Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-09
SECRET SESSIONS
BARRED BY HOUSE
Lobby Investigation to Be
Open Is Decision After
Long Wrangle.
QUESTION OF ATTORNEY
is GIVEN CONSIDERATION
Aulhall Charges Against Member
Causes Warm Debate on
the Floor.

the Floor.
After two hours OF sparring, taikins.
backing and flling. the House TODAY
mad determined that the proposed lobby
Investigation committee, stiil to be au-
thorized. should have no secret ses-
sions for the hearing Of witnesses.
That was all that had been accom-
pifshed with the Henry resolution to
investigate the Mulhall charges at a
late hour today. A big fight was
started when Representative Mann OF
Illinois forced the House to reconsider
the Levy amendment which deprived
the committee OF attorneys In the
speechmaking Mr.. Decker of Missouri
declared that some Of the members OF
the House are trembling under the pub
lished Mulhall letters.
Urges Open Meetings.
When Representative Henry called up
the lobby investigating resolution the
nrst amendment to be read was that OF
representative Coopers. providing open
meetings for hearing witnesses and taking
testimony, SO that there would be full
publicity
Mr. Cooper said II should not be left
20 70 any committee to determine whether
its meetings should be open or secret
There was a secret meeting Of the Sem
ate committee yesterday" said Repre-
sentative Murdock.
This isn't the Senator cried Repre-
sentative Bartlett of Georgia
Representative Fitzgerald said that the
attitude OF many members OF Congress
concernlng the secrecy of meetings gave
the country a false impression. and that
he would vote against compelling the
ings.
Representative Cooper said the public
ity given to the Pinchot committee was
the only thing that led to justice" be-
cause OF the public sentiment aroused by
| the publicity given to the testimony
Il don't understand why any one
should oppose publicity unless he has
some friend he wants to shield" added
Representative Cooper.
Representative Fitzgerald retorted
tnat II his mind operated as does Rep
res:ntative Cooper's ,he would have his
Il have no friend and I don't want 10
| stand for secret meetings The gentle
| man seems to Intimate that there are
members here who are OF such char.
| acter that they ought to be investi-
gated. II I was Of the same opinion I
would be afraid to associate with INV
| associates in the House for fear or
smfrching my own rectftude"
Mann Reads Mulhall Letters.
Representative Mann read some of the
Mulhall letters. speaking of the way
the National Association Of Manufac-
turers caused the election of vreeland
OF New York and Bannon Of Ohio. and
OF their work on the judiciary commit
tee.
nd
judiciary committee" said Mr.. Mann
That is a bald lie. Mr. Bannon had
been on the judiciary committee for
several years, and was not reelected
There are lies upon lies in this thing"
Mr.. Mann went on to show that in
this particular instance the Mulhall
charges do not run true to facts as
he pointed out errors in names and
dates
Every word OF the article referring to
the judiciary committee is a bald, open
falsehood, and / doubt not that the other
statements concerning the present MEM
oership of the House are lies" There
was applause.
Representative Henry read portions OF
statement by Col Pearre of Cumber-
land, Nd. formerly a representative back
ing up some of the special privilege
charges. The Pearre statement said that
the National Association of Manufac-
turers had conspired with Speaker Can
non to remove Pearre from the judiciary
committee in 1905.
Supports Pearre Statement.
Representative Henry worked up con-
siderable enthusiasm on the subject Of
Col. Pearre. supporting the Pearre
statement to some extent asking for
able, courageous men to go to the
bottom of the subject"
Representative Cooper then read some
Of the charges against Sharlay af Kan
lucky and others, and said that the
statement by the New York World
that a careful investigation of Mr..
Sherley's acts and character showed
that as far as Mr.. Sherley is concerned
the charges are as thin air
Mr.. Cooper paid a high tribute to the
fearlessness OF American Newspapers.
which are free to print what they be-
lfeve in order that Americans be inform
ed. He said that papers had been ar
raigned for printing these outrageous
charges against congressman.
But he added. mo one here comes
forward to denounce the papers which
make charges against bank examiners.
Docs the gentleman think any one who
calls Mulhall liar ought TO serve on the
committee?'
The House voted then. before Mr..
Cooper had a chance to make much of
reply.
The vote for public meetings was an
overwhelming one.
Wants Vote Reconsidered
Representative Mann then moved to
reconsider the vote by which the COM
mittee has no power to employ legal as
sistance. The vote was taken last
Monday This precipitated a long and
dry discussion OF parliamentary practice.
II would not like to see the investi-
eating committee have to rely on en-
ployed counsel" said Mr.. Mann, but l
don't think the House ought TO compel
the committee to do all this work wilh-
out any legal assistance"
HAS the Senate LOBBY committee en-
ployed counsel?" asked Representative
Hay of Virginia.
."The gentleman can answer that"
said Mr.. Mann
.'The Senate has not employed coun-
sell" answered Mr.. Hay.
I'VE hope the report will carry con-
fidence" continued Mr.. Mann. We have
already in the House shown lack of con-
fidence by forcing open meetings"
Representative Garrett reminded the
House that Mr.. Mann had said that il a
"bang-up. genuine investigation Is to
he had, there had better be no lawyers
on 1t at ALL
Yves. but / have changed my mind"
snapped Mr.. Mann. Wise men change
their minds and fools can't