Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-23
BR|sTL|NG LETTER SENT
TO sECRET TARY GARRISON
Know His Intentions Toward
Army and Navy Inquiry.
OF "wHITEwAsH"
-Pointedly Asks II Head of Wnr De-
partment VIII Permit Officers to
Testify Before Houae Committee
on Rules.
( Especial to the Times pIspatch.

IL. ~
WASHINGTON. November aa.--Rep-
resentativc A. T. Gardner, OF Massa-
chusetts, author of the resolution for
III commission to Investigate the needs
of the army nnd navy. In a bristling
letter to SECRETARY OF War Garrison.
10 lay put 3 t3e fate ofJthe inquiry up
| torthe head or the War Department.
Mr.. Gardner4asks the secretary point
blank IL he will permit officers OF the
army 70 testify before the Rules Com
mittee of the House on. the need Of
the Investigation, or IL he Intends not
TO cooperate.
The Representatives letter is n reply
TO the open letter OF the Secretary of
War on November II. In which Mr.. Gar
rison inferred that the Rules Commit
tee had the right to proceed as il saw
fit.
Mr.. Gardner says he hopes the sec
rotary viii be the very first witness
before the committee, and that Assist
ant Secretary Of War Breckinridge will
also consent TO appear
Besides, the Representative. urges,
he Is anxious to. have a large num-
Der of army experts on the stand
ESPECIALLY ANXIOUS
FOR THEIR TESTIMONY
II admit Lam especially anxious for
the public testimony o. our army and
navy officers, because believe the
facts they are sure to disclose will be
SO astonishing rs to challenge the at
tention, OF the country and force tho
hand of,ConGress In case II Is reluctant
TO grasp,thci nettle OF. adequate eNperIti-
ltu.c for our safety, says Mr.. Gardner
Nov TO put ito little bluntly, the
question arises, VIII you authorize the
appearance as witnesses. OF tho army
officers whom I have invited?. Your
ppentletter is not quite clear on that
point. In fact, ] was a little concerned
to notice that you. pointed out Jthe
fact that the Committee on Rules has
the rishtSto summon any officers whom
Il sees iii TO summon. .
Incontestably. that is, true; but
, am somewhat apprchensive that your
emphasis of the fact may signify a
belief on your part that the respon-
sibiltty ought to rest with the Com
mittee on Rules rather than with the
Secretary of War. II surely would be
quite unusual to-. require a summons
from the. committee, would 1t not?
II cannot rememhcr that ever heard
OF n member of f-Congress being obliged
to ask committee to pass resolu-
tion summoning his witnesses for him,
unless perchance they showed reluct-
ance to testify voluntnrily. certainly
hope that you will not insist on any
such condition before you authorize
the officers of the army to testify.
Let us be plain. 1t is likely that
the Committee on Rules will adopt Il
resolution suinmoning the army off,
GERS whom ! have invited. Is II not de-
sirable ut all hazards to keep this uues-
ton from being dragged into the vor-
tex OF party politics? We.in Washing
ton all know that the Committee OH
Rules is to-day. and has been always, a
party instrument. no matter, which
party Is In power.
EXPECTS COMMITTEE TO
REFLECT ADMINISTRATION
we realize that the present Com
mittce on Rules has hitherto reflected
with unusual nicety' the attitude of the
administration Of which you are a
part. suppose that the atmosphere be-
comes surcharSed with the idea that
the President deprccates all discussion
OF our military aud naval dctenses Is
IL Il fair presumption that tho Commit
tee on Rules Will summon army Of
.'cers to testify at my request? Yet,
without the consent OF the Committee
on Rules. there Is no way under the
sun by which my resolution can be
brought 10 q vote in the House Of Rep
rescntatives, a fact less we'll known to
the public than IL is to US who arc in
the public's pay.
III the sJousc of Representatives
sees no need of q commission of in
Quiry, and votes down tho resolution.
well and good. What those OF us who
are. Interested in this matter arc try
ing TO guard against is u possible ef-
fort to deprive the resolution of its day
Continued on Second PageD