Another Widow's Debut

Two weeks ago Mrs. Kahn of California, one of the two widows* in Congress, made her maiden speech, (TIME, May 10). Last week, perhaps spurred on by Mrs. Kahn's reception, perhaps en-heartened because Mrs. Kahn had broken ground, the other Congressional widow, Mrs. John Jacob Rogers of Massachusetts, who last year was elected to the seat vacated by the death of her husband, made her Congressional debut.

She spoke for a bill to extend hospital benefits to disabled World War veterans suffering from chronic diseases without positive proof that such diseases were acquired in the service. Her bill came up on the "consent calendar." (This calendar is composed of measures which it is thought may not arouse opposition. The bills are read by title by the Clerk. The Speaker asks whether there is objection to "present consideration." If there is one objection the bill goes over. If not, the bill is rattled off by one of the reading clerks and is passed without further ado.)

So the Clerk read the title of the bill ("H. R. 10772, a bill to amend the World War Veterans' Act of 1924"). Mrs. Rogers rose:

"Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for three minutes on this bill."

Mr. Blanton of Texas was immediately on his feet:

"Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the lady have five minutes, under the circumstances."

The Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Snell, Chairman of the Rules Committee) evaded the issue, saying: "The lady* is recognized."

"Mr. Speaker and Members of the House: . . Death will take its toll of service men and women if we do not pass legislation for their benefit. [Applause.] Death waits for no man or no woman. It does not even wait for Congress.

"Congress sent our men to fight nine years ago, and I think a good many of the men are still here who voted to send our boys to France. They knew when they voted to send them there that many would never return, and that many would come back to live a life far worse than death; live in pain and sickness and horrible mutilations. If this bill is not passed, many men will die. . . ."

Mr. Blanton: "Will the lady yield?"

Mrs. Rogers: "Certainly."

Mr. Blanton: "It is a good bill. It is needed by the disabled veterans. Does the lady know why it should not be passed?"

Mrs. Rogers: "I do not."

Mr. Blanton: "I do not see why it should not be passed."

Mrs. Rogers: "To illustrate what I mean, I will tell you the story of Carl Bronner, a boy who not only gave both of his eyes for us, but who gave both of his hands for us.

The story was told with great emotion.

In spite of applause the bill was not passed. The following dialog indicates why:

The Speaker pro tempore: "Is there objection to the present consideration of the bill?"

Mr. Begg: "Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, to make a statement, I appreciate--"

Mr. Blanton: "Mr. Speaker, I demand the regular order."

Mr. Begg: "Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Texas is so ungentlemanly as to do that, he may go ahead and do it."

Mr. Blanton: "The gentleman from Ohio knows that he is unparliamentary when he says that."

Mr. Begg: "Can not anybody make a statement in this House without the gentleman from Texas butting in? He could not even keep still and let the lady from Massachusetts [Mrs. Rogers] make a statement, and I think it is about time for somebody in the House to say something about the gentleman from Texas butting in."

Mr. Blanton: "Mr. Speaker, I am going to demand the regular order."

Mr. Begg: "Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may be permitted to speak for two minutes."

The Speaker pro tempore: "Is there objection?"

Mr. Schafer: "Reserving the right to object--"

Mr. Blanton: "Mr. Speaker, I object."

The Speaker pro tempore: "The gentleman from Texas objects. Is there objection to the present consideration of the bill?"

Mr. Begg: "Mr. Speaker, I object."*

A day or two later both Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Kahn spoke in favor of a bill granting retired pay to nurses of the Army and Navy who have served 30 years or have reached the age of 50 after 20 years' service. No other members spoke on the bill and it was passed without a dissenting voice.

* Mrs. Mary Teresa Norton of New Jersey is the third woman at present in Congress, although she is not a widow, nor has her husband served in Congress. She is the first woman to be elected to Congress by the Democratic party.

* The question of the proper title of Congresswomen is still unsettled. Mr. Snell refers to Mrs. Rogers as "the lady." A week previously Mr. Longworth, more accurately referred to Mrs. Kahn as the "gentlewoman." Cassius C. Dowell, of Des Moines, acting as Speaker pro tempore, followed Mr. Longworth's example.

* Mrs. Rogers estimated that the bill would not cost more than $500,000 a year. Mr. Begg told reporters afterward that the Veterans' Bureau had estimated that the cost of the bill might exceed $62,000,000 a year.