The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-03
Halter OF TRUSTS
IS ON A GR|ODLE
"Jeff" Davis of Arkansas Has
to Explain About a
Mere "Fee"
is NOW BUSY EXPLAINING
HE REPUDIATES THE SENATE
RECORD SHOWING HE. URGED
PASSAGE OF BILL BECAUSE OF
FEE FOR HIM.

washington, March Jeff Davis,
Senator from Arkansas, sworn enemy
of trusts-the man, in fact who eats
'em al:ve-is in an unhappy frame of
mind. He is trying to explain away
certain testimony he gave before the
House committee on public lands when
advocating the passage of the bill re-
lating to the title of what are known
as sunken lands in his state.
The stenographic report shows that
he tolc the committee he favored the
bill. because, if it became a law. a large
fee would be forthcoming from some Of
his clients.
This was rather startling Statement.
to say the least, and now the senator
is endeavoring to reconcile what he
said with the ethics governing the con-
duct of a senator or representative in
Congress.
Another Inquiry May Come.
Needless to say the incident has
created something of sensation in
congressional circles, and everybody is
wondering what the denoucment will
be.
Davis issued statement last night
In which he undertakes to show that
the awkward position in which he
finds himself is the work of political
enemies who are seeking to discredit
him with his constituents.
But be that as it may. it seems quite
certain that the proprieties of the sit
uation require that he do some very
fine calculating to the senate to pre-
vent the matter being the subject of a
senatorial inquiry.
To add to the complications of the
situation, Senator Clark, who is Da
vis's colleague from Arkansas. appear
ed before the House committee and de
MED tbs assertion made by Davis tina:
he was in favor of the bill in question
Colleagues Statement Hot.
He said that his colleague had mis-
represented his position, inasmuch as
he did not approve the measure. In q
significant tone he added that Senator
Davis could easily have learned from
him his attitude instead of securing hi:
information from third party. Da
Wis has said that a man of the name
of Williams had informed him tina,
Clark favored the bill
When Davis appeared before the
committee on February Is the officia
stenographer reported him as saying
I'VE could not prove our title con
fess that there is just that much o
selfishress in me. because there is ;
good fee if l can recover the price o
that timber. do not care where j
goes, whether it goes to Arkansas o
whether it goes to the St. Frances LIE
wee Board, but I would rather it woul
go to the levee board, because that i
Just and right
Official Report Was Changed.
AS is customary Davis was given
copy o. the stenographer's report 70
correction. He made number G
changes. and in the paragraph men
toned, struck out the clause, "becaus
there is good fee if can recover tn
price of that timber
In its place he interlined the follow
ing: Because l am the attorney fC
the st. Francis Levee Board for the r.
covery of that timber.
The senator explained to the con
mittee yesterday that he was afraid h
statement might be misunderstood. an
! for that reason he wanted to chang
it. For more than an hour the cor
. mittee held a secret session at the col
clusion of which it voted almost unal
imously that the original stateme1
: must stand. Davis was advised tn;
/ he might change the ''verbiage'' of tt
statement, but make no material alte
alton.