New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-25
GEN. WHEELER STATES HIS CASE.
INQUIRY INTO THE RIGHT OF REPRESENTA-
TTvEs TO HOLD TWO coMMIs-
SIO[S REGr-N

Washington Jan. H-The inquiry ordered by the
House OF Representatives into the cases OF men,
bers holding outside extraordinarily intended 70
determine the status OF Major-General Wheeler and
other Congressman who served in Army-was
begun to-day by the Committee on the Judiciary
The inquiry public. and besides the members
OF the committee there present General
Wheeler Representative HIT OF Illinois a mem
Der OF the Hawaiian Commission: Representative
Moody. OF Massachusetts a member Of the Postal
Commission and Representative Often OF Mime
sofa, a member Of the Industrial Commission Rep
resentative Gardner Of New-Jersey. member OF
the Industrial Commission. submitted a brief AS TO
the right Of members on that Comm. sslon 10 hold
their places Representative Bailey. Of Texas who
started the inquiry. present. The principal
interest attached TO the statement OF General
Wheeler, which was in part as follows:
concur with the committee that the question
before mem IS one OF very grave importance. II
me extreme view is taken that the clause In the
Constitution is mandatory and that il applies 70
al members OF Congress who accept Offices o;
temporary character which MAJ, he ferrnins5eS a,
any moment then the Government will frequently
md Itself embarrassed in selecting for Ger q N
duties For instance IT would have been unfortu-
nate II the President had been inhibited from
appointing senators Davis, Frye and Gray the
for MIN to been Inhibited from appon Ing
senators Morgan and Cuom and REPRESENTING
have been equally unfortunate had ne been in
nblted from appointing Mr.. DlEgey and Senators
Fairbanks and Faulkner on The Canadian COM
mission. It would also have been unfortunate
had ne been inhibited from appointing such
d d he'd, and able man as Senator Morgan
quently been the case ana will often hereafter be,
That members Of the House and Senate possess
knowledge with regard to important matters which
emineniLy nj them for holding Offices or perform
Congress and the Executive been impressed with
TINS tnai during the ITO years or the existence OF
Senate and OF the House have been appointed
offices
q character
three other members OF this House who have ac-
cepted military commissions, and some twenty-eight
be very unjust them for 10 have assumed 10
decide this question by attempting TO resign, IL
be used as an argument against their right 70 re-
tain their seats IN Congress Again. have received
continued and urgent appeals from my consttu-
ents not 10 resign: and these nave come from men
who have successfully supported me in ten primary
elections and in ten elections as member Of this
body.
In Difference 70 the views OF the distinguished
members of Congress who are insisting upon my
seat being vacated, have studiousy RETAINED
from taking an active part In the proceedings or
Congress. and since the day Of my appointment. on
May 1. ! have refralned from voting II is true
that at first entered the hall few times 70 Sc
some ot my fellow members but since learning that
this distssteful to one or two Of my "a ri nds
have RETAINED from even avalllng myself OF this
privilege have not drawn any Congressional pay
that have been compelled to employ clerks al my
own expense 70 perform routine duties.
General Wheeler then gave the names Of the
many members Of Congress serving commissions
and on the boards of various Government institu-
tions After an exhaustive review OF the law and
mast cases In Congress he closed follows
know Tho the members ~ the committee and
the members OF the House whom am proud T.
call my friends will decide the they believe
IA be in accordance with the spirit OF the Constitu-
ton To those who contend that | should have
resigned my seat I will say that I was urged
not 10 DO 30 by persons whose requests and recon-
mendations 7 could not disregard and It has also
been urged that for me 10 have done so would
have been quasi expression OF my Judgment on
the matter and thus. ir measure have pre)u-
diced the case OF some thirty other members OF
the House who In the same position as my
self
MI HIT said he had nothing 20 volunteer as 10
N. right 10 serve on the Hawaiian Commission
hevonh what was clearly known. He regarded II as
strictly legislative work performed al the re
Guest Of the President and II was In response 10 an
ssynress mandate OF Congress In the original reso-
luilon anneXn< Hawaii - - -. ,...
NJ often pointed out that service on the nous
trial Commission under special provision u
Law and that the Senators and Representatives
On The Commission received 70 salary beyond CO.
rain expenses He maintained that II was not an
ofbc4 IN the constitutional sense, but was per-
forming the duty OF gathering information for Con-
gress. . - a - - 49,. -
OCCASIONAL members Of the Postal Commission.
Wa . major Of volunteers presented Aats-