The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-01-27

Washington, Jan. 77.-Recommend-
ing that the speech delivered in the
house last week by Representative
WiIlet CNew York;, in which the
president was severely criticised, be
expunsed from the congressional rec
ord, the select committee appointed
to consider the speech submitted it's
report to the house today. A letter
written 70 the committee by Repre-
sentative Willet, urging that his
speech should remain on record, ac-
companied the report.
Declaring that, THE consideration
OF the speech in question involves q
consideration of what ts and what is
not orderly debate in the house" the
committees report defines the privi-
leges OF members OF the house and the
limitations Of debate. 1t discusses at
length the relationship Of the two
housse Of congress an4 the relations
which must be maintained between
the house OF representatives and the
nFeSident in accordance with the eon-
stitutioD.-
The report declares that II would
seem that the, Peculiar constitutional
duties Of the h, se In relation to the
power OF inpeaching the president do
not preclude clear line of dtstinc-
tion between that criticism OF acts
and conduct necessary for perform
arce Of the constitutional duties OF
the house and criticism merely per-
sonal and irritating" II also claims
that It is especially the duty OF the
house itself TO protect the president,
From that personal abuse, innuendo.
or ridicule tending {, excite disorder
in the house itself and to created a
personal antagonism on part of the
president toward the house and which
10 not related TO the power of the
house under the constitution TO ex-
anime into the acts and conduct OF
the president.
"Your committee .as carefully con-
sidered the remarks OF the gentleman
from New York" continues the re-
port, land finds that his remarks
concerning the presi lent are NOT tusti-
fed by any considerations of the con-
stitutional duties or powers OF the
house that they transcend proper linz
it's OF criticism in debate: that thev
are destructive of that courtesy. re-
epect and dignity which ought 20 be
preserved, and that they ought not
10 remain IN the permanent onscsaI
record OF the proceedings In the
house"
The committee claimed that il Was
impossible TO separate the 0btection-
able remarks from the remainder Of
the speech and that the only way to
eliminate the remarks considered o,sx
OF order would be to strike out the
entire speech. It cited as a precedent
for such action by the house the.
speech Of Robert p. Kennedy of Ohio.
attacking the senate. made in the
house an Sept. 8, 1890, which was ex-
cluded from the permanent record.
In his letter TO the committee. Mr..
Wiilet claims that he did NOT
transcend the rules OF the house. but
that he was entirely within his rights
TO make the speech, under the order
OF general debate. freedom OF speach
has always been held so sacred" he
declared, that the utmost latitude
has been allowed In debate. and I ra-
spectfully submit that TO strike INV
speech from the record In this in
stance viii establish q precedent sr-
tremely dangerous
The resolution recommended bv the
special committee for adoption by the
house, reads:
Resolved That the speech Of Mr..
Willet, printed in the daily congress
sional record OF Jan. Is, 1909, containa
language improper and in violation AZ
the privileges OF debate and that the
same be stricken from the permanent
record"