New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
RULES DEMOCRATS
SQUELCH GARDNER
He Will Insist on Meeting
of the Entire Com
mittee.
WILL PUT ALL THE
MEMBERS ON RECORD
Tells Henry He May Damn"
Movement, but Not
Dam" Ii.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Dec. SIN compliance
with the wishes Of President Wilson,
Chairman Henry of the House Rules
Committee to-day placed "the cold hand
of death" on the Gardner resolution, to
appoint special commission to inves-
tigate the unpreparedness of the army
and navy for warfare. The Democrats
of the Rules Committee, taking their
cue from the President, declined to
grant any hearing whatsoever, and KEEP
resentative Gardner was advised to
this effect tonight by Chairman Henry.
Mr.. Gardner, in caustic reply, In
formed Mr.. Henry that he wanted &C
ton by the entire Rules Committee,
and not by the Democratic majority.
He insisted upon meeting oh the COM
mittee, that there might be an aye and
no vote on the issue Of national de-
fence, and said that for the first time
in history a committee had denied
hearing to a member Of Congress on
his own resolution.
That the action of the majority of
the Rules Committee saved the admin
istration from having its supporters
face a record vote on the resolution
was emphasized by Mr.. Gardner.
The correspondence was the prelude
to a speech Mr.. Gardner will make IN
the House on THURSDAY. when he will
attack the position of the Rules Com
mittee and the administration. On
Thursday Mr.. Gardner will also answer
those sections of the Presidents mes
sage which relate to the army and navy
increases.
Chairman Henry, in his letter to Mr.
Gardner, said:
"The Committees on Military Affairs
and Naval Affairs are now in daily ses-
SIGN considering matters pertaining to
the military and naval strength OF TIE
country, and it is within their lurls-
diction to determine the matters raised
by your resolution and in your letter
The administration, as well ls the ma
jcrity members of the Rules Commit
tee. have the greatest confidence in the
wisdom and integrity of purpose III
these respective committees, and think
that your proper forum for a hearing
would be before the regularly consti-
tuted committees of the House.
In his reply Representative Gardner
wrote:
"You, | know, are sufficiently famil-
lar with the laws of the House of
Representatives to understand that
you cannot take such a step without
first calling a meeting of your commit
tee. This you have not done.
"If you desire to pigeonhole my res
olution without a hearing you I'M
doubtedly have the votes to do so, but
you must first call a meeting of your
committee, and at that meeting Con-
gresham Lenroot, of Wisconsin, will
require you all to go on record.
"You refer me for a forum to the
Committees on Naval Affairs and Mill
tary Affairs. By this device you ex-
empt the supporters Of the President
from exposure on the cold hillside of
yea and nay vote in the House. Mem
bers, and there are many of them, who
have promised their constituents to
vote for an independent investigation
will be protected, and all will go as
merry as a marriage bell. Have you
not overlooked the fact that the COM
mittees handling Notifications and the
sundry civil bill likewise have finger
in our military defence pie, and that
all the corresponding committees of the
Senate must also be enlightened, each
in its own particular forum? Have
you not further overlooked the fact
that the various conference committees
are more powerful than all, and that
those committees of conference settle
most of the questions in secluded
hooks, where none but the Almighty
can see, and He seldom cares to do so ?
give prominent Secretaries of War
and the Navy have signified their inten-
tion to testify before an Independent
investigating committee. They are ex-
Secretaries Dickinson, Meyer, Bona
parte, Wright and Stimson-two Re-
publicans, two Democrats and Pro-
gressive. Ex-Secretsry Dickinson, for
| instance, has clear idea of the man
ner in which the army and navy ought
to cooperate. Do you think he should
| be required to come from Chicago
eight times, when a single trip would
suffice? Would he care to be harried
| by eight different committees of the
| House and the Senate and the confer
ence?
"Do you think that those eight indie
pendent committees could work out as
convincing plan for our national de-
fence as could one single commission
| Suppose that these committees dis
agree, will the public be any further
ahead?
Friend Henry, you have been as
signed too big task. You cannot dam
this movement, as much as you may
\ damn i'll"