Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-07
MAY TAKE ROW TO HOUSE
Threat Against ldember of Congress
Held to Be Serious.
NAGEL'S NAME INVOLVED
Commissioner Says He Consulted
Secretary Before Writing Letter
Which Caused Trouble.

AS a result of an extremely heated
expenditures in the Department Of Com
merce and Labor, which is inauiring into
the destruction of the once great seal
herd Of the Pribyloff Islands, it is prob
New Jersey will rise in the House to
question of personal privilege and de-
nounce United States Fish Commissioners
Bowers Mr. Bowers was the witness
before the committee, and twice Repre-
sentative Rothemal, the committe chair
man, had to threaten to call the sergeant
alarms to keep him in order.
The commissioner was beginning his
defense to the charges brought out un-
der the Townsend resolution that the
fish commissioner had permitted the
unlawful killing of many thousands of
seals and had ordered the killing con-
tinued in 1910 and in the present sea-
son after Secretary Nagel had express
Iy agreed with Congress that the killing
should stop.
The commissioner began his defense
by reading a long letter addressed to
Chairman Rothermel, in which he first
accused Mr. Townsend with endeavor-
ing to sustain and justify" before the
committee forged, fictitious and libel
ous' matter; with having offered such
matter with the deliberate purpose
of concealing the real fact" and with
permitting himself to be made the tool
Of an unscrupulous manipulator of rec
ords. a dangerous besmircher Of char
acter."
Aroused Chairman's Ire.
Chairman RothermaPs ire was aroused
when Commissioner Bowers read into the
record the charge that the chairman had
sanctioned the action Of another witness
I'm deliberately falsifying documentary
evidence" At this Mr.. Rothermal insisted
upon being informed if Commissioners
Bowers was aione responsible for that
charge or whether the Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor had knowledge Of 1t and
sanctioned it.
MIR. Bowers became 80 heated in his re-
fusal to give a direct answer tnat the
chairman threatened to call in the SER
geant-at-arms. There were further erup-
lions and further threats before the VII
ness admitted that Secretary Nagei nao
been conferred with about the letter
and sanctioned II.
The committee seemed inclined, then,
not to let the letter be made part OF the
record. but Mr.. Townsend urged that II
be printed In full in the record, saying,
Il know of no better evidence to oner
the House as to the character OF TINS VIII
ness than his letter in full
In the excitement Mr.. Bowers was heard
10 respond to Representative Townsend
with something to the enect tnat we VIII
show I'D your character before we get
through"
Laughed at the Threat.
Mr. Townsend laughed at this threat
at the time but when it became the gos-
sin ON the floor of the House several
members insisted that it was very seri-
Gus matter for an officer of the govern
ment to threaten a memper of congress
in connection with his official act, taken
in pursuance Of a resolution OF the
House.
.'Fish Commissioner Bowers threat
only amused me at the time, said Mr.
Townsend, land l had no thought OF DO
ing anything in relation to it.
Several members have insisted, now
ever. that l cannot treat the matter as
personal to my self. In doing what l have
done to aid the investigation, l was act
ing of course, under the authority or
nv resolution passed by the House. and
in that sense was acting for the House.
In view of that fact l am urged to bring
the matter before the House. but Wheth-
er or not | will depends upon the Judg-
ment of some old and experienced mem
bers who have asked to have the printed
reports submitted TO them.