Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-02
RECORD TO STAND
Senator Davis Not Permitted
to Expunge Remarks.
ABOUT GETTING LAW FEE
Wanted to Withdraw Statement
Made Before House Committee.
ALLOWED TO CHANGE WORDING
Had Said in Advocating Land
Measure He Would Receive Big
Fee If Bill Passed.

Senator JEFF Davis OF Arkansas was to-
day denied the privilege of striking from
the Record q statement in his testimony
before the House committee on public
lands In advocacy Of the Arkansas sunk
lands" bill. that he would receive a large
legal fee IL the bill were passed.
Senator Clark OF Arkansas appeared
before the committee and denied state
ments made by Senator Davis to the ef-
feet that he Clark was for the BILL
The bill is one introduced in the House
by Representative Oldfield of Arkansas
for the quieting Of title to about 100, 600
acres Of swamp lands in the eastern
part OF Arkansas. over which there is
dispute In ownership between the
United States. the state OF Arkansas and
private parties in that state.
Representative Oldfield asserts that he
introduced the bill at the request Of
Senator Davis. Several days ago Senator
Davis appeared before the committee in
advocacy Of the Oldfield bill.
Acted as Attorney.
At that time he frankly told the COM
mittee that he had been acting as attor-
ney for the st. Francis levee board OF
Arkansas one OF the claimants to the
lands, and that for his services he ex-
pected to receive a large legal fee.
I'VE were unable to prove title to the
lands" Senator Davis told the committee
in effect There Is this much selfishness
In me. however: II we win these suits
and this bill becomes q law I will receive
a large fee.'
1t was understood that part of Senator
Davis fee was q contingent one, de-
pendent upon his success in winning the
suit.
After the hearing at which Senator
Davis made his statement the senator
asked the privilege of revising the COM
mittee's record as far as his statement
was concerned.
This privilege was granted him. When
the committee got the records back. II
was found that Senator Davis had
scratched out that part referring to the
fee which he was to receive.
The senator explained his position to-
day. saying that he thought his statement
might be misunderstood, and he desired
to strike IT from tho records.
Allowed to Change verbiage.
After the senator had been heard the
committee held an executive session last
ing for more than an hour at which It
was voted by nearly q unanimous vote
tnaI the senator's original statement
should remain in the records. He was al
lowed to change the verbiage Of his state
ment, but not to make any material al
teration.
Senator Clark Of Arkansas told the
committee that Senator Davis had mis-
represented his position on the bill by
stating that he Clark was for It. SEN
ator Clark insisted that he was against
the bill. and suggested that Senator
Davis might have learned from him
directly his attitude regarding the bill.
instead of securing his information from
a third party. Senator Davis had stated
that a man by the name Of Williams
had told him Senator Clark was for the
BILL
1t was also learned this afternoon that
Representative Oldsfieid. after introduc-
ing the bill at the request Of Senator
Davis. had endeavored to withdraw 1t and
that he had even gone to see Speaker
Cannon In regard to tho matter.
The exact phrase scratched from the
records by Senator Davis and which the
committee refused to permit him to leave
In the permanent record. is as follows:
There Is good fee II I can recover
the price Of that timber"