Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-29
SPEECH OF WILLETT
ORDERED EXPUNGED
SPECIAL COMMITTEE SAYS 1T Is
HOUSES DUTY TO PROTECT
PRESIDENT FROM PERSONAL
ABUSE.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 2.-Rec-
ommending that the speech delivered in
the house last week by Representative
Willett. of New York. in which the pres
ident was severely criticised, be expunged
from the Congressional Record, the select
committee appointed to consider the
speech submitted its report to the house
today. A letter written to the committee
by Representative Willett, urging that
his speech should remain on record ac-
companied the report.
Defines Orderly Debate
Declaring that the consideration of the
speech in question involves a considera-
ton of what is and what not orderly
debate i'm the house." the committee re-
port defines the privileges OF members Of
the house and the limitations of debate.
1t discusses at length the relationship
OF the two houses OF congress and the
relations which must he maintained be-
tween the house OF representatives and
the president, in accordance with the con-
stitution.
The report declares that it would seem
that the peculiar 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 of acts and conduct necessary
for performance of the constitutional du-
ties of the house and a criticism merely
personal and irritating"
II also claims that it is especially the
duty of the house itself to protect the
president from that personal abuse, in
nuendo or ridicule tending to excite dis
order in the house itself and to create
personal antagonism on the part of the
president toward the house, and which is
not related to the power of the house
under the constitution to examine into
the acts and conduct of the president.
Remarks Not Justified
Your committee has carefully consider
ed the remarks of the gentleman from
New York; continues the report. 'and
find that his remarks concerning the pres
ident are not justified by any considera-
ton of the constitutional duties or powers
of the house; that they transcend proper
limits or criticism in debate; that they
are destructive of that courtesy, respect
and dignity which ought to be preserved,
and that they ought not to remain in the
permanent official record of the proceed
ings in the house." srH
The committee claimed that it was inn
possible to separate the objectionable re-
marks from the remainder of the speech,
and that the only way to eliminate the
remarks considered out of order would be
to strike out the entire speech. 1t cited
as a precedent for such action by the
house the speech of Robert p. KENNEDY,
Of Ohio, attacking the senator made in
the house on September 3, 1890. which was
excluded from the permanent record
WiIlett Sends Letter
In his letter to the committee Mr.. Will
lett claims that he did not transcend the
rules of the house, but that he was en-
tirely within his rights to make the
speech under the order of general debate.
Freedom of speech has always been held
so sacred" he declared, that the utmost
latitude has been allowed in, debates and
1 respectfully submit that to-, strike my
speech from the record in this instance
will establish precedent extremely dam
gerous." -
The resolution recommended by the
special committee for adoption by the
house reads: .-' et.tg
Resolved, That the speech of Mr.. Will
lett printed in the daily Congressional
Record of January 49, 1909. contains Ian
guage improper and in violation. Of the
privileges of debate. and that the same be
stricken from the permanent record