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Text: MONDAY, MARCH 27, 19II. rnr3
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS.
lvfr. Knutson n1:oved that the Special Order on H. F. No. 455
be continued till Wednesday at II o'clock A. M., March 29, r9u.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Dunn, R. C., moved a call of the House.
The roll being called, the following members answered to their
narnes:
.Aker, Edwards, Kelly,
.Anderson, And., Farley, Klemer,
.Anderson, A. V. Ferguson, Knapp,
.Anderson, J.J., Fowler, Kneeland,
Boothroyd, Frankson, Knutson,
Borgen, Fuchs, Kunze,
Bouck, Greene, Lee, I. J.,
Brown, G. W., Hafft~n, Lee, J. F.,
Brown1 L. D., Hardmg, Lee, S. N.,
Burnquist, Hauge, Lennon,
Campbell, H~rzberg, Libera,
Christie, Hillman, Lindberg,
Clarke, Hoffman, Lundeen,
Congdon, Holmberg, Lydia rd,
Conley, Holte~, McDonald,
Converse, Hopkms, McKenzie,
Crane, H11;rley, McMartin,
Davies, J elmek, McNeil,
Davis, Johnson, C. E., Mattson,
Denzer, Johnson, J. N., Mettling,
Diessner, Johnson, J. T., Minette,
Dunn, R. C., Just, :Moriarity,
On motion of Mr. Crane, further
were dispensed with.
Morton,
Nash,
Nelson, A.,
Nelson, H.,
Nolan,
Nye,
Nygren,
O'Brien,
O'Neill,
Orr,
Palmer,
Papke,
Perry,
Peters,
Peterson, A. J.,
Peterson, J.E.,
Pfaender·,
Putnam,
Reed,
Ribenack,
Rice,
Rines,
proceedings
Robertson,
Robinson,
Rustad,
Saggau,
Schuler,
Skartu.m,
Spooner,
Stone, C. E.,
Stone, W. T.,
Sulerud,
Sullivan,
Thielen,Untiedt.
Utecht,
Virtue,
Warner, C. H.,
Warner, E.,
Webb,
Wescott,
White,
Wisniewski,
under the call
Mr. Dunn, R. C., called up the resolution on page IO of the Fiftyseventh
Day Journal and moved its ad.option.
Mr. Pfaender moved to amend the resolution of Honorable R. C.
Dunn, now under consideration, as follows :
Strike out paragraph 3 of said resolution and insert in lieu thereof
the following :
"WHEREAS1 The said special committee has heretofore made i,ts
report in said matter, which report has been duly adopted by this
House; and
"WHEREAS1 Since the adoption of said report, statements were
made on the floor of this House by members of said special comtnittee
as follows:
"First: That said Honorable F. L. Klemer, in connection with
said matter, admitted that the language so used by him was unparliamentary.
"Second: That he admitted he had no facts or evidence to suport
his said statements and language.
1014 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE. [59th Day
"Third: That after the said incident and the use of said language
and on the same day he had agreed to make to the House
statement of apology and withdrawal, the text of which was rea~
on the floor of the House, and which is set forth in the paper attached
hereto and made part hereof, marked 'Proposed statement.'
"Fourth: That th~ said . special committee thereupon prepared
a propo:sed report, which said proposed report was also read upon
the floor of the House, and which is set forth in the paper attached
, hereto and hereby made part hereof, marked 'Proposed Report,'
and
"WHEREAS) All of said statements were made in the presence
on the floor of this House, of the said Honorable F. L. Klemer'
and he, having had ample opportunity to deny the same, if not true'
and having wholly failed to do so and" '
PROPOSED STATEMENT.
MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN: I desire to state to the Hon.
Speaker and to the gentlemen of this House that when I spoke yesterday
I had no intention of reflecting on the integrity of the
Speaker or of any of the committees, in my remarks. I desire here
and now to withdraw any and all remarks that may have been said
in the heat of debate, and to apologize for using language that was
unparliamentary, and that could have been construed as in any way
reflecting on the Hon. Speaker. I have in the past said to various
members of the House that our Honorable Speaker ·was fair and
just in the chair as presiding officer and that no word of fault could
be found with him. I came here with the intent and purpose of
voting and working for such measures as in my best judgment
we.re for the best interests of all the people and in striving for
such object I shall endeavor in the future to be fair, and confine
myself to the rules of this House, and to gam and hold the con-.
fidence of its members.
