The Washington herald., 1912-01-31
TARIFF BOARDS
REPORTS IGNORED
-EBEEEzER HILL.
Connection Member Charges
Democrats with Deceit and
Palmer with DiscOurtesy.
Eoss CALLED FALsIFIER
Representative Cooper, Aiding in
Attack, Says Executive Know
ingly Perverted Facts.
Eoss CALLED FALSIFIER

Relieved OF the restricting five-minute
rule, which Representative Underwood
enforced during the debate on the new
steel schedule last Monday, Representa-
tive Ebenezer Rill. OF Connecticut, yes
terday charged Representative Palmer
Democrao, of Pennsylvania, with an
unprecedented act Of bad taste in read
ing private correspondence publicly on
the floor of the House. and alleged that
the entire Democratic committee had de-
Iiberately suppressed the reports Of the
tariff board, and had denied the public
all access to their proceedings yester-
day afternoon. Supporting Mr.. Hill was
Representative Cooper, OF wisconsin,
who accused Gov. Eugene Foss OF lying.
Representative Hnrs address occupied
nearly three hours and fairly bristled
with charges OF all kinds. Frequently
the Democrats, stung by his taunting re-
marks. spraug to their feet TO reply.
With a single exception they were badly
worsted in these verbal encounters.
Fitzgerald wOrated I'm Debate.
Representative Fitzgerald, chairman Of
the Democratic Committee on Appropria-
tons, who engaged Mr.. Hill in debate,
was drawn into admitting that he had
only read a synopsis OF the tariff boards
wool report after he had declared, IN a
reply to the Connecticut Congressman's
direct challenge that he would vote for
any bill passed by a Democratic Ways
and Means Committee"
During Mr.. Hilrs speech. which was
brought about by the reading on Monoay
Of personal letter from one of his con-
stituents by Mr.. Palmer. other members
on the Republican side Of the House
Joined in the discussion. among them
Representative Cooper, who is an insur-
gent.
Mr.. Cooper, in questioning Mr. HIn
| concerning a pamphlet he read as a
! portion of the literature disseminated
1 by Representative Eugene Foss during
his campaign for governor, charged
that the present Democratic governor
OF Massachusetts, had uttered a 'delib-
crate and willful untruth" when he
made some Of his statements.
Charges Foss with FaIsehood.
Gov. Foss," said Mr.. Cooper. point
ing 10 the paper held by Mr.. Hill,
could have made himself perfectly IA
miliar with the facts OF the defeat Of
the tariff report in 1910 had he 80 de-
sired. The entire matter Is covered
in the Congressional Record. In as
serting. therefore, that a Republican
Senate and not Democratic flIbuster
was responsible for the defeat, 1t is ap-
parent that the governor uttered a
willful and deliberate untruth.'
Mr.. Hill. in commenting on the read
ing OF letter from a constituent by
Mr.. Palmer. said:
The action OF the gentleman from
Pennsylvania Is unprecedented in this
House. That a member of Congress
should publicly, and without asking
permission, read from a purely private
and personal communication of an
other, is an act which, believe, has
never been done before"
Continuing his remarks, Mr.. Hill ac-
cused the Democrats of playing politics.
and OF practicing q system which was
intended to fool the people. He quoted
extracts from speeches delivered by Mr..
Underwood, Speaker Clark. and others
during the consideration OF the Payne
Aldrich tariff, in which they warmly
urged the creation of a tariff board which
should report facts upon which Congress
might draw conclusions.
Have Ignored Important Facts.
You have had that report IN your pos
session for thirty days" said Mr.. Hill,
and you have chosen not only TO dis
regard its information-the most wonder
full ever gathered in the history OF the
world-but you have eliminated the issue
of copies to a number utterly inadequate
for the demands OF those who desire 10
study this question.
You waste money on countless inyes-
legations, and yet deprive members Of
Congress of a fund Of information which
should be filed with facts of vital Inn
portance in the consideration Of the tariff
question"