Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #48

PRESIDENT:

(barking)

The chair recognizes Senator--Smith!

A wave of excited relief sweeps the chamber, while in the

PRESS GALLERY, SAUNDERS' tense face is thawing out fast.

JEFFERSON:

(a smile breaking

over his face)

I thank you, sir.

He glances up at Saunders, who smiles back at him.

JEFFERSON:

(addressing the chair)

Well--seems like some of the gentlemen

are in a pretty tall hurry to have

me out of here. The way the evidence

stacks up against me, I can't say I

blame 'em. But, hurry or no hurry,

sir--I've got a few things to say

before I leave. I tried saying 'em

in here the other day and was stopped

colder'n a mackerel. Well, I'm going

to get them said now--in fact, you

might as well know, I'm not letting

myself be expelled from this Chamber

until I do.

There is a hum in the Chamber and the gavel pounds. Paine is

on his feet.

PAINE:

(above the noise)

Mr. President! Will the Senator yield?

PRESIDENT:

(to Jeff)

Will Senator Smith yield to--?

JEFFERSON:

(breaking in--loudly

and positively)

*No*, sir! I'm afraid not!

A sudden, astounded quiet.

JEFFERSON:

I yielded the floor the other day,

if you remember--and was practically

never heard of again.

A ripple from the gallery. The President pounds his gavel.

JEFFERSON:

*No*, sir! And we might as well get

together on this "yielding" right

off the bat. I had some pretty good

coaching last night and I find that

if I yield only for a question, a

point of order, or a personal

privilege, I can hold this floor a

little short of doomsday. In other

words, I've got a *piece* to speak--

and blow hot or cold, I'm going to

speak it.

(Then--plunging on)

Mr. President--up on your desk there

is a final conference report on a

Deficiency Bill--waiting to be passed.

Well, I'm here to tell you that one

section of it is nothing but a

barefaced thievery--a piece of graft--

!

A hum goes up; the gavel pounds--and Paine has leaped to his

feet.

PAINE:

(strongly)

Will the Senator yield?

PRESIDENT:

(pounding again)

Order!

(To Jeff)

Will Senator Smith yield to--?

JEFFERSON:

(breaking in)

Yield *how*, sir?

PAINE:

Will he yield for a question?

JEFFERSON:

Ah, now, that's better.

PAINE:

(angrily)

Will he *yield*?

JEFFERSON:

For a *question*.

PAINE:

Does my colleague's piece concern

Section Forty of the bill--a dam on

Willet Creek?

JEFFERSON:

It does!

PAINE:

Every *aspect* of this matter--the

gentleman's attack on that section--

everything--was dealt with in the

committee hearing--

JEFFERSON:

(trying to break in)

Mr. President--

PAINE:

(continuing)

I wish to ask the gentleman--has he

one shred of evidence to add now to

the defense he did not give--and

*could* not give at that same hearing?

JEFFERSON:

(sharply)

I have no defense against forged

papers and--

PAINE:

(breaking in)

The committee ruled otherwise! The

gentleman stands guilty as charged.

And I believe I speak for all the

members when I say that no one cares

to hear what a man of his condemned

character has to say about *any*

section of *any* legislation before

this house!

Some applause breaks out over the floor--and a commotion in

the gallery.

PRESIDENT:

(pounds)

Order, gentlemen!

JEFFERSON:

Mr. President--I stand guilty as

*framed*! Because Section Forty is

graft, and I was ready to say so. I

was ready to tell you that one man

in my state--Mister James Taylor--

was putting that dam through for his

own profit!

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