The Washington herald., 1908-03-14

Plain and uneqUivocal English was
used in the Senate by Senator Carter. of
Montana yesterday afternoon. when he
replied 10 the statement made bv Sid
Eey Bieber. on Wednesday last. in which
hr- Bieber sought 20 defend bis acqussi-
tion OF government property in the Dis
trict through Congressional enactment
The Senator from Montana said that he
did not know Mr.. Bieber. but had gained
the impression that the man who is 10
leoaeuct the election Of delegates from
The District to the Republican national
convention was "the Abe Ruef Of the
city Of Washington" This. however. Was
bur the keynote Of the scathins arraign-
ment which the Senator I7uuched at the
owner Of 455.oo0 square feet of one-time
( government land.
Disseets Bieber Statement.
After reviewing the facts leading up 70
/ Mr. Bieber's requirement OF the land, Sir.
Carter said. in part:
The gentleman who was the bene-
! heiary Of these various acts-a niu1ble
citizen who was 10 me unknown AZ the
time the report was made. and is 10 me
unknown to-day-comes forward and ad-
mits his existence. and likewise admits
the fact that be has plumber in his pos
session TO the extent given him by the
/ two bills passed-those Of 1904 and 1855
Y but AYERS that the whole transaction was
known 20 everybody; that there was no
J Couceaiment about Il. snd further stiH.
\ that 1t does not include a part OF the
/ grounds 0f the Hospital for the Insane.
and that IL cannot take in any part or
f. the navy yard. third, that this whole
( business ought 10 be ccndoned. no ac-
cOuntability to govern any one else who
should obtain. because. GOrsooth. The in
/ formation leading 10 an investigation Of
this matter was given by Mr. Wayne
MacNeagh. an attorney for a railroad
! lcomnsny.
Dir MscVeagh was protectlg his com
pany's property. and the individual who
seeks 20 avoid responsibility in this
fashion is on exactly the same plane as
the character with tire stolen property. on
his body pointed out in the crowd. claim
ing that he had not stolen such property
AS he was charged with stealing. and.
moreover the man who bad pointed him
out was an unpopular citizen. That is tbs
whole story without any sort OF exagger7
alton
II 90 not make these observations for
the purpose Of casting any reflection on
any member Of Congress. 1 DO not be-
iieve that any Intentional wrong was done
! by any member Of Congress. but I do
know this, that the state legislatures OF
many Of the States. or the people OF
many OF the States. have thought proper
/ 10 Incorporate in their constitutions
clauses prohibiting this kind Of legisia-
tion. I do not know OF a State which
would authorize a grant Of this sort 10
an individual. or which could do SO under
/ its constitution We have in the Federal
! Constitution no such prohibition
Dangerous aS RattIesnake.7
] These corridors have been-probablv
more in days gone by than now-infested
! with a Tot Of sleek and slimv seIf-seeking
! individuals. seeking TO profit by the conf
( dence that men here, assembled exhibit in
Z their constituents. and in those who peti-
/ ton here in good faith for relief. A
/ character such as this Bieber. who comes
I forward again and again behind commit
tee doors. insidiously and continuously
/ pressing his cIaim-not in any public in
terest. but for private gain-is just about
as dangerous in the presence or seen in
the company Of a public man as an
ordinary Montana rattlesnake near your
cot at night
This is the class OF people who make
I il business TO trade on their supposed
I acquaintance with public men One Of
them VII approach you in the street. and
manage 10 walk with YOU block. and
then 80 and point 10 the fact that he is. on
( chummy terms with YOU and so pointing
/ you out, win seek 70 profit. when your
acquaintance with him is limited and
/ your confidence does rot exist az all
/ "Abe Reuf of Washington"
This individual, Sidney Bieber. seems
/ TO be an expert hand. 7 an Informed ne
had himself placed on the retirement roll
Of the fremen's fund in the District OF
/ Columbia at so per month for life. on
I the sround that he was totally disabled.
'If be We're in possession OF his facui-
ties and full strength. think. really. he
would get the Capitol away from Us IN
= very short time. Gaughter.) So there
/ is some compensation in this mans mis-
fortune and disability.
He appears 10 me. from the general
description. 20 be the Abe Ruef OF the
city OF Washington-capab slick, un-
scrupulous. and persistent trading upon
his aeGuaintances and. imposing upon the
confidence OF men. and obtaining for him
self UncOnscionable advantage through
lenactments that are passed in the closing
hours OF a session Of Congress.
Wow. Mr.. President. IN ordec to avoid
all this. this individual would have Il
understood that there was some exaggera-
ton about the statement that all the land
south Of the blocks in question might not
reach as broad an area as claimed. ard
might not strike as vital interests as
claimed. But that is not the fault OF Mr.
Bieber. he did the best he could. and
7 venture 10 predict that ST he had not
been discovered. he would have come back
again 70 set another slice Of this country
Continued on Page 4. Column j.