Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
THE INCIDENT CLOSED
MIR. CLAYTON SATISFIED THAT
HIS FRANK WAS NOT ABUSED.
Made to Committee by
Rev. E. G. observation-disclosures
on "original Package Bill.

Fhe sequel to the charges of the misuse
of the Thanking privilege of members of
Congress by advocates of the Dolliver-
Hepburn original package bill made Thurs
day came just as yesterdays hearings
closed. The Rev. F. C. Dinwiddie, who had
been charged with the misuse of Repre-
sentative Clayton's frank by Duncan b.
Harrison, representing the United States
Brewers Association, obtained permission
to explain the matter to the committee.
Mr.. Clayton, who is member of the
committee, interrupted Mr.. Dinwiddie, say
ing he desired to repeat what he had said
on the previous day to the effect that if
his frank had been msused by Mr.. Din,
widdie. and this could be proved, he would
prosecute him.
What 1 want to- know" he said ad-
dressing Mr.. Dinwidde, sis whether my
frank has been used in a manner in which
1t should not have been used, and 1 want to
know II you did it, I have no remedy in
the matter except to denounce the man,
II l can find him, and l want to know il
1t is you or Mr.. Harrison"
MI. Dinwiddie Explains.
Mr.. Dinwiddie explained that he never
had sought to frank matter that did not
bear on legislation or on public matters in
relation thereto. He read statement pre-
pared by his secretary, Miss Church, that.
the positive rule of the office of the Anti
Saloon League. as laid down by Mr.. Din
wfdd1e and carefully observed has been that
only public documents, Congressional Rec
ords and extracts therefrom should nc
ranked
And nothing has been sent out" contin-
ueu the statement, under Mr. Clayton's
frank save the extract from the Record ex-
cept IN some cases copy of the report rec
ommending the passage of the bill. On
otner frankabie matter other franks have
been used"
Representative Parker of New Jersey. a
member of the committee commended that
this statement had not answered Mr.. CLAW
tons question. DO YOU ever open sealed
envelopes? he demanded. He had to re-
peat the question several times owing to
the confusion in the ROOM
MI. Dlnwlddie said that this was not the
rule, but that some of the envelopes bearing
Mr.; Ciayton's frank rad come to him un-
sealed. But" he continued I'VE have
other envelopes hearing the frank of Sena-
tor Hansbrough which are not sealed and in
which we include other frankable matter"
MI Llttlefeld of Maine. a member of the
committee, made this explanation in the.
form of a question: you placed Mr.. CLAW
tons speech in his franked envelope other
matter bearing on the subject in another
ranked envelope, and then paid postage on
other matter on the same subject which YOU
did not regard as frankable?'
That is it," assented Mr.. Dinwiddie
Mr.. Clayton Satisfied.
Il am perfectly satisfied" calculated Mr..
Clayton. land l say right here now that l
do not believe Mr.. Dinwddie abused the
use of my frank. And / believe that all
that boast of Mr. Harrison was done for
the purpose of prejudcng Mr.. Dinwiddie
before this committee"
Representative Bartholdt, who has man
aged the opposition to the bill interrupted
at this point to say that in the absence of
MI Harrison he would like to say word
in his behalf What Mr.. Harrison claimed
was that unfrankable matter was contained
in these envelopes he continued, land /
think he had proved that fact beyond ques-
tlon. by producing sealed envelopes"
Mr.. Chairman" interjected Mr. Clayton
Il must protest against this, for the rea-
son that those envelopes might have been
opened and filled with the matter they
vain and boastful display before this COM
mittee. That man came before this COM
mittee and said he was going to paralyze
us and shock us. I don't think that Mr..
Bartholdt has got any right before this
committee, and | move you, sir, that this
incident be closed"
Mr.. Bartholdt protested against being
taken from the floor in this matter but
Chairman Jenkins ruled This matter has
been closed" and the committee went into
secret session.
Arguments on the Bill.
During the day Noah euler of Newark,
N. j.; Capt. Biehler of Indianapolis, Ind;
A. Arms of New York and F. W. Stewart
of Boston, on behalf of German-American
societies, opposed the bill, and Robert
Grain of Baltimore, representing the Unit
ed States Brewers Association, and H. M
Hough of st. Louis. representing the Ma
tonal Wholesale Liquor Dealers Associa-
ton. made legal arguments in opposition
to it.
The Rev. ]. L. Bailey of Philadelphia,
Representative Walter Smith of Iowa and
Messrs. L. B. Wilson and Andrew Wilson
spoke in favor of the measure. Represent
alive Bartholdt said that twenty-one men,
bers of the House had come to him as the
manager of the opposition to the asure
and had asked for time to be heard. He
asked that they be given the desired OPP
portunity.