PROPOSED REPORT.
Your Committee appointed under resolution of the Ho.us
Wednesday, March 22nd, to investigate certain alleged unparlia
mentary language and action indulged in by the gentleman fro
Rice, Mr. Klemer, touching upon the constitution of the variou
committees of the House, beg leave to report as follows:
It is admitted by the gentleman in question himself that th
language used as aforesaid was unparliamentary, and we, therefor_
see no necessity for repeating the same or inquiring as to its sat
character. Reflecting as it does, on the very integrity of the Hott
59th Day]
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 191 I.
. lf no question can arise as to the basis on which any such re-
1tse t' o' n may rest, an d we see no ot11 er so 1u t1.0 11 or recomn1en d ati. on to
fie~ i than that the gentleman in question either apologize publicly
ma :~e House for the unparliamentary language used, or be sub~
o cted to such punishment as this body may see fit to impose.
Je Your Committee is satisfied, from the explanations received,
that the language ~as _u:ed in the heat of_ debate, and the offending
member signifies his w1llmgness to apologize to the House for transressing
its parliamentary rules, . ~nd we ar~ ass~~ed that such ! ology will be ample and uncondit10nal, and 111 wntmg, to be ent
pred on the Journal of the House. We recommend, therefore, that
t~e said member _be _permitted to apologize publicly as indicated, and
that the House receive such apology.
Mr. Pfaender moved that the Clerk be authorized to strike out
the word "unanimously" wherever it occurs in the amendment to the
report of the special committee on the Klemer charges.
Which motion prevailed.
And the ,Clerk struck out the word "unanimous" from the amendment
and report.
Which amendment to the resolution was adopted.
Mr. Lennon moved that the following be substituted for the resotion
offered by Mr. Dunn, R. C., as amended :
Mr. Morton moved the following ·as an amendment for the pendg
motion:
WHEREAS1 The Hon. F. L. Klemer, on Wednesday, March 22,
rbally charged, in this House, that the Hon. Speaker packed the
mmittees of this House in the interests of the so-called "special
terests" and that the committees of this House are packed in the
terest of the so-called "special interests"; and ·
WHEREAS1 The said member has been guilty of a breach of the
es of this House in making such a charge; and ·
WHEREAS1 The said member, the Hon. F. L. Klemer, has refused
withdraw his unparliamentary language and make pr~per apology
his improper language; therefore, be it
esolved1 by the House of Representatives, That the said Hon.
L. Klemer be and he is hereby censured by the members of this
se, and that the vote so censuring him be made a matter of
r~ .
r. Mattson moved, at 1 :30 P. M., that the House take a recess
o'clock P. M.
hich motion prevailed.
rnr6 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
'Dhe House, at 3 o'clock P. M., reconvened.
[59th Day
Mr. Hopkins moved that the Special Order on H. F. No. 135 b
taken up immediately upon disposal of pending matters before th:
House.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. SPEAKER: In my remarks before this House last W ednesda
y, I believe tha~ my language was unparliamentary, and I hereby
wish to offer an apology to the Speaker and the members of th·
H ouse 1.1 1 so f ar as my language was unpar1 i· amentary. IS
F. L. KLEMER.
Mr. Morton moved to withdraw the resoluti01~ offered by him.
Which motion prevailed.
