of the State. Counties. Townships, cities and towns and pay to the public interest at the rate of two pej cent under our depository law, but Crumpacker voted to gag the House so that such amendments could not be incorporated in this bill. See pages 4511 4512 and 4526 Cong. Rec. 59tii Congress 2nd Session. Al l members of the Cannon machine voted for this bill and progressive republicans and democrats against it. Railway Mail Pay and Ocean Mai! f Subsidy. In the 60th Congress, when the post office appropriation bill went to the Senate. that body put on amendments 76 and 77 which enlarged it into a subsidy bill. There was . a conference on this bill, and the conferees’ report contained the Senate amendments granting subsidies. The graft, in conference report amounted to four million dollars. The motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report was defeated.. Yeas 143; nays 155; Mr. Crum-, packer voted yea. All members of th*

Cannon machine voted yea and the progressive republicans and democrats voted nay. See Cong. Red 60th Congress, Ist session, page 6761. Whatever views Mr. Crumpacker may entertain regarding economy he did not have a word to say about these two items of gross extravagance. In the same Congress on an amendment to the same bill increasing the ap propriation to letter carriers in cities to the extent of $1,185,000. Mr. Crumpacker voted no. See Congressional Ee-c ord 60th Congress first session pag« 3299. Through all these years Mr. Crum' packer’s service for ectfnomy ran mainly in defeating the inadequate pay of rural mail carriers, letter carriers and post office clerks. Consolidation of Alaskan Coal En tries. This was a bill to permit the consolidation of Alaskan Coal entries, for the benefit of the Interests (Guggenheim and others) engaged in the exploiting of the mineral resources of Alaska. Crumpacker voted for this bill. See Cong Record 60th Congress, Ist Session, page 6925. Enlarged Homestead Bill. This bill was another attempt to make it easy for the land grabbers to gel what is left of the public domain. It provides that an entrvman may entei three hundred and twenty acres instead of one humjred and sixty acres. The members of the Cannon machine voteo for this bilk Progressive republicans and democrats against it. Crumpackei voted for it. See page 6098 Congressional Record 60th Congress first ses sion. Aldrich-Vreeland Currency Bill.

Before this bill went to conference many good amendments proposed by Senators La Toilette and Johnston had been embodied in the bill. All of these were stricken out in the conference and the conference report contained only such a bill as the Cannon machine intended to pass at the l>ehest of Wall Street. Crumpacker voted to apply the gag rule and for the bill on its passage in the House and for the conference report after every redeeming feature of the bill inserted by Senator La Follette had been stricken out. See pages 6248. 6294, 6295, 7077 Congressional Record 60th Congress first session.

McCall Bill for Publicity of Campaign Expenses. This bill was a good bill in its original form, but for the purpose of making a fake record Mr. Crumpacker proposed amendments that would turn il into a force bill so that the democrats would not vote for it and that the standpatters could still claim that they were for publicity in publicity campaigns as to contributions. The efforts on the part of Mr. Crumpacker in relation tc this matter is a cheap gallery play and his amendment was intended to defeat the real purpose of the bill. All the members of the Cannon machine voted with him on this proposition. See Cong. Rec. pages 6767 and 6768. 60th Congress first session. Fake Resolution to Reform the Rules Mr. Crumpacker voted for the fake reform rules. The Cannon machine was about to lose its hold upon the house. The progressive republicans with the democrats were in a majority hut the Cannon machine then procured enough Tammany democrats and a -few Georgia democrats to put through the fake reform rules. The Georgia democrats who joined Cannon have since been defeated for renomination. See page 3572 Cong. Rec. 60th Congress second session. The Civil Service in the Census . Office. Mr. Crumpacker got his eenstis bill through which was a mere spoils measure. It was so rank that President Roosevelt vetoed the bill and wrbte a stinging veto message in regard to the bill. See pages 1965 and 1966 Congressional Record. 60th Congress, second session. Payne-Aldrich Tariff Bill. Tariff revision in the public interest depended upon the House, and upon giving to the membership of the House the opportunity to work it- will upon the tariff schedules. But the System had other plans. Through its Cannon organization in the House it designed to prevent the House from revising the tariff in the public interest. The gag rule was made use of again to pass this Bill. On the motion for the previous question Mr. Crumpacker, voted Yes. On the gag rule resolution reported by Dalzell from the Committee on Rules, which confined tariff revision by the House to just five commodities out of thousands of the commodities contained in the tariff schedules Mr. Crumpacker voted ’ yes. The adoption of this gag rti’e resolution settled the fate of tariff revision so far as the House of Representative': was concerned. On the amendment to striks out the duty on- lumber Crumpacker voted No. On the motion to recommit the conference report on the bill Crumpacker voted No. And on the final, adoption of the Conference report on the bill Crumpacker voted Yes. See pages 1112. 1118. 1119. 1293, 1294. 1295. 1296. 1297, 1301 and 4755 Cong. Rec. 61st Congress, Ist session. On every test vote on the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Bill Crumpacker voted with the Cannon machine. HAVING VOTED TO. TIE HIS HANDS ANDTHE HANDS OF THE WHOLE MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE SO THAT THEY COULD NOT REVISE THE TARIFF. HE NOW APPEALS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS AND SAYS: “I DID THE BEST I COULD” HE COULD NOT HAVE DONE WORSE. Ballinger-Pinchot Investigation Committee. The original resolution t 6 investigate presented bv Secretary Ba’’ingcr provided thet the President of the Senate appoint six senators and the. Speaker of the House appoint six congressmen. An amendment was offered by Coo-

