Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-02
SAYS FORMER RAN AWAY
Latter Accused of Having ''Rattled
Around in Congress.
READY TO CALL WITNESSES
Commissioners Declare in Statement
Their Desire to Be Fair to
ALI Interested Parties,


charges against Samuel T. Kalbfus.
wound up the hearing today before the
Commissioners.
In his references to both Horstmann
and Bennett. Mr.. Hogan made free use of
adjectives. He emphasized the word for
mer In connection with the fact that Mr..
Bennett is no longer a representative.
and said that when the fortunate peo-
pie Of the seventeenth district of New
York exchanged Bennett for Henry
George, jr., they discarded a reedbird
and received an eagle In exchange
The attorneys who have appeared be-
fore this board said Mr.. Hogan in be-
ginning his remarks, and mentioning the
excise board, have uniformly testified
to the fact that there has never been any
discrimination in the decisions of the
board and that there has been always the
impression Of fair and square dealing.
But | am not here to defend the excise
board The issue that concerns me is the
character of Samuel T. kalbfus as
member of the excise board.
Did Not Know Kalbfus.
But first Of all l would like to make
reference to the part played in this mat
ter by that now politically dcfunct con-
gresham. former Representative Bennett
'Bennet did not know Mr.. kalhtus az a
man or as an Official. lie did not even
know Horstmann, as 1t mas been shown
HorStmann was introduced to him once
only. When there was placed in his
nands the means TO blacken tho character
OF man of good repute he did not scru-
pie to use them. As lawyer he did not
attempt to investigate the irforma ton
and as an elder OF the church he did not
hesitate 10 become the public medium for
SANDER. He gave the widest publicity for
his remarks. and HorStmann himself has
said here that he went to Bennett 10 gain
this publicity. Horstmann took his smut
and filth 10 place from whicn IL could he
flung without being reached in defense.
ihere Is some comparison between Horst
mann and Bennett Horstmann came
mere to this investigation, but where is
nc now? He came to run away. aud Ben
net refused to come at ALA likely pair"
Mr.. Hogan read from the letter from
the former New York representative,
where he refused to appear. and blamed
the commissioners for disparity in the
tax affairs of the District
"BenEet blames the Commissioners for
tax matters, he continued .'Bennet
didn't know that the power Of assess
ments is placed absolutely in the hands
of the assessor and the BOARD of assist
ant assessors. He did not know that the
legislative body in which he ratified
around for term had given this power
to the assessors. Yet Bennett assumed
wrote that letter. probably with a self
satisfied chucklc, to the Commissioners.
Lots Of Misinformation.
There is no limit to the misinforma-
tion that statesmen out of a job can
acquire. Among the things he does
not know are the lines Of that greatest
of all geniuses. which are:
" He that tilches from me my good
name takes that which none the least
enrches him and makes me poor in
deed
Il love that word former in connec-
tion with the part this representative
played. He has done his work, and
now he has gone, and not one act of
constructive StateSmanShip stands to
his credit. lie is known only as a
character asSa sSn. and when he Yves
replaced by the fortunate constituents
of the seventeenth New York district
by student and a thinker. Henry
George. ir. they lost reed bird and
gained an eagle
He Went on 10 comparec Mr.. kaibfus
forty-five years with Mr.. Horstmanns 5
thirty -four. and then said concerning Mr..
Horstnann.
cept that from which he how hides. lii
his testimony lie said, I am here "A
witness. Then where is he nov? Where
has he been since he skunk from this room
under cross-eXaminatlon: II" started
out to be a Snug. self-satisfied public re-
former and henefactor. and winds up iii
a pusilanimous funk. He started out to
wreck the fair name of an honest official
and now cravenly seeks to hide his own
affairs behind the rules Of evidence
Attitude of Commissioners.
When the hearing opened this morning
neither Mr.. Gatey nor Mr.. Horstinann
was present. Commissioner Rudoiph
made this statement for the board of
Commissioners:
III Preston Galley, counsel TO-. M-
Horstmann at the last meeting Of The
board or the commissioners IN this case
addr dressed the Commissioners for the tirst
time, protesting against his client ben.
again placed upon the stand. To- the rca-
-, a.,-.i tina. ueilesed i'll was tne
purpose OF opposing counsel 10 question
his client upon the latters p,ivat. life.
Now II Is the understanding or this
board that the questions proposed to
be asked by opposing counsel related
to matters important 10 he known in
with this investigation.
They are therefore prepared. If oppos-
ing counsel still so desires to sum-
ME-. put tHSS VIII
not require him to answer, nor do
they desire that he be asked questions
that are not pertinent to the subjects
OF this inquiry-ques.ions. for example.
dealing with the private life of Mr..
Horstmann and not connected with the
discharge of his duties while an en-
Move of the excise board. or with the
action of that board in discharGins
Mr.. Horstmann.
The board asks whether counsel
for Mr. kalbfus desires Mr. Horstma mn
to be called.
Mr.. Hogan made few remarks, short
and 10 the point. He said il was imma-
terial to him whether OF not Mr.. Horst
mann appeared
COMMISSIONER Rudolph proceeded:
The board was surprised To hear Fl.
Preston Galley. counsel for Mr.. Horst
mann. when, for the first and last time
lie addressed the board. insinuate that his
nriyileges before the board had been in
any deeree less an he desired.
"A place was assigned MIR. Galley at
tho table of the Commissioners. And IL
xy.a known to the mmissoners that
he was freely counseling with and ad-
yising MIR. White. the assistant corpora
zion counsel detailed by the Commits
sIners to examine witnesses.
Preferred to Be Listener
I'm reply to an invitation by the presi-
- -I (.att Low ,itH.J .,r