The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-24


Long DiscusSiOn-Eviis OF lndis-
crimIna.e Immigration BrougnI (.
the front-StcstInDoaC Lines Con
demHcd for the Large Iiiffux OF I'm.
migrants to the United States.
Washington, d. c., January 90
Just before the senate adjourned to-
day Senator Aldrich received a letter
from Secretary Cortelyou explaining
the delay that has been experienced In
his reply to the resolution calling Oh
him for information concerning the
recent Panama canal bond issue and
the letter was promptly placed before
the senate. Earlier in the day Senator
Tillman INDUCED in caustic comment
upon what he characterized as the sec
retary's apparent 'disobedience" to a
senate resolution.
In his letter Mr.. Cortelyou said:
Il am sorry there should have
been any misunderstanding as TO the
time when my answer TO the senate
resolution regarding the tre2su:y Cp-
erations would be sent in. Had | been
advised of your request to know when
piled that | 1e>. .uir9l more time to
go over the mass of figures it involved.
1t is my desire, of course, that all
bUs.-C.oa T.. t....s nd Gl,.li be disposed
Ok promptly, 80 this matter Is SO
important that | have felt it desirable
that every feature of the report should
lie clearly stated both for the infor
If h.1 syo
the department. 1t is my desire and
intention to submit a complete res
pOnse to the resolution and | hope to
have it ready in the course of the next
few days-in all probability about the
beginning Of next week.
The amount of work involved in
the preparation of such voluminous
data may not be fully appreciated by
some, but it should be remembered
that the force in all the bureaus here
which have to do intimately with f.
nancial matters have been for weeks
working overtime on the regular bus
mess of the department and to have
this duty put upon them, in addition,
materially increases their burdens"
Mr. Tillman opened this question
in the senate by inquiring whether the
vice president had received a reply to
the resolution from the secretary of
the treasury.
Nothing yet" responded the vice
president.
1T is little curious that an officer
of the government should be willing
to occupy the attitude of disobedience
after we have given him considerable
time to send in the information, said
Mr.. Tillman. ''The currency bill is to
be brought in and pressed for consid-
Grafton and it seems strange that the
secretary Of the treasury who is d.
fairs should refuse to send in re-
port giving the information we need"
Chairman Aldrich, of the finance
committee, who was out Of the room
when Mr.. Tillman made the inquory,
re-entered at this juncture just as Sen
atOr Platt suggested that he be called.
I'VE are told" continued Mr.. Till
man, that Secretary CorteIyou is i'll,
but he was not too i'll to go to New
York to make a speech. 1t seems ex-
traordinary phenomenal that we can
not get a report from him.
THE fact Is said Mr.. Aldrich, "the
papers were sent in form to be pre-
sented and they were placed before
Secretary COrtelyOu, but he found in
order to make the presentation in the
senate, in a form satisfactory to him
self would require a longer time than
was supposed.
The criticism in the senate as to
that action led the secretary to make
frank and explicit answer to all sug-
gestiOns as to what was done with the
bonds and certificates of Indebtedness.
The secretary assured me this morn
ing that he is preparing this matter
as rapidly as possible"
rs no definite time fixed?" asked
Mr.. Tillnar. AS soon as possible
menaS between now and dooms day"
"Those of us who know Mr.. Cortel-
YOU said Mr.. Aldrich, know that he
is never delinquent in his public dut-
les and think if the senator from
South Carolina would find an oppor-
tunity to talk this matter over with
him he would be satisfied"
1T did not take that long to issue
the bonds" insisted Mr.. 1jllman
That was simple matter retorted
Mr. Aldrieh.
The senator from South Carolina
does not realize that he can put down
on paper inquiries tia: will take many
months and much work on the part OF
the force of a great department to ans
Wer. 1T is much easier to ask ques-
tions than to ansWac them"
The senator will recall interrupt
ed Mr.. Tillman," that these questions
were asked by his own committee.
Now l will give some additional rea-