The question being taken on the adoption of the resolution as
amended, '
And the roll being called, there were yeas 66 and nays 42 , as
follows: ·
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Aker, Ferguson, Kelly, Moriarity,
Anderson,And., Fowler, Knapp, Nash,
Boothroyd, Fuchs, Kneeland, Nelson, H.;
Borgen, Greene, Kunze, Nye,
Bouck, Hafften, Lee, S. N., O'Brien,
Brown, G. W., Hauge, Lennon, O'Neill,
Brown, L. D.z Herzberg, Libera, Orr,
Clarke, Hillman, Lvdiard, Papke,
Congdon, Hoff man, McDonald, Perry,
Converse, Hopkins, McKenzie, Peters,
Denzer, Hurley, McNeil, Pfaender,
Diessner, Jelinek, Mettling, Ribenack,
Dunn, R. C., Just, Minette, Rice,
Those who voted in the negative were:
Anderson, A. V., Edwards, Knutson, Nolan,
Anderson, J.J., Farley, Lee, I. J., Nygren,
Burnquist, Frankson, Lee, J. F., Palmer,
Campbell, Harding, Lindberg, Peterson, A. J.,
Christie, Holmberg, Lundeen, Peterson, J. E.,
Conley, Holten, McMartin, Putnam,
Crane, Johnson, C. E., Mattson, Rines,
Davies, Johnson, J. N., 1\forton, Robinson,
Davis, _ Johnson, J. T., Nelson, A., Rustad,
So the resolution was adopted.
Mr. Klemer offered the following resolution:
Robertson,
Saggau,
Schuler,
Spooner,
Stone, C. E.,
Sullivan,
Thielen,
Untiedt,
Utecht,
Virtue,
Warner, C. H.,
Wescott,
White,
Skartum,
Stone. \V. T.,
Sulerud,
Warner, E.,
Webb,
Wisniewski,
Be it Resolved, by the House of Representatives, That a ·committee
of seven be named, three members of said committee to be
named by the mover of this resolution, and three members of such
committee to be appointed by the Speaker, and that the six members
so appointed be authorized to name the seventh member of said
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 191 I. 1017
•tt e. that the committee so named be constituted a committee
11.1 1 Be ou' se for t l1 e purpose o f m· vest·i gat·m g t h e ch arges ma d e b y
th1s terday, namely, "That this House and its committees have
yes eked in the m· terests o f t l1 e spec1. a 1 m. terests, " an d· t l1 at such
n ~:tee be given full powers to subpoena and swear witnesses, to
1 the production 0f books and papers, and that such compe
be required to report back to the House all the testimony
ee . 1
.
proceedings 111 t 1e p.renuse:.
Klerner moved the adoption of the resolution.
~~ice of debate was given by Mr. Johnson, J. N.; so the resoluwent
over under the rules.
r. Dunn, H. H., moved that Messrs. Klemer and Stone, vV.
£ome before the bar of the House and name the packed comees
so charged and the members thereon.
r. Conley moved at 4 :40 that the House do adjourn.
hich was lost. ·
r. Johnson, J. N., moved as a~1 ame1:dment that Messrs.
er and Stone, W. T., report by Wednesday morning in writing
e Chief Clerk, specifically the committees so packed, and the
hers theron in favor of the special interests.
e question being taken on the adoption of the amendment.
d the roll being called, there were yeas 40 and nays 66~
lows:
se who voted in the affirmative were:
on, A. V. Edwards, Hopkins, Lundeen,
n,J.J., Farley, Johnson, C. E., McMartin,
ist, Ferguson, Johnson, J. N., Mattson,
1, Frankson, Johnson, J. T., Morton,
Harding, Klem er, Nolan,
Hillman, Lee, I. J., Orr,
Holmberg, Lee, J. F., Peterson, A. J.,
Holten, Lindberg, Peterson, J. E.,
e who voted in the negative were:
Fuchs, Lee, S. N., Nygren,
,And., Greene, Lennon, O'Brien,
d, Hafften, , Libera, O'Neill,
Herzberg, Lydiard, Palmer,
Hoffman, McDonald, Papke,
Hurley, McKenzie, Perry,
Jelinek, McNeil, Peters,
Just, Mettling, Pfaender,
Keefe, Minette, Ribenack,
Kelly, Moriarity, Robertson,
Knapp, Nash, Saggau,
Kneeland, Nelson, A., Schuler,
Knutson, Nelson, H., Spooner,
Kunze, Nye, Stone, C. E.,
amendment was lost.
Putnam,
Rines,
Robinson,
Rustad,
Skartum
Sulerud,'
Warner, E.,
Webb,
Sulliva11,
Thielen,
Untiedt,
Utecht,
Virtue, ·
Warner, C. H.,.
