The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-05
IMAGINATIVE REPORTERS
Leclured by Mr.. Henderson, Chair
man Of Investigation Committee.
LACK OF HARMONY STORIES DENIED
Believed that the Committee Has Been
Making Other Investigations Than
Those Publicly Announced.

Those Publicly Announced.
Austin, Texas February 4--For the first
time since the legislative investigating com
mlttcc has been in session here, ali of its
members We're present at S o'clock this
morning. After rapplng for order Chair
man Henderson said that he wished every
representative OF the press was present. lie
head an article from the sunday issue Of the
san Antonio Express under an Austin date
line, which stated that II Chairman Hen
deiSon had his way he would direct his at
teution 10 the health department ana, more
than that tue committee was going to
back down from tne dlctatiou OF the chair;
also mat the business OF the committee
would be transaCteu in executive SESSION.
IN reply 10 this story the chairman SAID
IN part Il 10 occupy the same position as
the speaker OF tAe douse, cul NJ the same
Time ne committee has not clothed me win
such authority. AS TO the assignment OF
work 1 mercy suggested the investigation
OF the legislature ana the supreme court be
cause that part OF the WORE was very es-
sentlal aud easy.
Il do not ask to have any more power
than other members OF the committee, and
mere Is no question as % the relations
borne by the chair TO the committee.
nave never tried to domneer TINS commit
tee, and SO far as the sessions are concerned
amy member Of the legislature mas a right
TO be present
AS to the story in the San Antonio en-
press, the reporter drew largely on his inn
agination and is evidently not familiar with
legislative proceedings. lie creates wrong
impression and Is trying TO reach point
where ne VIII dsuoy tine harmony OF THIS
ri j would say everything this CORE
spoudent has told me 1t would throw "a dif-
lcrent light on the subject, but as To In
Nesllgating the quarantine Departments
iuere was no conversation between us on
that subject"
The chairman then paid his respects to
the local papers which, he said, We're try
ing to bclittic the committee and create
dlScord, and that when the chair made
ruling there was no opposition to 1t. lie
Every member Of the committee has the
same power that l have and | have used
my best discretion in securing help, ana
do not believe 1t possible to drive peace
from the committee The chair can not he
forced or cocrced to depart from his duty.
There is a certain element in Austin
which Ia opposed to this committee for the
simple reason that some one Is liable to get
caught II these press statements arc
fact you gentlemen should know IT.; IL not
the local reporters should correct their
statements
Departing from the regular order senator
Savage made n few remarks. saving In part:
81 do not know that It Is necessary for me
to say ANYTHING to tho sense OF duty OF
TINS committee. As for me, ! nave the
Interest Of the State at heart nua perfect
condolences in the chairman coming from
serving With him In the past ana he is
not willing for any consideration 10 lead
this committee 0stray
THE work which has been assigned 10 tho
7 chairman is o gtupendous one AMI nothing
hut love for his country would cause him TO
undertake II, ms he conceived IL to be his
duty. lie has confidence in the committee
cnd the committee likewise has all comb
dcuce In him,
/ ed IN the press To the effect that the com
mttce was ON tho verge Of Disqualification
! Is. In NV opinion, the work Of opposition
/ and ~---~--77----, a~il attempt 10 thWart the
7 ,y>numlttoe in the wor7 before t. There
mas been opposition to evcN%thine since Co
/ lumhus tried to discover AtN2rlra hut the
/ right viii prevail II the cNeirman goes
/ wrong It Is the duty of the cNynmltteg to
correct him and II necessary. rMnove him
entirely. To my mind Colonel Henderson
never sought to dictate to the committee
/ while, on the other hand had 1t not been
( for him | would not have known what to do
or whore 90 begin ana l thank him for
'IThe local papers say nothing except
| what is unkind and | do not approve OF the
! unjust Misrepresentation. such rs II N,
pay would cease the committee Woul1
/ stop. md that our patriotism Is made N oi
/ So Dcr day compensation. ! confess at
am the poorest man Oh this committee anS
that my services are needed az nome, sui
think II Is a duty to my state even at Sny
own expense. whether It be bitter or oene
NJ noyd said that everything was work
inp lu harmony and that the committee
vas In perfect accord with the CHAIRMAN
81 viii do ANYTHING that the chair SAYS an
do not think 1t Is necessary for MS to pay
amy attcgton tn newspaper reports and II
Is not within our province to reply TO the
Mr. Stafford agreed with Mr. Boyd as tC
rcwsuapcr reports. and that the commit
tee had enough work to do without motto
Ing the local newspapers He Hlso agreer
with Mr.. Savage as 10 tde, work OF ~
con mittee, rs he regarded II as mountain
ous and doubted the ability Of the commit
tee to turn it over. He said every mar
engaged In the work felt the same way un
III the chairman came to their AID, ana as
signed the various duties OF the commit
tecmen | disagreed rs to inyestigatini
the legislature, but 1t gave US startin'
point ! also wish to disclnim any fric
lion between members of the committee
mt that ! know Of any opposition helms
made. as to investigating the State instl
tutiops. Ny views are TINT every mem
, her should express his oi,lnlon MS to. VIA
should be done, IS thH chair does not inter
10 map ont any particular mode Of proceed
IRE He smTly gives his views as TO VIVA
and any member has the same rgIt,
do that There Is no friction except u
honest desire to properly discharge our d.
Mr. Mr. shannon said; 81 am stil ready fl
! worA your honor
Chairman Henderson again addressed TIA
, committee and touched on the subject {
nepotism HI spoke In part: some
2 : md unpers said that we would not invest
D gate ourselves Uhe legislaturel nor the 81
o Drcmc court. when every member know
= that those two branches Of the governmei
g were the easiest to examine. All lawye
Z Know that the supreme court has not 70
Z, lowed the law OF its organization; that
q hogan 10 expand AT the close of the Twent
third legislature. think the commits
mas done well AS to the criticism OF nep
tism, heaped upon me from certain qua
tiers, the employment OF my sons IN any
Is the State departments has always bee
!, contrary to my wish As you gentlcm'
" know a department clerk, by accepting
e government position destroys his own IND
ylduality and wrecks his future"
I'VE an understand each other thoroug
, "" remarked Mr.. shannon.
l. Mr. Savage spoke as to nepotlsm, sayiT
in part: Joe Henderson wrote me a lett
n asking for my support saying that his fat
er would not support him for the posltl'
- Of secretary o. the committee"
Mr.. Boyd said, when we We're In Dali
T. Chairman Henderson remarked that II q
committee gave him appoiutive power.
lie would not appoint any one 70 posit
" living In Austin. As a general clerk
. he legislature, Joe Henderson had I
Or nbilitv and was a good clerk