New-York tribune., 1909-05-30
GERMAN ACT RESENTED
WAGE SETTLEMENT STIRS
.SEN4TE'S ANGER.
Dir. 4Ldrich DenOunceS 1t as I'm
pertinent" alleged 4ttempt to
Influence Tariff Legislation.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington MAY 29.-The Senate to-day de-
voted more than two hours to a discussion Of
| a report submitted 10 the State Department re
lating to wages paid in Germany. About a
week ago the Senate adopted q resolution call
ing for this report In the debate yesterday Mr..
Stone charged that the report was in the hands
of the Finance Committee, but had been with
held from the Senate.
Soon after the session began to-day discus
sion arose over the printing of the report
7 am surprised" said Mr.. Nelson. that tie
Finance Committee has withheld that report
4 have made some investigation as to the
character of that report" replied Mr.. Aldrich'
and I find that it consists of statements by
certain boards of trade Of Germany transmit
ting anonymous statements OF German exporters
in answer to testimony taken before the House
Committee on Ways and Means. 1 assume that
this is the first time in the history of our coun-
try that a foreign government has undertaken
to send through diplomatic channels to the
United States anonymous testimony of manu-
facturers in answer TO statements made before
a committee of Congress. 1 am quite Wiling
that this document should be printed"
Mr.. Aldrtch said that the statement had been
sent back to the State Department. but would
be returned. He said it had been treated as
confidential. as had all others Of Ike nature.
Senator Depew spoke of the importance o1 the
business before Congress, and asserted that it
was purely an American question Yet ne
said we find that foreign governments are
entering the Senate chamber for the obstruction
Of legislation for which the President has called
an extra session"
DEFEW FEARS COMPLICATIONS,
ha n
TO print the document. He said it was conf
Dental communication, and its publication
might lead 10 serious international compllca-
tions Il am told" he continued, that Prince
Won Buow has sent TO this government an
anonymous statement so much In detail that II
has gone even into the question Of razors Ihen
l am told that it has been put by the Ger
man government into the hands Of importers
and they have put 1t into the hands Of Senators
with free trade tendencies The question Is one
that arises far above that of political party. as
the information sent 10 the state Depart
ment under the seal Of the German govern
ment"
Mr. La Toilette declaring that the Senate
was entitled to such information. said he had
been Informed that the fact that the report
had not been given 10 the Senate for considera-
ton had been the subject Of criticism and OF
some feeling on the part Of the German govern
ment as it contained information in response
to a request of this government. He said that.
as received. the statement had been signed by
the German manufacturers supplying it, but
the signatures had been erased.
Mr. Aldrich explained that the statement had
been transmitted by the Ierrnan government on
the condition that it s. ould not be printed, and
such testimony was. he said. worthless from his
point Of view
The purpose of the President and the State
Department in transmitting the statement TO
the Committee Finance was the subject OF
comment, as was the method by which it
reached the Committee Finance. Mr. Al
drich said that the American Ambassador at
Berlin had requested information but he ex-
planned that he could not have asked for replies
to testimony given before the Ways and Means
Committee.
Nothing on the record he said, shows what
the ambassador asked for. If l am not saying
something harsh. I would say the attempt
the part of any government or Of any manu-
facturer Of any government to influence legis-
lation Of Congress in this way is, to say the
least impertinent."
Mr.. Tnman expressed fear that the comments
on the German government might not be gra-
ciously received by that government.
If asked for something he said. and
got something do not want. that is another
thing, but we should be fair 10 these people.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Carter was commenting the proprie;y
OF printing communications from foreign gov
ernments when a message arrived from the
President The business of the Senate was sus-
pended to receive the message. and It turned out
10 be the very document relating to German
ges which had provoked much discussion.
The President said that the statement had this
dav" been returned to the State Department lv
the Committee on Finance and that this docu-
ment was obtained upon the understanding that
the names of manufac acturers were TO be held
confidential and that the information furnished
will not be made the basis of administrative
action" He added that 1t had been sent to the
Committee on Finance April Il.
Further discussion with reference to this re
port" said Mr Carter relinquishing the floor
and smiling. may well be postponed until the
document itself is printed"
The Presidents message was referred 10 the
Committee on Finance, Mr.. Aldrch saying that
he would have the German report translated at
once and printed.
Mr.. Money offered a resolution providing that
all Senate documents hereafter published shall
be in English. with American equivalents for
foreign denominations of money measurements.
weights. etc II was referred TO the Committee
on Printing.