The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-18
Admittance of Hearsay Tes-
timony Causes Split in
Committee
SWITZER OBJECTION
TO APPEAR IN RECORD
Controversy Grows Out of Evidence
as 10 Raid of the Miners Head
quarters by Sheriff's
Posse

Hancock. Mich. February 15.-Chair-
man Taylor a democrat. today refused
to entertain the motion of Represen-
tative Switzer, republican, that hear
say testimony presented by striking
miners regarding alleged violations OF
constitutional rights OF citizens be ex-
euuged from the record. Debate on the
question grew acrimonious. Mr.. Tay-
lor charged that Mr.. swltzer was at
tempting to diseredit the work of the
committee by taking the position that
1t had no authority TO make a full in
vostigation.
You can object as much as you
please Mr. Taylor exclaimed. "but if
YOU object TO an investigation of the
conditions here YOU ought not to be on
this committees"
Mr. Swit2er denied he objected to an
investigation but he insisted that a
limit should be fixed so that every
thing offered would not be admitted
into the record
Sent to Investigate
AS chairman of this committees ren-
1
the House Mr. TAYLOR said. II will
say that anything that goes into the
record will GO back to Congress. We
were sent here TO investigate condi-
tons with view of providing remedial
legislation and IL we cut out anything
tnat might throw light on the situation
We would be severely criticized"
DO / understand YOU to say that
this is a partisan committee aud thas
this is a partisan investigation in.
quired Representative Howell. the 9th.
er republican member
NO. the chairman replied, but when
a minority member tries 10 discredit
the committee by saying it Is exceed.
ing its proper limits il is time for
the majority to take decisive action
Mr.. Howell said the experience OF
centuries had shown that the rules OF
lovidencc afford the best means OF con
.ldaoting an Investigation of this chas.-
actei
'Nlr. Swit2er has a right 10 ask 10
have anything stricken out Mr. Tay-
lor said, 'and his objection will appear
in the record"
SHOULD It not be stricken out be-
cause I ask it, Mr.. switzer asked.
No. was the reply.
How Dispute Arose
he discussion arose while Wafno
Nyreno a striker was giving tasti-
mony as to a raid in which members
OF the Citizens Alliance" acting as A
Ghcriffs posse, raided the Western
Federation of Miners headquarters at
South Range. following the shooting of
a deputy sheriff. who had been search
ing 1t for arms The witness said he
was beaten by man, described by 9TH
ors as a deputy sheriff Mr.. Switzer
asked that this testimony be stricken
out because the witness personally did
not know his assailant was a deputy.
Allan +. Rees a mining company at
tofuey, said assaults and violations of
personal rights We're in the province
Of the state and that the federal au-
thorities had no jurisdiction.
"Do you think If we find that for
period of six months" Mr.. Taylor
asked, "a condition of outlawry has ex-
lsted here and we discovered there has
been violation OF Individual rights,
we cannot report it to Congress?'
Yes Mr.. Rees replied. '1f there has
been no specific violation OF the con-
lstitutional federal statutes
Ms. Howell remarked that counsel
seemed to agree that the committee has
the authority to investigate the indus
trial situation here and he asked IT,
Il was not important to Congress to
know something about the administra-
tion Of Justice.
Mr. Rees said he was not prepared
to argue the point. but he thought Con-
grcss should be informed on this sub
iect through the federal courts.
Former Congressman Victor Berger
OF Milwaukee appeared before the conf
inittee today as a member Of the ex-
iecuuve committee of the socialist party
land denied that socialism was respon-
fible for the strike