The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-09
MADISON'S STATEMENT.
Kansas Congressman Recites History
of Trouble at Minneapolis.

Minneapolis, Sept. 9.-Representa-
tive Madison. speaking for himself and
the four Democratic members of the
Ballinger- Pinchot committee; said to-
day:
1.-THE committee at its last session in
Washington adjourned to meet in Min
neapolis, September 8. for the purpose
of formulating reports to congress. The
committee met in pursuance of this
adjournment.
There were eight members present
constituting a majority. At the re-
quest of the chairman we adjourned
to meet September Z. We met in pur-
suance to the adjournment, eight
members of the committee being pres
emit. Later Senator Sutherland and
Representative Mccall withdrew. The
committee after the transaction of GER
tain business then voted without OBJ
lection on the part of any member to
take a recess until today at 10 o'clock
cat 10 o'clock we convened, Chair
man Nelson in the chair. There were
six members present, also the Secre-
tary of the committee. After calling
the committee together the chairman
read a statement, the substance of
which was that certain members were
not in the city and that one of them.
Senator Root, could not be here until
Tuesday, and said there was one of
two alternatives for us to adopt, either
to adjourn until Tuesday in Minne-
apolis or in Chicago on Monday.
1.-THE chairman stated he would en-
terrain no other motion except to adj
journ, to which protest was made as
arbitrary and unfair, and a motion was
made to instruct and empower the Sec
rotary of the committee, Mr.. Sleman,
being without regular sergeant-at-
arms, to bring in Senator Sutherland,
Representative DENLY and Representa-
tive Mccall at once to the committee.
1.-THE chairman said he would enter
tain that motion because he felt there
were two things we could do, one was
to adjourn or to do what we could to
secure the attendance OF absent mem
bers.
I'VE have been doing what we could
to secure the attendance of absent
members. We have insisted they
should come to the meeting and en-
gage in deliberations on the committee
report
"They have so far refused. There has
been no attempt to transact business
except that a motion was made to take
recess to 2:S0 p. M, which the chair
man declined to put. but said he would
let some other member if he desired.
He repeated again that the only thing
we could do was to adjourn or use such
efforts as we could to compel the at
tendance of a quorum.
About 11:30 he stated he desired to
leave the room on an errand and would
be back in a, minute. The committee
| has not voted to adjourn.
ut is legally in session. The chair
man has been here presiding over it's
deliberations and retired with the
| statement he would soon return. In
stead he has sent us through the sec
rotary of the committee this notice:
You are hereby notified that
meeting of the joint committee of con-
gress to investigate the department of
/ the interior and its several bureaus, Of
ficers and employees and of the bureau
| of forestry in the department of agri-
| culture and it's officers and employees
| is hereby called to be held at the Audi
| forum Annex hotel in Chicago Tues
day, September Is, at 10 o'clock and
you are hereby requested to be in at
| tendance
"Of course the chairman has no au-
thority under the resolution under
which the committee has acted to ad-
journ the committee to any time or
place and his action in this respect is
unaccountable and absolutely without
authority.
1.-The only thing that we have insist
| ed on is that all the members should
be present and discharge the duty in
| cumbent on us under the resolution
authorizing the creation of the COM
mittee. We object to being hauled
about over the country and object to
unreasonable delays to secure The
presence of absent members. 1t was
as much their duty to be here on the
morning of September as ours"