The Washington herald., 1911-01-27
BENNETT ATTACKS THE COMMISSIONERS
Continued from Page One.

was that it related to the appointment OF
an assessor in absolute violation of
law land that having called the Presi-
dents attention to the violation of the
statute in writing, he was not in any par
ticular hurry to take up other accusa-
tons until some attention was paid to
that
''The appointing of an assessor and
the violating of a law in regard to as
sessmcnts are very different things" inter-
rupted Mr.. Campbell. of Kansas.
Mr.. Bowers then asked Mr.. Bennett to
indicate how the Commissioners had
been able to put into effect the policy
that the gentleman had just mentioned.
if assessments in the District were
made by an appointed board.
Because they appoint assessors who
have that same fixed idea" answered
Mr.. Bennett, land that appointing of an
assessor in violation of the law was
what I called the attention of the Presi-
dent to in the letter which he referred
to them
Insists LAW Is Violated.
Pressed closely by Mr. Rothermel and
others as to whether he believed the
policy was fradulently inaugurated, M.
Bennett said: II do not intend to char
acterize it. ! said that the Commission
ers. in my judgment. ought to carry out
the laws Congress enacted. If they be-
lieved the other policy was the better
policy. even if they were right, they had
no right to inaugurate it until Congress
enacted statute.
Defended by Representative Burke.
Representative Burke, after comforting
with Commissioner Johnston, made refu-
tation Of the Bennett charges. He said
that he had been informed by the Com
missioners that there was no difference
among them with reference to the meth
cd of assessing property in the Dis
trict of Columbia Citing the fact that
the assessors were appointed for life,
Mr. Burke said that the Commissioners
held no influence or control over them
whatever. The appointment of the two
assessors named by the present Com
missioners. he said. was made through
promotion. they having held subordinate
positions in the Office in which vacancies
were created.
These gentlemen" said Mr.. Burke.
need no vindication from those who
know them. Their integrity and their
devotion to their country have been
proven too we'll in the past TO permit a
doubt to be raised regarding their con-
duct in this case. I hope the Record
will not contain these aSperSlonS with
out correction.
To Mr.. Burke Mr.. Bennett replied:
Il am quite calm. There is no heat of
the moment far as | am concerned.
When these Commissioners give a reply
to the letter which I addressed to the
President of the United States six weeks
or two months ago, 1 will consider the
rest OF it
Mr.. Gardner's Final Word.
At this point the debate drifted into a
consideration of the question Of assess
rrents. but without further personal ref
erence to the Commissioners. except that
Representative Gardner made this state
ment:
The thing that makes this a serious
thing in this Congress. and for the
District as we'll as the Congress, is
that either by collision with the as
SCISSORS. or by instruction, the as
SCISSORS are violating the law know
ingly and purposely. II that is the
case. it is not for the Commissioners
to investigate: it is for the gentleman
from New York either to make good
Or withdraw his charges"