The Cairo bulletin., 1910-02-11
COURT SUMMONS
congressman. G|I|||E|
4l .~ W.
-. 4
AND SENATORS, BUT LATTER RE-
FUSE TO OBEY THE
SUMMONS.
SENATE ACTED QUICKLY
But House Members VIII Answer
Justice Wright Ordered Print
inc Committee Into a
Court. stn t5.

Washington, Feb. 1o.-Whether the
court has power to summon before 1t
a committee of congress was the chief
subject of discussion before 1t COM
fmittee Of congress was the chief sub
ieet Of discussion before both the sen
,ate and house today.
; The senate quickly disposed OF the
question. and gave positive. instrrc.
tions to Senators Snoot. Bourne and
| Fletcher not 10 respond tomorrow TO
/ the order issued by Justice Wright OF
Columbia. directing them to appear
before HIM
The proceedings grew out of the
suit instituted by the Valley Paper
Company, OF Holyoke. Mass, as the
result of the committees award OF the
contract for furnishing paper for this
government printing office.
The refusal OF the senate is based
upon the plea of constitutional pre-
negatives of the members of congress.
| The senate holds that as 1t WAS
coordinate branch of the government
| the court had no right to interfere
with its business affairs. incidentally
the question was raised whether
Wright is in contempt OF the senate
or the senate In contempt OF Wright
| Nelson sought to have the senate's
resolutions amended to permit the
senators to appear only for the pur.
pose Of testing the courts jurisdiction 3
Root took the position that tho
courts action was an intrenchment
upon the independence OF the senate.
Sustaining the action of the court
lon the ground that the printing awgrds
was an administrative, rather than n
Legislative act, Sutherland advised The
committee to appear before the court
and plead their privilege.
| Nelson's amendment was rejected,
fourteen to forty five, Tie Originally
committee resolution adopted without.
division, and the secretary directed to
communicate the views OF the sonata
TO the court
In the horse there was a greater
division OF opinion. The judiciary
| committee brought In two reports.
| The majority recommended compli
ance with the summons OF the court
on the ground that the committee was
not summoned as members OF con
gress, but while acting under the AL.
lthority of statute enacted by con-
gress. The majority therefore recon.
mended that Cooper, of Pennsylvania,
Sturgess and FineIey be instructed &c
Iappear before the court.
The minority report, in which
| Chairman Farker Clayton OF Alabama,
aui Henry, Of Texas, held that the
Joint committee on printing was act
ing in legislative capacity. They rec
commended either that the committee
be instructed not to respond to the
summons, or that the resolution
recommended by the majority be
Iamended so as to instruct the mem.
bers of the printing committee, II
necessary. TO prosecute appeal from
any judgment therein"
Clayton also offered resolution de-
clarpg that the court "unawfully ia.
vored the constitutional privileges OF
the house" that it is without juris.
Idiction to hale into court members OF
the house and instructing such mem
bers to ignore the summons.
An extended debate ensued and at
IG:t0 recess was taken until O'Clock
lin order that action be had before adj
journment.
/ --