Wescott,
White,
Wisniewski,
Mr. Speaker.
1018 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE.
The question being taken on the original motion.
And the roll being called, there were yeas 69 and nays
as follows : 36 ,
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Aker, Fuchs, Knutson, Nash,
Anderson, And., Greene, Kunze, Nelson, A.,
Boothroyd, Hafften, Lee, S. N., Nelson, H.,
Borgen, Herzberg, Lennon, Nye,
Bouck, Hillman, Libera, Nygren,
Brown, G. W., Hoffman, Lundeen, O'Brien,
Brown, L. D., Holmberg, Lydia rd, O'Neill,
Clarke, Hurley, McDonald, Palmer,
·Congdon, Jelinek, McKenzie, Papke,
Denzer, Just, McNeil, Perry,
Diessner, Keefe. Mattson, Peters,
Dunn, R. C., Kelly, Mettling, Pfaender,
Ferguson, Knapp, Minett~, Ribenack,
Fowler, Kneeland, Moriarity, Robertson,
Those who voted in the negative were:
Anderson, A. V. Davies, Johnson, J. N.,
Anderson,J.J., Edwards, Johnson, J. T.,
Burnquist, Farley, Klem er,
Campbell, Frankson, Lee, I. J.,
Christie, Harding, Lee, J. F.,
·Conley, Holten, Lindberg,
·Converse, Hopkins, McMartin,
Crane, Johnson, C. E., Morton,
So the motion prevailed.
Nolan,
Orr,
Peterson, A. J.,
Peterson, J. E.,
Putnam,
Rines,
Robinso111 Rustad,
Saggau,
Schuler
Spoone;
Stone, c: E
Sullivan .,
Thielen'
Untiedt'
Utecht,'
Virtue,
Warner, C. H
Wescott, ·•
White,
Wisniewski
Mr. Speake;,
Skartum
Sulerud'
Warner: E.,
Webb,
, Messrs. Klemer and Stone, "\"lv. T., appeared before the bar
-the House.
Mr. Klemer.-Gentlemen of the House and Mr. Speaker:
·desire to state that I cannot in so short a time name the co
mittees to which I had reference, in the heat of debate, whe
spoke the other day.
Mr. Dunn, H. H.-Can I ask the gentlemen from Rice
,question?
Chair.-Does the gentleman from Rice yield?
M'r. Kleme.r.-No.
Chair.-The gentleman does not yield. Anything furt
from the gentleman from Rice, Mr. Klemer? What shall
House do with the statement?
Mr. Pfaender.-I move you that the remarks be·made a
ter of record.
Chair.-The question is on the motion of Mr. Pfaender
the remarks be made a matter of record. Motion carried. 'is the further pleasure of tl;e House with the gentleman f
Rice?
59th Day] MONDAY, MARCH 27, 191 I.
Mr. Robinson.-! move you Mr. Speaker that the gentleman
f m Rice be excused.
roM r. pfaender.--I move as a su b sti. tute mot10. 11 t h at we now
hear from the gentleman from Hubbard, Mr. Stone, W. T.
Chair.-The gentleman from Brown is out of order.
Chair.-The question before the House is on the motion of
the gentleman from \!Vinona, that ..the gentleman from Rice,
Mr. Klemer, be excused. Motion lost.
Mr. Spooner.-! would like to as~ the gentleman from Rice a
. ? .
question.
Chair-Does the gentleman yield?
Mr. Klemer.-Yes.
Chair.-The gentl~man from Rice yields.
Mr. Spooner.-! would like to ask what committees you had
·n mind when you made the charge that the committees of this.
ouse were "packed in the interest of the special interests."
Mr. Klemer.-1 cannot answer you that question at this.
·me. It was a general charge.
Mr~ Spooner.-! would like to ask you another question. Is.
then a fact that you had no particular committee in. mind?
Mr. Klemer.-No, it is not.
Mr. Spooner.-Then-your two answers taken together mean.
at you had no committee in mind.
Mr. Klemer.-1 cannot tell you at this time.
Mr. Spooner.-"\i\Thy not?
Mr. Klemer.-May I ask the gentleman from Stevens a ques?
