New-York tribune., 1911-12-08

Washington. December d.
BURKE IL AROUSED. Representative
Charles II. Burke. minority member OF the
Committee on Expenditures In the Interior
Depa rtment. IS thoroughly aroused over the
outrageous methods pursued by Chairman
Graham OF that committee in connection
with the Controller Bay Investigation anc
the infamous "Dick-to- Dick" letter Mr..
Burke declares that the majority of this
committee led by Graham. have overridden
every right Of the minority. that they en-
ployed an attorney. L. u. Brandels, with
out consulting the minority, that they &C
cepted the report Of this attorney and made
IL public without consulting the minority
and that Chairman Graham has announced
his Intention 10 abandon the investigation
without consulting the minority or even
boiding a meeting Of the committee. Mr.
Burke expects that the committee VIII
meet on SATURDAY, but ne also expects that
the meeting will be executive. although no
hopes tho newspapers will demand adm's-
sion As soon a. the committee ha- act
ually taken any action looking 20 the ahan-
donment OF the investigation without bring
.ns 70 book the perpetrators Of the Dick
to- Dick" forgery. .he minority Of the COM
rnittee will prepare report. and Mr.. Burke
promises 20 bring the matter 20 the atten-
ton VI the House. and, incidentally ot the
country IN . speech which will place chair
man Graham and his associates In most
unenviablc light. tho light OF their own
conduct.
SIMPLE FoRG ERY. Mr.. Burke is con-
vfrced that the "Dick-to-Dick' postscript
wss simple forgsry gotten up 10 hurt
the administration and with the belief that
tho public could DO made 20 believe any
thing bad Of President Taft and Secretary
Bailinger. He says that Rrandels a. attor-
ney for the committee, held q conference
with Miss Abbott. the eXPloi,er Of the
"Dick-to- Dick postscript. and Immediately
thereafter Informed Chairman Graham that
there was nothing 20 investigate. And now
that the forgery has received the widest
publicity Chairman Graham purposes 70
sbandon the inquiry for the sole purpose ot
shielding the perpetrators Of the slander.
Chairman Graham forgets that the Dick
to-Dfck' letter started and that It ended
This Investigation" said Nj. Burke to-day.
Unless the majority explains It's strange
conduct there will certainly be minority
report and vigorous protest on the floor
OF inc House OF course, y the Democrats
have the manliness 70 come out squsrely
and say that they we're deceived and that
the President. Secretary Ballinger and 9th
ers have been grievously wrong@d, that viii
b. another matter. Then the report may
Dc unanimous
f..
offend you. Just XIII the truth-teller. This
Il the way a member OF the Committee
on Ways and Means summed Up the atu-
tude Of the Democratic members os tEc-
committee today after they had voted
down. by stric; party vote, the motion
of REPRESENTATIVE PANE 20 report favor
ably the nlll making the Tariff Board a
permanent affair. Completely stulufy'ns
their course Of q Iitde less than d year ago
end showing loyalty only 20 the principles
OF Representative Fitzgerald. who killed
The permanent Tariff Bosrd-bill IN the clos
ing hours OF the last session, the Demo
Gratis on he WAYS and Means Committee
not only voted down Mr.. Psyne's notion
but gave evidence OF their purpose 20 abol-
ish IN. present board, 81 least by refusing
10 make the Appropriation necsssary Tor
80 continuance. This course is eNTlainaDie
only on the ground that the Democratic
members have already received some ink
ling Of the facts which the Tariff Board
IS soon 10 report and that they object %
the truth. There IS. however, another mo
live which may have played secondary
mart This is the assistance which the Iarin
Board rendered the President 'vnen be vas
considering tho tariff bills passed by the
Democrats and Insurgents ~ the last se>-
sion. u vas this board. i- will b. recalled.
which rointed ont that ths cotton bin
paaed by that coalition would completely
undermine The entire system OF internal
revenue by admitting alcohol ~ rate far
below the internal revenue tax. In any
event. the action of tho Ways and Means
Committee does not look hopeful f"r tho
continuance OF the Tariff Board.
FOR NEW RUSSIAN TREATY. Mem
her. NJ the Senate who heard the Presi-
dents reference 10 me Russisr-JeVish
pa ssport problem to-day said the, his state
mon, made II necessary 20 wait until next
month 70 see Tha' progress could be made
r,. dipIor1afic regots tons before Congress
took snv action. some q them added
,,oue~er. that IN snv event tho treaty OF
is2a should be denounced and new one
negotiated n So place They say that many
~ its provisions are obsolete ana that n IS
f,adeoya.c 20 cover modern conditions
-vrsv vfl proesbl therefore urge the