The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-27
SAYS RUB IT OUT.
Select Committee Named to Con-
slider Willett's Speech.
Recommends That 1t BE En-
plunged From the Record.
HE MAKESEAs PROTEST
In a Letter Addressed to the
Committee.
Declares Such Action Would Be
Dangerous Precedent.
HE MAKES:As PROTEST

Washington. Jan. 21.-Recom-
mending that the speech delivered IN
the house last week by Representative
Willett (N. V in which the preslueht
was severely criticised be eXpuhsed
from the congressional record. the Sc
lect committee appointed to consider
the speech submitted its report to the
house today. A letter written to the
committee by Representative W1llett
urging that his speech should remain
on record. accompanied the report
Declaring that 1.-The consideration OF
the speech in question involved con-
sideration of what is and what Is not
orderly debate in the house the
committee report defines the privi-
leges 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 be maintained between
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
and criticism merely personal and If
ritating.''
It also declares that it is especially
the duty of the house itself to pro-
tect the president from the personal
abuse innuendO, or ridicule tending to
excite disorder in the house itself and
to create a personal antagonism on
the part of the president toward the
house and which is not related to the
power of the house under the constf-
n in acts
conduct of the president"
Not Justified.
Your committee has carefully con-
sidered the remarks of the gentleman
from New York continues the report,
land finds that his remarks concerning
the president are not justified by any
siderations of the constitutional duties
or powers of the house: that they
transcend proper limits of 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 per-
manent official record of the proceed
ings in the house."
The committee claimed that it was
impossible to separate the objection
able remarks from the remainder of the
speech and that the only way to elimi-
nate the remarks considered out of or
der would be to strike out the entir2
speech 1t cited as precedent for
Robert P. Kennedy of Ohio, attacking
the senate made in the house in Sep
TENDER of 1890 which was excluded
from the permanent record.
Winett's Letter.
In his letter to the committee Mr..
Willett claims that he did not trans
cend the rules of the house. but that he
was entirely within his rights to make
the speech under the rules of general
debate. Freedom of speech has al
ways been held so sacred he declares,
that the utmost latitude has been al
lowed in debate and respectfully sub
NIT that to strike my speech from the
record in this instance will be a prece-
dent extremely dangerous"
The resolution recommended by the
special committee for adoption by the
house reads:
Resolved. That the speech of Mr..
Willett printed in the daily congress
sional record of Jan. 49, 1909. contains
language improper and in violation of
the privileges of debate, and that the
same be stricken from the permanent
record