Did you ever hear of a court in the United States anyere
where a plaintiff is not given time to formulate a com'
nt?
r. Spooner.-That is another . question. The gentlemc111t
e a charge,---
r. Robinson.-! rise to a point of order.
hair.-The point is well taken.
r. Spooner.-! would ask the gentleman permission for one·
question and then quit. Did you have in mind the comee
of which I am chairman?
r. Klemer.-May I look at my rules book? May I ask the
eman of which committee he is chairman?
oner.-Appropriations. ·
ir.-The gentleman does not desire to answer the ques1020
JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE. .
Mr. Lennon.-! move that the gentleman be now excused a,
that hereafter he cannot reiterate or make any designation. 1d
Chair.-Are you ready for the question?
Mr. Spooner.-! doubt the wisdom of that motion. I wa
an investigation. I want to fin~ out whether the Approprtt
tions Committee "is packed in the interest of special interests~
Chair.-Are you ready for the question? ·
Mr. Spooner.-The gentleman is looking in his manual. I unde
stand he refuses to artswer. I want these questions and answe ~
made a matter of record. rs
Mr. Lennon.-N ow then, the question comes up-the gentletnan
has nothing further to state-no charges to make. Now then
what are you going to do with him? '
Mr. Dunn, H. H.--:I move you as an amendment that the gentleman
from Rice be excused from. further attendance at the bar.
\,Vhich amendment prevailed.
The motion as amended then prevailed.
Mr. McKenzie.-! would like to move at this time that the gentleman's
remarks be made a matter of record in the Journal of the
House.
Which motion prevailed.
Dr. Sione.-I find myself in a very peculiar position.
that is manifested by this House-I have practically nothing to
say. I am here at your hands. This has been no one ring circus
•Or boy play as far as I am concerned. I have felt that at no tim
has the time been spent so profitably as in the last few weeks. Before
I spoke today I said if I said anything unparliamentary I wa
willing to apologize, and why I am drawn into this I am unable t
see, other than my right to express my own opinions in a prope
way.
We find in this House, as we do everywhere, two ideas as to- th
,duties of a Representative. One is the autocratic idea that
Representative is elected to think for the people, or the democrati
idea where you have people thinking for themselves, and to- sen
a Representative here to act for them. The other idea of a go
many is that they are elected to think for the people. They ha
a right to think for them, whether they think as the people think
as the people want them to think.
Now, I have attempted at all times to pay due respect to its orde
:and as I said to day if I said anything out of the way in the way
unparliamentary language, I was ready to apologize. I also m
sgth Day] MONDAY, MARCH 27, 191 I. 1021
1 remark that I thought after the log-chain had been thrown into
!~fs steam roller that it would require a little time to get it in proper
shape. . . . .
If this House is earnestly desirous of knowmg upon what I base
1
y statement today, it certainly and in all j-ustice should give a
~
1an a little time to formulate and put it in presentable shape.. To
all a man before a body of this character upon what has seemed to
~
1e such an extremely important matter, is greatly belittling it and
~utting one in a~ uttei~ly unjust po~ition. . .
If this House is desirous ~f any mformatlon on that lme, I shall
be o-Iad to present it, and if it is not satisfactory to this House, I
shall be glad to apologize, but I demand some time to formulate a
statement. Further than that I have nothing further to state at the
present time. '
Mr. Dunn, H. H .-Will the gentleman yield to one question?
Chair.-Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. Stone, W. T.- No, not at this time.
Mr. Hopkins.-Mr. Speaker, I move that 'Mr. Stone, the gentleman
from Hubbard, inasmuch as he made a statement before this
House that he is willing and does hereby apologize for any unparliamentary
statememts he may have made, and admits that he has
confidence in the organization of this House, that he therefore be
excused.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. McKenzie.-! move you that the statement of the gentleman
from Hubbard, together with all the questions and ans,vers, be made
a part of the records of this House.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Mattson moved, at 5 :50 P. M., that the House do adjourn,
continuing the Special Order on H. F. No. 136 till tomorrow.
·which motion prevailed. ·
Os CAR ARNESON,
Chief Clerk, House of Representatives.