New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-06
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

vo8tfgatfOns, must prove an OcchSicn va
amusement. These committees. clothed
with practically all the powers Of Q court
Of Justice, at liberty TO subpoena witnesses
and to subject them 10 Characterization
almost without exception AFFORD the unfort-
innate witness no protection whatever from
the bullying and jeering Of the opposing
counsel Lawyers retained. usually by
private individuals whose interests may De
more or less at stake. ridicule and brow
beat witnesses with never word OF pro-
test from the chairman Of the committee
the only person who can properly inter-
we've. In the Lorimer investigation IL Ii
uotlceaby the case. the lawyers Tor the
Senator resorting to the methods OF he
police court to confuse and browbeat Wit
nesses and TO turn them 10 ridicule. But
II is hardly less so In the Investigations
conducted by the several committees OF
the House. II was noticeably the case our
ing the Ballinger- Pinchot investigation
and Il is not less so in the case OF the
investigation OF the Wiley case. II Is ex-
planned that IL IL the duty OF the lawyers
retained to make the best possible effort
on behalf Of their clients. and the chair
men of the various committees protest that
would invariably lead to opposition from
members Of the committee or the opposite
party and thus bring on prolonged argu-
ment which would delay the proceedings
indefinitely. Whatever merit there may be
in these explanations, II is fact that II Is
indeed unfortunate for the witness VINO
happens 10 he called before committee
Of Congress irrespective Of which side may
call him.
ADVERTISE YOUR COMING. - Any
man. woman or child who may contemplate
coming TO Washington for any purpose
whatever would do we'll 10 advertise the
fact in the newspapers. Otherwise ne sne
or IL is more than likely 70 be called before
an investigating committee, and then IL
will be proclaimed 10 the world that the
missing John Jones has been found. etc
This has been done over and over again
with witnesses who have been steadily ar
their places Of residence or Of business
and who have never sought In any way 20
eude the officers Of Congress charged with
the duty Of serving subpnnas. In at least
one case a man came 10 Washington ana
caused an investigating committee TO be
advised Of his presence and his address, ana
Of his desire 70 testify soon as possible
but when the assistant sergeant alarms
was furnished with a subpoena, he loaded
I'D a large touring car with friends and
visited all the earlier addresses Of the man
he was supposed 10 be seeking. intimating
that the man was in seclusion but that he
could not escape this Sherlock Holmes of
the House Finally on reaching the right
ha
served. and then certain undertaking papers
came out next day with the announcement
John Jones NOT permitted 10 escape Lib
era advertising Of ones intention 10 visit
Washington, say a half column ADVERTISE
rnent every day for d week before the IN
tended arrival would, perhaps, avoid this
sort Of misleading publicity even though
II detracted from the credit Of the Demo
cratic officials Of the House as detectives
Of extraordinary shrewdness and sagacity.
HOW HE DELTBERATEs. 49, Senator
OGorman recently explained 10 the Senate
that his absence from Washington in no
way interfered with his participation in its
deliberations. and intimated that the depths
Of the Maine woods afforded an excellent
place 10 deliberate on pending legislation
Al least that is the Interpretation which
some Of the New York Senator's colleagues
place on this passage in mis- remarks. The
question Of deliberstion,' said the Senator
from New York rs one which concerns
each members brain and conscience and
vote He can deliberate alone, or in uni
son with others. IL he attends 20 his duties,
keeps up with the debates. discusses sub
iects with his fellows and strives for a
procedure under which he is not deprived
Of an opportunity 10 cast an honest vote
In view OF the fact that attention had been
called TO the absence Of Mr. O'Gorman from
Washington and that later he was dis
covered 10 be sojournins in the Maine
woods. some OF his colleagues believe he
meant 10 intimate that he had there kept
up with the debates by reading The Con-
gressional Record" and that in the vast
solitude Of a summer resort he had found
the most suitable place 80 deliberate
alone" @. G.. Il