The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-14
SCANDAL
AIRED IN THE HOUSE
Minority Leader Mann Scents a
Scheme to Make Political
Capital.
WOMAN IN THE CASE
Republicans Charge That She
Is Paid by the Democratic
Committee

scandal that VIII STIR up trouble between
Republican and Democratic leaders OF the
House is brewing because of the alleged
employment by the Committee on Ex-
pcndtures in the Interior Department, OF
which Representative Graham Of Illinois
is chairman. of Helen Pierce Gray. the
Minnesota woman who was attacked
yesterday by Representative Mann. the
Republican leader
The charge is made privately by Repub-
lican leaders that Mrs. Gray. who has
been acting in an advisory capacity with
the Graham committee. has been re-
i'nbursed for her labor by Representative
Lloyd of Missouri. chairman Of the Demo-
cratic Congressional Committee.
II is charged further that Mrs Gray
20, into the good graces of the House
leaders through II letter writteif to Speaker
Clark by the Democratic national COM
nitteeman for Minnesota.
The Republican leaders say in effect
that through Mrs. Gray and others who
AT. supposed to have knowledge Of
Indian affairs Chairman Graham. with
the consent Of the Democratic leaders. is
attempting Ia Use the pending Indian
inquiry for political purposes
Republicans also charge that certain
Democratic leaders have levie, or are
about To levy assessments against House
employees as a means of filling the
political war chest for the campaign Of
1912. They allegc that not only are the
Democrats determined to shake down"
house employees but that in line with
| The purpose TO make IA much calnpa ign
matter ss possible they have engaged the
services Of MIR Gray and other experts.
\ Republican leader said today that
h" knew Of his own knowledge that Mrs.
Gray had been receiving "a monthly com.
p.nsaiion from Chairman Lloyd. pre-
snmablv for her services with the Graham
committee.
The storm began Yesterday on the foot
of the House II was renewed TO- olay
when Representative Graham arose to
reply 70 'he charges mad" by Repre-
sentative Mann. Mr., Mann said yes-
terdsy thar l.. had been informed hat
Mrs. Gray was in the employ of tine
Graham committees. He charged further
that Mrs. Gray was the representativ.
of certain Indian tribes and that she
had used h"r af.il.ation with the Graham
committee to further he" own iniere
He insisted thar employment by III. wo
agencies was Inconsistent with good
s"rN Ice aud he demanded thar the Graham
COMMITTEES should summar!y dismiss
Mrs. Gray. Mr. Mann referred To sn
a'hdaNii hy Denonie. an indian. who
swOre. arc cor,!ing 10 Mr.. Mann that he
had paid Mrs. Gray slpD to represent She
a. Point" band Of Wisconsin Mr. Mann
charged that Denomie had demanded
that the money be returned. bur acting
upon tue advice Of Chairman Graham
| Mrs, GRAY refused 20 rive il Ip
la the debate to-day Mr.. Mann re-
, pea'"div askrd 10 b"> informed who had
re'm"lirsed Mrs. Gray for her services
with the Graham committee.
| When Mr. Graham tool. the floor he
! referred to the charge that he had adj
viSed Mrs. Gray to Keep the money paid
TO her by Drnomic
say that statement is absolutely nm
true. said MIR. Graham. Il never gave
such advaice Mrs Gray never talked TO
me about il. | now call upon the gentle
man to produce that affidavit and when
produced II II states what he saws il does
! ' say that the affidavit is false and the
affian, is either mistaken or "a falsifier"
Replying To Mr.. Graham. Representa- a :
tive Mann said that Denomie met Mrs.
Gray last August. that Mrs. Gray So
| iicitod employment with the La Pointe
| indians and that following the conference
Deno,n!e paid Mrs. Gray sl0o. Becoming
| suspicious Denomie stopped payment on
the check which however, was paid in
| advertcntly. Denomie, according TO MIR
Mann. then made an affidavit in which he
set forth the alleged facts. The bank
| that cashcd the check after notice IN
stop payment had been issued was unable
to induce Mrs, Gray to make reimburse
men.. Representative Mann said that
the bank cashier had been informed tina t,
Mrs. Gray refused to make payment on
the ground that she had been advised TO
take such "A course by Mr. Graham
Representatives Graham and Garner of
, Texas wanted to know the present where
abouts of the Denomie affidavit Mr..
Mann sal he had copy. hut did not know
where the original could be found. He
said hat evidence which he had submitted
| showed that Mrs. GRAY was connected in
some capacity with tho Graham com
nittee, using her official position for "the
purpose OF employment from those who be-
the committee she would have superior
influence" MIR Mann added:
1T is now the dnty of MIR. Graham not
only to disavow the statements made by
Mrs, Gray but 10 dispense with her ser
| vices with a reprimaud.
Mr.. Mann asked to be informed why
Mrs, Gray had been in attendance Oh the
committee
The committee hearings are opon -
replied Mr.. Graham. Mrs Gray never
came at the request Of the committee
who is paying Mrs, Gray" asked Mr.
Mann. Nobody seems willing to give
that information. Who paid the attorney
who appeared on the record as the al :
torney for the committee? That is what
| want to know"
"If public spirited citizens offer COM
pensation il is nobody else's affair" re-
torted MIR. Graham.
1T il an affair of Congress, returrad
Mr.. Mann I'VE are willing and able
To pay the expenses Of these invests
cations"
Republicans say that more will be heard
Of the case Of Mrs. Gray. They insist
that the Democratic Congressional Com
mittee. through Chairman Lloyd. has
retained Mrs. Gray and that this expls ins
tho reluctance Of Democrats to enliRhten
the House az to who he's reimbursed the
woman,
Asked to-day il Mrs. Gray had been
retained by the Democratic c Con ngrsssiona
COMMITTEES or himslef. Chairman Lloyd
said; Il do not care TO discuss the
matter"
Republicans recall an incident in de.
batc yesterday that they claim supports y
| their contention that Mrs GRAY In "A
| polit ic2l employee" Representative
Martin Of South Dakota asked Chairman
Lloyd il he would inform the House who
had paid Mrs, Gray
Il would rather not reply to that o,,cs
tion.' Mr.. Lloyd responded Mrs. G;ray
has been prominently ident filed with In
dian affairs for many years. She ha,
visited most OF the reservat ions and in he,
efforts TO right the wrongs of tho Indian,