The Washington times., 1908-10-24
Michigan Member of Con
greSS Hard Pressed to
Explain Record.
WANTS HIS REPLY
PRINTED IN FULL
Committee Chairman Who Favored
Corporations in Capital Claims
Credit for Reform Laws.
By ]. c. WELLIvER.

: DETROIT. Mich, oct. 24-Congress-
fnan Samuel ". Smith, chairman Of the
House, District of Columbia Commit
tee. has announced III . speech at Lans-
ing that he will issue a complete state
Ilent in answer 10 criticisms which
have been directed at his conduct as a
member Of the District Committee and
On other regards.
: Mr.. Smith made the statement that
he didn't propose to give his letter OF
explaration. to newspapers which would
not agree to print, il in full. The num-
Der Of things recurring explanation By
Mr. Smith has recently been increasing
so extensively that some of the ncws-
papers intimate doubt about the posi-
,bility OF devoting their entire space to
his defense.
ASKED about the charges against him IN
connection with the District of Colum-
.bia legislation, Mr.. Smith said he be-
l.eved the street railways Of Washing
ton we're furnishing money to be used
against him in his campaign. de said
they were opposed 10 him because he
forced the passage OF the measure re-
QuirlEg the street railways to extend
their tracks To the Union Station and
10 build an extensive new cross-town
system.
AmuSeS the PUBIC
This charge that the Washington
railroad companies are putting money
into the campaign against Smith has
occasioned vast amusement to people
who have been following the expose
OF Mr.. Smiths attitude toward the
Washington corporation interests in
general and who realize how obviously
anxious he was throughout the last
session to assure that no legislation
gHouId pass which was not entirely
Satisfactory to the gas interests. The
various claims put forth by Mr. Smith
are causing establishment He claimed
responsibility for cutting of the graft
IN the railroads in connection with
railroad mail pay until II was shown
that neither he nor any other member
Of Congress was responsible for that
but that, on the contrary, the House
defeated the effort TO stop this graft
and then Postmaster General Meyer
by an executive order, accomplished
the result.
Now smith is explaining that mis-
accomplishment was in reductD s the
rental for railroad mail cars. This
claim is quite as severe shock TO
people who know anything about that
matter as have been the Smith claims
to responsibility for about all Of the
reform legislation that has been eE-
acted ia the last three or four years
-, Mr.. Smith has not yet got around TO
explaining how II happened that he
voted for change in the regulations
regarding the weighing OF mail mat
ter which would have increased the
annual payments to the railroads
three or four million dollars
Voted Against President.
But the revelation which has been
most embarrassing 10 the Little Giant"
as Mr.. Smith is now being called by
ibis postmasters and other devoted ad-
herents IN this district, is the fact
that April 80 he voted against the Presi-
dent in the big contest over the ap-
preparation to enforce the twentieth
section of the Hepburn act
President Roosevelt sent a special
message to Congress only a few days
before that vote was taken, especially
urging that this amendment be made in
Inc sundry civil bill. to give the Inter
state Commerce Commission $4,000 to
hire inspectors and expert accountants
In order 20 make effective its super
vision Of railroad accounts. Mr.. Smith
voted against President Roosevelt. The
most embarrassing thing about this par
tCElar performance, so far as Smith
Is concerned, is that the fight for
President ROOsevelt's position was led
by another Michigan Congressman. Mr.
Townsend, whose district adjOins that
Of Mr.. Smith, and whose home Is at
Jackson, only q short distance from
Pontiac, where Mr.. Smith resides.
When I asked Congressman Townsend
how Smith voted on that matter he re-
piled that he didn't have the record
at hand, but his recollection was pretty
definite that Smith voted against his
amendment, because all of the Can
non crowd voted that way Mr. Town
Eend's recollection proved to be striking
ly accurate, for Mr.. Smith did vote
against the Townsend amendment.
Claims That, Too.
Ever since the Hepburn law passed.
Mr. Smith has been diligently convey
Ing the impression to the people Of his
district that If he hadn't been in Con
1gress with his distinguished abilities
md patriotic devotion TO popular inter
est, there would have been mighty
small chance for the people ever to
get any such valuable legislation as
this.
Republicans in the district are an
bouncing their intention. privately and
ronhdentially. Of voting against smith
N large numbers. It IS conceded that,
even II he pulls through at the polls,
which is seriously doubted. Il will be
-oy sadly reduced majority. and that
The exposition Of his attitude ar Wash
lngton has already made II absolutely
certain that he will never be nominated
sagaln by the Republican party.
4 FRANK L. Dodge, the Democratic nom
lhee is making most active and ef-
Tective campaign and is receiving daily
assure noes from all parts Of the district |
mat ne will make a phenomenal run.
rMr. Dodge himself is now confident Of /
WINNING