Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-29
NOT PROPER REMEDY
Chairman StanIey's Sugges-
ton to Mr.. LittIet0n.
UNABLE TO PROBE CHARGES
Committee on Steel Inquiry Without
Jurisdiction in Case of One
Of Its Members.

Chairman Stanley Of the steel commit
tee has rejected the demand of his col
league, Representative Martin Littleton
OF New York. for an investigation by the
committee of the recent newspaper at
tacks on Mr.. Littleton, growing out Of
the latter's alleged friehdliness with the
steel trust. In his letter to Mr. Littleton
refusing the latter's request Chairman
Stanley says:
Il am just In receipt of your request
that I call the committee together to in
vestigate matter closely touching your
integrity as a man and your usefulness
as representative. and l regret most
sincerely that 1 have no authority, ex-
pressed or implied, under the resolution
authorizing the investigation Of the at
fairs of the United States Steel Corpora
ton to either summon witnesses or try
the issue presented. Had l the power or
the authority to be of service in this mat
ter 1 should be more than pleased to
comply in so personal and so delicate a
matter.
Committee Without Jurisdiction.
In a question Of this Importance and
affecting colleague on the committee
SO vitality 1 have acted with the greatest
deliberation and have consulted the most
skilled parliamentarians in the House of
Representatives., with your colleagues and
mine long In service and Justly distin-
gulshed for their great ability both as
statesmen and parliamentarians. They
and your colleagues Messrs. Beall and
McGillicuddy are all of the same opin-
ion. They all, without doubt or cavil,
believe that this committee has no juris-
diction of any kind whatsoever to try a
question of, personal privilege or to ex-
pend money for the bringing of many
witnesses here to testify not as to the
actions or doings of the United States
Steel Corporation, but to give their rea-
that matter, about a member Of the COM
mittee.
so I am forced not of my own will,
but because Of the plain provisions gov
erning procedure in the House of Repre-
sentatives, and the limitations fixed in the
resolution creating this committee and
defining its powers, most regretfully to
advise you that I have no authority to
comply with your request.
Suggests Remedy.
my regret would be the greater were
it not for the fact that you are not with
out remedy. AS you well know. the pro-
cedure is simple and well defined and
from a careful examination of the prece-
dents which have hitherto been followed
without exception I am quite certain that
only on the floor Of the House Of Repre-
Sentatives.
IF Henry B. Martin or another has
wronged you, you have the right, i'm
mediately upon the converting Of Con-
gress, which is only few days distant,
to bring this matter up on the floor of the
House. / feel assured that upon mature
consideration of the matter you will your
self choose this method Of redress, and
this committee in the meantime will be
permitted, IL 1t be the will Of Congress,
to proceed with the great and all import
ant questions now pending before it.
Another Objection.
Il would suggest that this method after
all is more preferable for another reason.
If these witnesses were called before the
committee of which you are a member
and in the event you Intercepted them
it is possible that persons who do not know
you as well as the members Of this COM
mittee do might possibly unkindly and
unjustly suggest that the final decision Of
the committee was affected by its per-
sonal preference for an eminent colleague
or by his eloquence and skill in the cross
examination of those who have accused
him.
For the reasons which have given it
will readily occur to you why the law has
been written as it is
Although Mr.. Littleton declares he has
a majority of the steel committee with
him in his demand for an inquiry, and
will be able to force the chairtnans hand.
it is the general belief that he will find 1t
necessary to take his grievance to the
floor of the Houes of Representatives and
there make his charges against Henry B.
Martin, secretary Of the National Trust
League, and the others he named In his
statement printed in The Star Of yester-
day.