The Washington times., 1915-03-08
Congressional Investigators
Think Forty Witnesses
Enough at Hearing.
WILL BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
Urge Merits of Question Be Pre-.
sented by Few Who Know
Facts of Situation.

The House members Of the joint COM
mittee named, to investigate the fscal
relations between the District and Fed.
eral governments will oppose a long
drawn-out inquiry, when hearings are
begun. and will seek a comparatively
brief but thorough probe.
Congressman Henry T. Rainey Of I'LL
nois. Warren Gard Of Ohio, and Henry
A. Cooper Of Wisconsin, who were
named last night by Speaker Clark. are
practically agreed that the investiga-
ton should not run along for two or
three months because Of the testimony
Of a hundred or more witnesses. It is
suggested that the various District Or
ganizations interested in the half-and-
half controversy ought to get together
and aid the committee to wind up its
inquiry with tbe testimony Of twenty to
forty witnesses. representative Of the
two sides Of the controversy.
Begin in September.
1t is practically certain that the in
quiry will begin not before September,
as the three House members approve
the tentative plans Of Senators Chiffon.
Salisbury. and Works to return to
Washington in the fall to begin the In
vestigation. A preliminary meeting OF
the entire committee is scheduled for
Il will oppose dragging out the in
vestigation for two OF three months. I"
said Congressman Rainey today. 1T
seems to me that the facts In this con-
troversy may be presented by a iozen
or two witnesses. and there is no heed
Of cumulative testimony. think the
investigators should discourage the vol
unteer testimony of men who have few
facts to present or who would merely
present facts already gone into by pre-
ceding witnesses. In other words. this
committee should seek facts and not nr-
gumsnts by citizens. officials. or legis-
lators. The entire question Is one of
fact. and. so far as I am concerned, I
controversy. and will render an i'm
partial recommendation"
Keeps Open Mind.
Congressman Gard suggested. that the
inquiry should require the testimony OF
more than forty witnesses at the out
side. AS a comparatively new member
of the House. Mr.. Gard said he held
an open mind on the half-and-half con-
troversy. Il can only promise the peo-
pie of the District and the Federal Gov
ernment to listen to the evidence care
fully and do my best to be fair and i'm
partial"
Congressman Cooper. who suggested
commission to Investigate the half.
and-half plan some time ago. said he Lao
not sought the appointment. but thai
GvNn lfn. orE hn1 In foI hnf he IN
dertake the talk.
Il am willing to do whatever work il
necessary said MIR. Cooper. Il canno
estimate at this time how long the in
quiry will continue. but agree that thu
committee should shorten the investi
cation rs much as possible. and at thu
same time guarantee thorouRhness. /
occurs to me that the two sides may b'
presented by few well-postcd men ant
1t is not necessary to hear scores o
testimony. | hardly think the inpuir!
will begin before next fall.
Are Not Prejudiced.
The three members named by Speak
Ell Clark are regarded as non-prejudicsd
lations between Uncle San and the DIS
trict. Mr.. Cooper is veteran OF TWEEN,
ty-two years service In the House and
is Progressive Republican. Mr.. Rainey
is one OF the ranking Democrats oi
the Ways and Means Committee and
has never taken an active part In the
half-an-half wfangle. Mr.. Gard has
not been a member of the House Ions
enough to become saturated with the
spirit Of the half-and-half controyers!
and he brings judicial mind to the
inquiry. Mr., Gard. a member Of the
Judiciary Committee. was formerly a
Judge in Ohio. The three House mem
:Jcrs are theI efore unbiased and al,
though thev have been bystanders II
the half-and-half fight in Congress they
profess that like Majority Leader I'm
derwood. I'VE have been much con,
fused by the ronfiicung claims ard are