The Washington times., 1909-01-27
Chairman Mann Reports
That the Language Is
UnWaTranted.
is IN VIOLATION
OF RULES OF DEBATE
House Decides the New Yorker
Overshot Mark in Calling
President "Gargoyle."

BY an overwhelming vote, the House
today ordered stricken from the rec
ord. the entire speech of Representative
William Wiuett of New York. delivered
I'm the House on January IS, and which
was a bitter attack upon the official
and personal conduct OF the President
OF the United states.
The Republicans voted almost solidly
to expuuge the speech from the record,
in accordance with the Tecommenda-
ton OF the select committee, while not
a half dozen Democrats voted negative
ly, the majority OF the latter taking no
part in the vote.
There were no negative votes on the
Reunblicau side.
Representative Vliett remained In
his seat throughout the reading OF the
entire report and made no attempt to
be heard i'm his own defense. As soon
as the vote had been taken he got up
and unconcernedIy left the chamber.
The report OF the select committee TO
determine what disposition should be
made of the Willett speech recites that
IL is of such a character that the OBJ
1eCUOudble portions cannot be separ-
ated from the portions which are prop
er. and that therefore the entire speech
must be eEpunged,
Freedom NeC License.
Freedom of speech in the House"
said the report, should never be de-
MED or abridged, but freedom OF speech
in debate does not mean license 10 in
duIge IN personal abuse or ridicule. The
right OF members OF Congress to eriti-
else the official acts OF the President
and other executive officers IS beyond
question, but this right Is subject TO
proper rules requiring deCOrum in de-
bate.
.The Constitution makes the House,
Senate. and the President coordinate,
dependent and interdependent powers,
and the principles of proper decOrun
and due courtesy governing the relations
Of the two houses Of Cousress should
also. 20 a certain extent. govern the re-
lau0ns OF the House and the President.
'-SiuCe the House has the sole power
Of impeaching the President, it follows
that his acts and conduct must be sub
ject TO free and fun debate ia the
House.
What Line Is.
"It would seem. however, that tbe Pc
cuIiar constitutional duties of the House
in relation TO the power of impeaching
the President do not preclude a clear
line OF distinction between that criticism
or acts and conduct necessary for the
performance OF the constitutional duties
OF the House, and a criticism merely
personal and irritating. having no Icgiti-
mate connection with the duties or DOW
ers of the House and tending only to
produce ill-feeling, estrangement. and
loss of respect between two coordinate
branches OF the Government which
should for the public good and the up
holding OF the Government, stand be-
fore the people In Tc:atiOn5 Of personal
courtesy, mutual respect and proper dig
nifty.
'.since members may not be ques-
toned elsewhere Tor speeches In the
House and the President ought not,
fcially upon speeches in the House, it
becomes especially the duty OF the
House TO protect the President from
thar personal abuse, iuuuend0 or ridicule
tending to excite disorder fu the House
itself and to create personal autagouisn
uu the part OF the President toward
the House
To Strike Out Entire Speech.
s'Eour committee finds it impossible 10
separate those portions of the gentle
maus remarks which are open TO OBJ
lection from those wlich may be par
Ilameutary, and that the only way b
eliminate from the record the remarks
which We're improper and out of order
is TO strike the entire speech from the
record"
Appended 70 the report was letter
from Representative WiIIett to the
committee. in which he said.
ut IFS my serious and earnest c0nteu-
I ton that [ was entirely within my
rights 10 make the speech and that /
/ but followed the established custom and
practice If the House.
"T0 strike my speech from the record
iu this instance will establish "a prCce-
/ dent extremely dangerous because IL
/ will mean that the House has at last
surrendered to the proposition that uu
member cam discuss any subject the dis
Cussi1n of which happens 20 Gis please
/ the majority.