Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-15

v. SUPPOSE
ton that the conduct OF the Commissioners in
connection with this matter is censurable, at
least so far as their integrity is concerned. IL
seems, sir, from what could learn. that his
desire was to inquire whether q better method
could not be found than the one heretofore
adopted for the purchase Of sites for schools
and police-station houses. 1t seems TO be his
desire to elicit information so 20 enable this
House to legislate judiciously and intelligently
on the subject. The resolution reported from
the committee on the District of Columbia was
delayed by the objections which have been
made from time to time. Therefore. in order
that the real facts might be elected and that
the House Nigh be fully and thoroughly in
formed as TO the facts, l offered the resolution
of inquiry which has been adopted BY the COM
mittee, and which was intended 10 cover the
entire field Of investigation. That was intro
duced a week or more ago. The committee on
the District of Columbia had the riget to re-
port that resolution back at any time. II il
had done so promptly il could have been passed
and answered in time for action by the House
on the resolution of the gentleman from Ken
lucky to-day. and then we could more intelli-
gently determine whether we should incur
the expense of appointing a new and special
committee of investigation. and the employ
ment of a stenographer. &c Ii is probable in
this way all the information desired could be
certained without making any appropriation"
MR.. TowNsHEND DOESN'T WANT TO BE INTER-
RUPrED.
Mr.. Taulbee rose.
Mr.. Townshend-Do not interrupt me now.
The gentleman has said some one or more per-
sons in the District of Columbia informed him
that the resolution / introduced had the ten
dency to side-track the investigation which
was intended by his resolution. Let me say 70
the gentleman from Kentucky that his inform
ants, whoever they may be, are entirely mis-
taken. and that they had no warrant for max
ing any such remark. My resolution was in
tended to obtain all the facts in regard TO the
matter and to spread them before this House.
but II was not in any sense intended for the
purpose of side-tracking his resolution or to
conflict with it.
Mr.. Taulbee replied: what / think said,
and what meant TO saw, was that the citizens
of the District of Columbia had expressed that
belief to me, that the adoption of the resolu-
ton offered by the gentleman from Illinois
could have no other effect l meant to cast no
reflection upon the gentleman's purpose in
offering the resolution, nor do / intend TO do
SO at this time. Ii he understood me TO say
anything OF that sort, can only say that am
sorry for it,"
MR.. TowNsHEND NOT OPPOSED TO INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Townshend-I did not understand the
gentleman to impute such purpose TO me. /
merely intended to say to the gentleman from
Kentucky that those who stated that would be
the effect of my resolution or that il was in
tended III any sense were mistaken. NV reso-
luton was INTENDED 10 ellclt lnfOrmatiOn pend
ing the consideration of his resolution for ill.,
vestigation. in order that We might more intel
lgently act upon his motion when il could De
reached My purpose was to do everything
could for the purpose OF reaching a just con-
clusion in regard to this matter. supposed
my resolution of inquiry could be answered
before action on his resolution could be had.
/ sought thereby to put the House in possession
of all the facts which it would have brought out.
The gentleman has himself disclaimed any
intention of rejecting upon the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia. Now. Mr.. Speaker.
so far as my observation has gone. extending
over some years i'll reference TO these matters.
/ believe we have never had more honest and
capable Commissioners for the District than
We have to-day. / am glad to hear the gentle
man from Kentucky say that he does not reflect
on them. l understood him to say his purpose
is to provide for the purchase of sites for
school-houses and statlon-houses by the very
best method and upon the most advantageous
/ terms TO the District of Columbia. and that if
money has been paid out unlawfully to agents
in securing the purchase il should be recov-
cred. / heartily join hands with him on that
| proposition. but think the committee on the
| District of Columbia have taken the right view
| of this subject III determining that before the
| committee of investigation is appointed all the
| facts obtainable without investigation should
| be presented to the House. and then we can
more judiciously determine whether a special
committee should be appointed to investigate
| So far as / am concerned do not object to
! the adoption of the resolution of investigation
l introduced mine an Independent PROPOSE
| ton. i repeat that il was not intended to con-
| fiict with that OF the gentleman from Kentucky,
| but to stand on its own merits as a resolution
| of inquiry for the purpose of bringing fully
and thoroughly all the facts involved before
| the House.
MIR. TAULBEE CRITICIsEs THE TowNsHESD REso-
LUTON.
! Mr.. Taulbe-Mr. Speaker, would be glad to
join hands with the gentleman from Illinois in
his efforts to obtain all the facts that would
lead to the recovery of money paid out to
gentlemen in this District unlawfully. Now.
wish to call his attention TO the fact that his
resolution as introduced into the House did not
look to that result. There was nothing in that
resolution which would justify the Commission
ers, in answering the resolution. to give one
single intimation as to who were the parties, or
how much of the peoples money had been
paid to parties not entitled TO any.
Mr.. Townshend protested that Mr.. Taulbee
was mistaken. and said that his resolution was
intended for the purpose of naming the parties
and the amount. IL included everything. and
the amendments that had been made to it had
met his approval, as would any that might be
adopted that would bring out more of the facts.
Mr.. Buchanan proposed that the investiga-
ton be made by the District committee, and
MIR. Hemphill replied that that committee had
all they could do.
Mr.. ATKINsoS's CURIOUS THEORY.
Mr.. Atkinson proposed an amendment strik-
ing out the provision for clerk, and while
speaking on this proposition he said that after
the Taulbee resolution was reported to the
House it became a matter of common knowl-
edge that war was being made upon the CON-
missioners of the District of Columbia. not on
account of school sites. but because they had
refused licenses TO certain liquor-sellers here
because they had been violating the provisions
of the license law of the District and whether
that delegation of people of the District of
Columbia that called upon the gentleman from
Kentucky were applicants for license who had
been refused or not L do not know.
Mr.. Taulbee-Will the gentleman allow me
momenp The first question asked of them
was whether any of the parties participating in
the transaction had anything to do with the
traffic in Intoxicating liquors in this District.
and the answer was that they had not. So far
as l am concerned, / have never asked the
Commissioners TO grant licenses to anybody,
nor have L ever been engaged in the business
myself. and disclaim any such motive or pur-
pose. l know nothing of the war upon the
Commissioners of which the gentleman speaks.
MIR. Atkinson-I careful in my state
ment to say that did not believe the gentle
man from Kentucky was actuated by any such
motives or influences; but if be reads the daily
papers here, if he reads the Sunday papers
especially, that seem TO be sent gratuitously to
u.s. he will learn that there is war being made
upon the Commissioners because they have re-
fused to renew liquor licenses to men who
have abused the privileges that had previously