The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-09-02

Mr.. Smyser Withdraws from the Committee
After an Explanation IN the House.

Mr.. Smyser Withdraws from the Committee
After an Explanation IN the House.
WASHINGTON, Sept. l. = Mr.. Cooper of
Indiana. rising to question of privi-
lege, in the House to-day, stated that
one of the charges made in the
resolution offered by him for the investiga-
tion of the Commissioner of Pensions was
that the Commissioner was selling stock in
a refrigerator company to employees of the
Pension Office. He had in vain attempted
to obtain the names of the stockholders of
the concern. To-day he had learned, and
this knowledge was borne out by the testi-
mony, that one of the members of the in
vestigatlon committee, Representative NJ.
l.. Smyser of Ohio, was one of the stock
holders. He MIR. Cooperl therefore offered
q resolution discharging Mr.. Smyser from
the committee and directing the Speaker
to appoint his successor.
Mr.. Sawyer of New York said that the
question which the committee was ap-
pointed to investigate was whether the
Commissioner had promoted those employed
under him for the reason that they became
stockholders in the refrigerator company.
There was no reason why the fact that Mr..
Smyser was stakeholder affected his
qualification to decide whether Mr.. Raum's
official conduct had been wrong.
Mr.. Cultivate of Ohio was surprised that
any gentleman of honor and integrity
should raise any question as to the prOprlety
of the gentleman from Ohio Immediately
withdrawing from the committee.
Mr. Smyser said he had no intimation
that he was going to be appointed on the
committee until announcement was made
by the Speaker. As q member of the CON-
mlttee he had entered upon the discharge
L h.~I H. L.
we'll He did own some of the stock. but
that fact in no manner could affect the in
tegrity or honor of an honest man. and
friends who knew him would never impute
to him a want of honor or a want of integ-
rity.. While he did not understand why
the fact of his ownership of stock should af-
feet his standing as member of the COM
mittee. If his colleagues on tho committee
were of the opinion he was so affected, he
would yield willingly and resign his DO
sition.
Mr.. Morrill, of Kansas, chairman of the
committee, said that it was due to the
Speaker and the members of the committee
to say that the first irtimation they had
that one of the members had stock in the
refrigerator company was when the books
were produced. The conduct of the gen.
tleman from Ohio had been perfectly hon.
orable. He seemed to be DESTROYS of arriv-
ing at the truth, and the whole truth. He
did not doubt the gentleman's motives in
the least, but he hoped now that, In order
to relieve other members, he would prompt
ly withdraw from the committee.
Mr.. Smyser felt that there was nothing
in the charges against General Raum affect
ing him, but in order to satisfy the other
side of the House and country, and in duty
to himself. he most respectfully asked to be
relieved from further service on the COM
mittee. This request was granted.
The Speaker stated that when he ap-
pointed the committee he had no knowl-
edge of any relation between the gentle
man from Ohio and the company referred
to. The Chair had made the appointments
from the committee on pensions because he
thought it would facilitate the disposal of
the matter to have gentlemen serving on
the Pension Office.
Short Session of the COMMITTEES.