The Washington herald., 1910-04-15
Bitter Debate in House Be-
tween Rainey and Parsons.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ATTACKED
New York Representative VigOr-
ouSIy Defends Action OF HFa
Father-ResoIutIon Passed Calling
on President for Information Con-
corning Prosecution of Trust.

voted to a discussion of the affairs of the
sugar trust, and the especially crooked
trail it blazed in the New York Customs
House.
In the course Of the debate Represent
alive Rainey. of Illinois, who rejoices In
his Democratic partisanship, made
characteristic speech. dragging in the
names of Attorney General Wickersham
and Henry w. Taft. brother Of the Presi-
dent, whose firm. he charged acted as
counsel for the American Sugar Refining
Company.
Mr. Raineys speech was full OF ugly
insinuauons.
A dramatic tinge was given 10 the de-
bate when Representative Herbert Par
sons. Of New York rose to reply 70 a
bitter denunciation OF his father. John E.
Parsons. whom Mr.. Rainey referred 10
as the director Of the infamies OF the
sugar trust"
Parsons Meets the Issue.
Before the debate had been concluded
Representative Parsons discussed In a
frank way reports that have been in cir
culation that during Mr. Parsons in
cumbency OF the place at the head of
the New York Republican county COM
mittee the sugar trust had financed that
organization.
The proceedings started of tamely
Representative Olmsted. OF Pennsylvania,
chairman of the Committee on Insular
Affairs, reported the resolution intro
duced by Representative Martin. Of Colo
RADIO. calling upon the Secretary Of War
for certain information bearing on the
acquisition by the sugar trust Of a large
tract of friar lands I'm the Philippines.
Mr.. Martin believes this land was trans
ferred 70 the sugar trust illegally.
on motion Of Mr.. Olmsted. the Martin
resolution was tabled by a vote OF ia 20
IN, two insurgent Republicans. Nessrs.
MurdoSk. OF Kansas. and PoindeXter. or
Washington, siding with the Democrats.
Bitter Debate Ensues.
Then ensued the proceedings that pre-
clpitated the bitter debate and the pas
sage of a resolution, introduced by Rep
.resentative Fitzgerald, requesting the
President. III not incompatible with the
public interest" TO inform the House
what facts. If any, now exist which
make inexpedient an examination Of the
operations OF the sugar trust by a COM
mittee OF Congress"
Publicity May Defeat Justice.
Representative Hin told the House that
after conference with the President he
was convinced that if publicity was
thrown upon inquiries now being made
by the Treasury Department and Depart
ment OF Justice through the medium Of
a Congressional inquiry. the governments
efforts 10 convict other culprits and re-
cover moneys Of which IL had been de-
frauded would be defeated
The Fitzgerald resolution was finally put
through with an amendment leaving #
discretionary with the President whether
he shall tell the House why he regards
an inquiry into the sugar trust as mex
pedient The President will reply that
Congressional inquiry would seriously
hinder the inquiries OF the legal officers
Of the government and In all probability
defeat the aims OF justice.
Rainey Attacks Parsons.
Mr.. Rainey's references TO John z. Par
sons were bitter in the extreme. He
stated that Parsons was under indict-
ment. and that he pleaded the statutes
Of limitation.
At this point Representative Herbert
Parsons and Representative BeAnet rose
10 their feet. Mr.. Bennett was recognized.
Il want TO inform the gentleman" he
said. that John E. Parsons has made no
such plea"
When Representative Parsons got the
floor he said il was not true that his
father had taken recourse TO the statutes
OF limitation. If he is guilty of any
crime" he said. he will take his pun
ishment like a man"
Later Representative Parsons said that
Henry w. Taft was not now in the en-
ploy Of the sugar trust.
Being an excellent civil lawyer" con-
tinued Mr.. Parsons. he had been re-
tanned two or three years ago in civil
liugatlons.
Just before the House adjourned Mr.
Parsons rose TO a question Of personal
privilege. He said that lest any one
should infer from the remarks Of Mr.
Rainey that he had ever used his public
or political positions to aid the American
Sugar Refining Company he wanted to
say that neither directly or indirectly had
he ever used either position in aid Of
that company. or any Of its directors, or
in aid OF his father or any other member
OF his family.
Il have seen it in print" continued AIR
Parsons, that the American Sugar Re
fining Company would probably aid me ia
my election 10 Congress. I have never
had any aid from that company or any
of its directors. except such aid as may
have come from my father"
InterrOgates Mr.. Parsons.
Representative Rainey Intercepted Mr.
Parsons at considerable length. all Of
his questions bearing on relations that
Mr. Rainey believed existed between the
Republican county committee and the
American Sugar Refining Company. Mr..
Rainey handled Mr.. Parsons as II he
were a witness on the stand. The replies
Of the New York member were given
without hesitation. Mr.. Parsons denied
that any official of the sugar trust was
connected with the Republican committee.
He denied that that concern or any OF
its officers made contributions to further
campaigns conducted by the New York
County committee
Mr.. Parsons colleagues evidently
thought that he had conducted himself
admirably in trying circumstances. as
they gave him an ovation at the conclu-
sion OF his replies to Representative
Rainey.