New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-05
HOUSE JUDGE AND JURY
Takes Up Report of Day Portrait
Investigation.
BITTER DEBATE FOLLOWS
Republicans See Attempt to Don.
denim Men Without Hearing and
Interference with President.

denim Men Without Hearing and
Interference with President.
From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Aug. Accommodating Itself
az Judge and jury, the Democratic House
by means OF steam roller methods ana
gag" rule, to-day voted TO take UP the
report OF the committee which investigated
the Day portrait mystery OF the state De-
partment and which recommended tha'
William ". Michael. now Consul Genera
AT Calcutta, and Thomas Morrison ais
bursting officer Of the department shou'o
be dismissed from the service because Oh
their inability to explain discrepancy III
the portrait voucher. Representative HARD
wick. from the Committee on Rules, SAID
that the resolution finally to be adopted
would request the President TO DISMISS
Morrison and Michael. Republican SPEAK
ers during a debate that was pie'e'
throughout, denounced the proceedings as
unprecedented. deplored the fact that the
House seemed about to condemn absent
men without hearing and charged 'hat
the passage Of such resolution meant
that the House assumed the right to inter-
f.rn with the executive branch OF the gov
ornmant. The House adjourned with the
debate unfinished and the Day portrait
matter uas made the special order for to-
morrow.
Representative Mann. the minority iean-
or. nlibustered for two hours against ING
special rule brought IN by the Rules Ool'-
mittee which made II possible 10 get tne
report If the majority Of the INVESTIGATING
committee before the House. Gag RUE
WAS finally adopted on partisan vote o.
1f5 10 101.
Pointing out that Secretary John hay,
NOW dead. was the only man who couid
oxpIain the 81 900 discrepancy In the Day
nortrait voucher and defying any one 10
nrove that this excess sl,eco had been spent
h.. SECRETARY Hay for secret diplomatic
n,rnoees "a authorized by the emergency
t,nd OF the department, Representatives
Mann. Dalsell, Madison and Lenroot &C
nounced as absolutely unfair the Demo
cratic investigation and method OF proceo-
ure.
"John Hays memory is sacred. pas
s,onately exclaimed Mr.. Madison. NO man
I'm tho light ~ his magnificent career can
bes,nirch Il now but the obscure indiv'd-
nal on tho other eide Of the world tMichaet
,,bo has had no opportunity 10 say any
.bire, 70 this House in his own defence is
tho man 7 plead for to-day. In the spir'.
If fsirness ask the majority side ~ this
Eouse not 10 put on trial in this way
man who has had no chance n be heard.
Mr. Michael vas chief clerk and Mr.. MOT
rison was d!sbursinG officer AT me TIME the
Dav portrait was paid for
Calling gttention 10 the fact that the IN
vos,iyatIon Of he Committee on Expendi-
,uras in the State Department had been
,rado nv a small subcommittee and ny
,,en ~ the same mind. Representative
v-eoeuever. q Republican member OF the
committee. made p ringing speech In de-
corco NJ Secretary IIav Messrs. Michael
and Morrison and Secretary Knox The
committees. he said, had taken 10 itself
credit for :he investigation OF the Day
portrait discrepancy whereas an Original
ino,,irv had been conducted two years ago
by Secretary Root and the incident ciosed
BECAUSE g.cretary Hays death had rung
down the curtain
Every phase Of this investigation ny w"
committee has been handled as though mo
committee were dealing with criminals
rather than with officials OF great depsr'-
mont" he said THE highest officials have
bcen trusted to answer truthfully only I'M
der oath.
There vas nothing wrong in the action
nj Morrison and Michael. The latter holds
AN important position thousands OK miles
away and has been given no opportunity
IN annear in his own behalf. He would De
DISCHARGED without reason ana WITHOUT
trial IL this committee's RECOMMENDATIONS
were - MAINTAIN.
Morrison ~ an old man His service
began before many Of us mere were born.
Is that service TO be rewarded with dis-
rrissaI for no reason at all except TO satisfy
PARTISAN prejudice and desire 20 manu-
factiIre campaign thunder? The American
Isople are fair and they expect this Houss
TO be fair For a period the public mas
heard only one side Of this matter. We
present the other
Public confidence can hardly be strength
ened by far-fetched attacks upon that great
department OF our government-the one de-
uartment that has especially TO Go with our
relations with the world outside. and which.
accordingly. last OF all should be lightly
made the target Of partisan attack"
In his speech, which was loudly cheerca
by the Democrats. Representative Hamlin
characterized Mr. Michaers conduct as
''contempuble aud reprehensible' In the
DAY portrait payment Morrison, said
Chairman Hamlin, rs honest. but wholly
Incompetent TO hold such an important posi-
tfrp -