The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-23
......'.........'.......-.. , .............. WISH ARNsSi-E|CERS TO TES7.1 ID J. s. READINESS FOR WAR Gardner Writes Secretary Garrison Asking His At
 titude on Proposed In-
 vestigatiOn

Washington, November 22.-tSpecial1 Whether Secretary Garrison voluntarily will permit officers of the army to testify preparedness of the United States for pos sibe war. or whether he is to shift to the committee the responsibility for call ing them, is question put up to Seore- tary Garrison in letter from Represent tative A. r. Gardner of Massachusetts Mir. Gardner is sanguine that the com luton for a commission to investigate the defensive and offensive strength of the nation.
 Tssidcs hfwting sesTcfsrss Y tlairlseF.- sssi Assistant Secretary Breckenridge to tes- tify, MT Gardner expresses belief that MT. Garrison deserves the confidence of the public" and adds that MT. Garrison ''abundantly possesses" his own.
 Gardner's Letter
 Based on an open letter published by Secretary Garrison on November II, Mir. Gardners letter reads as follows:
 November 21. 1914. My Dear MT. Secretary;
 '.1 have read your open letter published November 14, 1914. in which you take up my resolution providing for com mission to inquire into the adequacy of our army and navy to protect this coun- try
 'As is well known to us both, it will be necessary for the committee on rules of the House of Representatives to hold hearings and make a report before mem bers of Congress can get a chance to vote on this resolution, no matter how much they may desire to do so. Further more, as is also well known to us both, the committee on rules can absolutely pre- vent such vote by the simple device of falling to make any report at all.
 Now, in your letter you address your self particularly to the question of whether or not you will approve of army officers testifying before the committee on rules when the hearings are held.
 Before commenting on your views per init me to express the hope that you your self will be the very first witness before the committee and that Assistant Secre- tary Breckenridge will likewise consent to give his testimony. The fact that happen to belong to the republican party by no means forbids me to express openly my belief that you both deserve the con fidence of the public and that you abun- dantly possess mine
 Would Have Officers Testify
 Tn addition to extending an invitation to you and MT. Breckenridge l am invit- ing the testimony of a number of army officers, particularly we'll qualified to tes- tify as to the facts.
 T am prepared to admit that I am es- pecially anxious for the public testimony of 'our army and navy officers because believe that the facts which they are sure to disclose will be so astonishing as and force the hand of Congress in case it is reluctant to grasp the nettIe of ade- quate expenditure for our safety.
 Now to put it a little bluntly, the question arises. Will you authorize the appearance as witnesses of the army offi- cers whom l have inyited? Your open let ter is not quite clear on that point. In fact. I was little concerned to notice that you have pointed out the fact that the committee on rules has the right to summon any officers whom it sees fit to summon. Incontestably that is true; but l am somewhat apprehensive that your emphasis of the fact may signify belief on your part that the responsibility ought to rest with the committee on rules rather than with the Secretary of War. It surely would be quite unusual to require sum mons from the committee, would t not?
 T cannot remember that I ever heard of a member of Congres being obliged to ask committee to pass resolution sum- moning his witnesses for him. unless per chance they showed reluctance to testify voluntarily. I .cerainly hope that you will not insist on any such condition be- fore you authorize the officers of the army to testify.
 Plain Statements
 Let us be plain. Is it likely that the committee on rules will adopt resolu- ton summoning the army officers whom l have invited? Is it not desirable at all
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