gressman Norris which prpvided that jthe House members of the Committee be selected by the House. On this amendment Crumpacker was paired with Congressman* Byrde of Mississippi, a democrat. The democrats voted to elect the committee so Mr. Crumpacker was paired against the amendment and in favor of permitting Speaker Cannon appoint the Committee. The members of the Cannon machine in the House voted against this amendment. See, page 412 Cong. Rec. 61at Congress, 2nd session. Prosecution of Labor Unions. This question came up on what is now known as Hnghe’s amendment to the sundry, civil service appropriation bill which contained an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars for the enforcement of the antitrust laws and acts to regulate commerce. The Hughes amendment provided that no part of this money should be used in the prosecution of any organization or individual for entering into any combination or agreement "having in view the increasing of wages, shortening of hours or bettering the conditions of labor or for any act done in furtherance thereof not in'itself unlawful. This proviso was stricken out in the Senate and the bill went to Conference.. The House conferees reported that they were unable to agree, and Mr. Hughes moved that the House conferees be instructed to refuse to agree to the Senate amendment. Mr. Crumpacker voted no against instructing the conferees to insist upon the house provision. The bill went back to conference and again the conferees reported that they were unable to agree upon the Senate amendments. Mr. Tawney moved , that the House recede and concur. On this motion Mr, Crumpacker voted yes for the Tawney amendment to strike out the provision to exempt labor organizations from prosecution under the anti-trust law. See pages 8968 and 8969 and 9223 and 9224, Congressional Record, 61st Congress second session. All members of the Connon machine voted wqr the Tawney motion. The Revision of the House Rules. The fight to revise the rules of the House was started on what is now known as the Norris resolution. In this memorable fight against the tyranny of the Cannon machine the progressive republicans in the House and of the democratic members in the House united to overthrow the Gannon machine There were six test votes aiid roll calls in this fight, and upon every vote and roll call Mr. Crumpacker .voted to retain and in support of the Cannon machine and its tyranical rules. See pages 3351, 3354, 3393, 3408 to 3418, 3478, 3480, 3486, 3488 and 3490. Congressional Record, 61st Congress, second session. The Commerce Bill. The test vote upon this question came up on the motion that the House disagree with the Senate amendment. Mr. Lenroot offered a motion that the house concur in the Senate amendment. The motion of Mr. Lenroot was rejected by a close vote. Mr. Crumpacker voted no. The progressive republicans and democrats voted yes with Mr. Leuroot. See Cong. Record pages 7840 and 7841. 61st Cong. 2nd Session. Whatever protection the public gets from this bill was put into the. bill by Senator LaFollettc in spite of Mr. Aldrich and the Cannon machine. And on the real test vote on this bill Mr. Crumpacker was voting with the Camion machine. Postal Savings Bank Bill. When the Postal Savings Bank Bill was introduced it was a measure framed up to suit the Wall Street forces. The System is working for a Wall Street Central Bank which is to issue all bank notes. But no such bank can be established as long as the national bankers of the country arc apposed to it, for the reason that they hold $700,000,000 of the two per cent U. S. bonds. The value of these bonds depends upon the power of the banks to issue notes on such bonds. The Postal Savings Bank Bill was drawn so that the deposits of this Bank could be invested in the 2 per cent bonds so that national bankers will not oppose a hill for a central bank of issue. When the Postal Savings Bank Bill came up in the Senate, Senators LaFollette, Bristow, Barah. Cummins and Dolliver with democratic senators amended the Biil so that it was a real Postal Savings Bank Biil, and that none of the deposits con’d be invested in bonds bearing less than 2'/ 4 per cent interest per annum so that 2 per cent bonds could not be unloaded on the Postal Savings Bank. The Bill went to conference and every Senate amendment was stricken out and the original Wall Street Postal Savings Bank Bill put through. Dalzell from the Committee on Ru’es reported a Resolution that limited debate and that only one amendfrient be allowed to the minority to substitute its own Bill and that no intervening motions, or appeal, except a motion to recommit, should be allowed. Crumpacker voted for the gag rule resolution, to. prevent the people from getting a real Postal Savings Bank law, •and the Bill the System wanted was put through, See Cong. Rec. page 7841, 7842 and 7846, 61st Cong. 2nd Session. Senator LaFollette calls the Postal Savings Bank Bill which was put through by the standpatters an outrage upon the American people. For a complete discussion of the iniquities and jokers in the Postal Savings Bank law see LaFo’lette’s magazine for July 9th. 1910. Mr. Crumpacker is recorded as voting with the Cannon machine for special interests on every test vote on these bills: If he is a progressive republican then Joe Cannon is a progressive republican: During his ‘whole career there is not a single instance in which Mr. Crumpacker is indentified witji the passage of. a single bill in favor of the public interests, but every bill that has made the Cannon machine odius to the people of the United States has had the support of the Honorable Edgar D Crumpacker. | , f