The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-03-03
Members of Congress Hest
tate to Take Action in
Davis Case.
SENATOR MAINTAINS
MISTAKE WAS MADE
Declares Committee Stenographers
Erred in Taking Down
His Testimony,

Members OF Congress today are anX-
lousy awaiting tbs next step in con-
nection with the appearance Of Senator
Jeff Davis, of Arkansas. before the
House Committee on Public Lands with
the assertion that he could get "a good
Zee" II he could recover the price OF
the timber involved in the legislation
pendinf. before the committed
There IS considerable hesitanCy on the
part OF members Of the House ana
Senate to take official cognizance of
the statements Of the Senator until
they actually appear In an official dOcu-
ment OF the committee. Mr.. Davis
maintains that an error has been made
by the stenographer who took notes
at the committee hearing, at which he
was reported 70 have said he would
get a fee.
The typewritten statement containing
Senator Davis's remarks before the
committee quotes the Senator as saving:
The Original Record.
I'VE could not prove our. title. / can
fess that there is just that much Of
seIhshness in It TO me. because there
IS a good fee II I can recover the price
OF that timber. 1 do not care who il
goes 10, whether II goes to Arkansas
or to the st. Francis Levee Board, but
I would rather il would 20 10 the St
Francis Levee Board, because that is
just and right
When the typewriter copy was sent
10 Senator Davis for revision and cor
Tecuon he drew his pen through the
words because there is a good fee IL
can recover the price of that tim
ber," and inserted the words. because
m the attorney for the St Francis
Levee Board for the recovery Of this
timber"
Some Of the best lawyers in the House
and Senate TO-DAY were discussing the
question whether Senator Davis i'm
Ii
declaring himself counsel for the or
Ganizaton desiring the legislation in
stead OF asserting that he would re-
Celve a fee
Section 10 of the new criminal code
reads as follows:
Whoever being elected or ap-
pointed a member Of or delegate TO
Congress or q resident commissioner
shall, after his election, or appoint
ment and either before or after he
is qualified, and during his c0ntin-
uance in office, directly or indirectly
ask. accept. receive. or agree to re-
ceive any money, property, or other
valuable consideration or any prom
Use, contract understanding, Oblga-
ton, gTatUity, OF security for tho
payment Of money, or for TIE deliy-
cry or conveyance OF anything Of
value to him. or 10 any person with
mis- consent, COuniVanCe. or concur
renee for his attention 10 or services
or with intent 10 have his action,
vote, or decision Influenced on any
question. matter cause, or proceed
ing, which may at any time be pend
Ing IA either House OF Congress. or
before any committee thereof or
which by law or under the COnsti-
tuition may be brought before him in
his official capacity or in his place
as such member, delegate or resi-
dent commissioner. shall. be fined
not more than three times the i
amount asked. accented. or received,
nd inn
years. and shall moreover forfeit
his office. and thereafter be forever
disqualified from holding any office
Of honor. trust. or profit under the
Government Of the United States"
Other References.
The portion OF the sentence which
Senator Davis wished stricken from the
Record is not the only portion OF that
record which contains reference to fee
Representative Robinson Of Arkansas |
at the first hearing asked Senator Davis !
the nature Of the fee, and was told that
il was a contingent fee. At the hearing |
yesterday Representative Pickett Of
Iowa asked If the fee was a regular |
fee or a contingent fee
Both replied Senator Davis.
WAS the contingent fee dependent |
upon the passage Of this legislation2' /
asked Mr.. Pickett.
Il don't know" answered Senator /
Davis.
Senator Davis has issued a statement /
In the third person as follows
Senator JEFF Davis. when seen in re-
gard 10 the story that he was to get a 1
fee in the event that House bill, No. /
1857, by Mr. Oldfeld. became q law,
stated that that report was absolutely /
false and without foundation. Senator |
Davis stated to the committee that, sew
eral years ago, before he was elected TO 1
rhe Senate, he was employed by the St
Francis levee board 10 assist their at
TOTney IN collecting an amount due for
timber deDredatiCnS upon these lands:
that the St Francis Iavee board had
sold these lands to the Forrest City par
tics, giving only a QUIT claim deed, and
was not interested in this bill 10 the ex-
tent Of one farthing. When asked by
the members Of the committee whether
or not this bin would help his suit for
these timber depredations the Senator
stated that he was not in a DOSftiOn Z
% state whether or not that would be
the case. and this is all there is To the /
story. IF this bin should become a law.
Il would not affect the St Francis levea
board in the least; neither would IT az 4
feet his fee or employment with them /.
against these timber depredations He \
says that this IS a sensational story got
ten up ny his jealous political enemies II
20 in1ure him at home; that there Is not N
word Of truth in Il. II
When You Buy Fish Friday