The Washington herald., 1908-01-21
Treasury Department

Washington, Jan. p
Hon. Nelson W. Aldrch. T.. 5. Senate
Ms Dear Senator; 7 am s0rry that there should
have been ans misunderstanding 90 the time when
my answer 90 the Senate resolution regarding she
Treasury operations would he sent iu. Had ] been
advised of your request to knox when IL might be
eXpected, / would have replied thar ! required a
little more time 20 20 over the mass Of figures II
involved II is desire Of course that all business
al this Kind shall be disposed of promptly bat this
matter is important that I have felt II desirable
that every feature oi the report shggld be- clearly
stated both for the information Of the Senate and
in Justice % the department II Is ny desire and
intention 20 submit complete response ID The Tes0-
lUtion and hoIc 20 have II ready Ia the course of
the next few dsys-n ali probability, about the BE-
ginning 0f neat week
The asount Of work involved in the PREPARATION Of
such vugminous data may not fuliv be appreciated
hy some but It should be remembered that the force
ia all tht bureaus here which have 20 do intimately
with financial matters, have been Tor weeks working
overtime on the regular business Of the department
and 10 have this duty put upon them b. addition.
materially increases their burdens. Very tiAcrely
yours. GEORGE b. COBTELYOU.
TilImRn Raises Question.
Earlier in the day Mr. TiIlman had
raised the question of the delay in send
ing in the information. 1T did not take
the Secretary nearly so long TO issue the
bonds, said the South Carolina Senator
THAT is a simpler matter than 10 an
swer inquiries TO the exsent Of those con
tanned in the resolution Of inquiry which
the Senate passed" said Mr. AIdrich.
The Senator from south Carolina. some
times. I think does not realize that he
can put down in few minutes on paper
inquiries that may take months of the
time of "a large force in the various de-
partments 20 answer ] have perfect con-
fidenCe IN the Secretary Of the Treasury
know that he has never been delinquent
in his public duties Mr. Aldrich suc-
gestcd that it was easier 10 ask than to
answer questions.
Some Of those questions have not been
asked by the Senator from South Caro-
lima tnterposed AIr Tulman but by
the Senator's Committee on Finance. D"
Mr. Tllman pressed Mr. Aldrich for in
formation concerning the financial bill
The Senator knows whether he is going
TO press his bin before the Senate gets
an answer from the Secretary 10 the res
0lutiOn," he insisted
Il can answer that question for my
self-nOt for the committee" replied Mr..
AldTiCh
Makes AIdrich Blush.
Judging by the solicitude Of your col
leagues replied Mr.. Tiliman. nothing
can be done until you come into the
chamber. Our attention IS continually
being called TO the fact that the SeDa-
tor from Rhode Island. the chairman Of
the committee. is not in the chamber. and
we must await his arrival or until that
great Parsonage comes into this body"
Mr.. Aldrich was blushing. while his col
leagues on both sides were apparently en-
joyIng Mr.. Tillman's little joke.
THAT arises from the fact, ] presume. 20
said Mr.. AIdrich. that it is as chal.-
man Of the Finance Committee who have
had these conferences with the Secretary
OF the Treasury
No, persisted Mr.. Tillman. "the Sena-
tor knows that the sOlicitude Of his coll
leagues over there is to get his perYnis-
sion. il is much more important than
because OF his merely having been the
mOuthpieCe OF the committee The Sena-
tor from Rhode Island recoguizes-or we
do, If be does nOt-the great power and
influence which he deservedlv holds with
his colleagues on that side Of the chamber
and in this country. and il is not worth
while for him to affect false modesty. lie
Is too great man 20 have any affecta-
ton Of any sort 80
Not Too III for speech.
Mr. Tllman, proceeding, said one ex-
cuse and another had been given for the
delay in the reply from Secretary Cortel-
yp1l ho1 baor t,-,,,-g--,5 -.