The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-26
Representative Bennett of
New York Hops on Macon
Of Arkansas.
SOUTHERNER RESENTS II
AND SAYS ONE OR THE OTHER is
ElTHER A "SAlNT OR LIAR" AND
THAT BENNETT Is NOT THE
FORMER,

Washington, Jan. 26-Declaring that
James A. Patten, secretary OF the i'm
restriction league, had told
a wicked, cruel, deliberate and NAL
icious lie" when he gave Representa-
tive Macon of Arkansas the informa-
tion upon which the latter based his
speech Monday. Representative Ben
net of New York made a vigorous de-
fense of the much maligned immigra-
day.
'The statements of the gentleman
from Arkansas require an instant full
and complete retraction," shouted Mr..
Bennet, after he had explained in de-
tail the work of the commission, its
trip abroad in 1907, which Mr.. Macon
had termed a ''junket," and the re-
suits it had accomplished. Mr.. Macon
met Mr.. Bennet's demands with sharp
replies.
II am not going to accept what the
gentleman from New York has said to
this house as gospel" exclaimed Mr..
Macon. "It is a question of veracity
and one of the gentlemen has as much
credence on the part of this house as
the other until one or the other
shows himself a liar and the other
shows himself to be a saint; and the
gentleman from New York is not a
SAINT
Macon Admits Patten Told Him.
Mr.. Macon admitted that Mr. Patten
was his informant, following a state.
ment by Mr.. Bennet that he believed
he believed he had given the informa-
tfon to the member from Arkansas.
Mr.. Macon explained that Mr.. Patten
was a son-in-law of deceased men,
ber of the commission and was in a
position to know.
Il am not here to take back any part
OF my statement that the trip abroad
was a junket as I understand jun
ket." exclaimed Mr.. Macon.
Thus the incident was closed with
out Mr.. Macon having receded from
his position, but not until after Mr..
Mann of Illinois had refused to con-
sent to Mr.. Macon's request for per-
mission to revise his remarks in the
record. Mr.. Macon explained that he
merely wished to correct the bad
English" but Mr.. Mann retorted that
it was unnecessary to obtain consent
for that, and that both parties to the
controversy would have to go on rec
ord for what they had said
Mr.. Bennett made a general denial OF
the charges voiced by Mr.. Macon dur
ing his absence, Monday, and asserted
that the member from Arkansas had
made them without taking the trouble
to ascertain if they were true
Commissioners Spent Own Money.
He said the commissioners had spent
only $4,000 of the peoples money on
their trip of investigation abroad. but
had gone down into their own pockets
for more than that amount rather than
charge their expense accounts with all
that they had spent
During the four months the COM
mission was in Europe, he said. he had
little time to devote to sight seeing.
Il went through Rome without see
ing St Peters or the Appian Way" he
declared. and added that he had made
but two flying trips to Paris. and in
each instance had left by the next
train.
Mr.. Bennet said tho immigration
commission had accomplished much
good since it was created, having
broken up the white slave traffic. TAX
en- steps to exclude alien criminals, and
greatly improved steerage conditions
on immigrant ships. He insisted that
the commission did not deserve the
abuse which had been heaped upon It