American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-02-22

OF IN" hearings or no" AutJ tohIu "
obtained. and / told them 10 go home.
The chairman says these hearings
"~iil be printed. 4" and the minority are
asked 10 agree on a date for the on
slderatlon Of the bill when they have
not even had an opportunity 10 read
the printed hearings. much less 10
examine the printed bill. which only
saw the light OF day yesterday evening
and Waa reported this morning
n II not disclosing any confidential
act OF .he committee TO state that the
most pcrfuctOry session vas held; the
bill was not read and the minority
was simply afforded an opportunity
20 record their dissent
have been a member OF the finance
committee. Mr.. President. for 10 or
20 years. and for a period OF that time
I was chairman OF the committee but
DO not recall an instance where
hearings. supposed 10 be open TO the
public ana 10 those Interested. held
a. thc expense OF the contingent fund
ol the senate. with photographers tax
lug the testimony. were not held be-
foe the full committee. Democrats and
Republicans. ! myself know that
when I was chairman OF the commit
Zee hearings we're held for months on
the reciprocity bin and other tariff
measures pending before the commit
Tee. and In every case the records OF
The committee Will show that the then
minority were invited and that many
" them we're glad 20 attend. The
hearings we're held with open doors.
With scores Of people present. the
testimony taken, aud that testimony
will indicate that the then Democratic
minority had ample opportunity TO
cross examine the witnesses, and did
20 oross-examine them. I recall tnat
the senator from Mississippi (Mr. VIII
llams) was exceedingly active on more
than n occasion In cross-examining
business men who appeared before the
committee, but We tho minority have
had 40 such opportunity or courtesy
extended 10 as.
I 40 not rise. Mr.. President. by way
o. complaint. because l have become
&c Housed 10 these methods Of the ma
iOrity and cheerfully and thankfully
take whatever crumbs may fall from
The table but | do feel tina. q Is my
duty to call the attention OF Inc coun-
try 20 the methods by which us lsgls.
latlon comes before the senate. II IL
an old story. and ! shall not elaborate
further on a.
The %cotioquy, not an Of which is re-
produced. disclosed that the only mo-
tice the members OF the minority ever
had OF the meetings OF the committee.
or the hearings before Il. had been
cleaned from the newspapers OF the
city OF Washington; that there had
never been a meeting OF the full com
mittoe. that three members. all from
The majority. we're appointed TO draft
The bin that members OF the minority
we're never invited TO a meeting OF the
committee, nor to a hearing before n.
That members OF the minority were
not called in until the bill was com
pleted. and ready 20 be intro.
duccd. and that then they had no
opportunity 20 read the bill, that man.
~ufacturers who came to Washington
20 be heard could not learn when OF
where the committee hearings we're
being held and finally. that the bin
Was introduced ON tho 18th and lts
sponsors asked for a vote ON Il on
the i7th-a bin which proposed Il
levy a tax on every business firm OF
corporation which had a capital stoci
OF $4,000 or more.
In view OF tho fact hat congress ox
plros by limitation at noon ON the On
OF March. aud hat there are a larg'
uumber OF other measures OF grea
Importance that must be disposed o..
very little consideration can be givei
20 this important blu. Two week.
would not be ample 20 permit It's be
ing given the Kind OF consideration
which would show It's effect upon IN.
country
Yet three men drafted the measur
after a few perfunctory hearings iron
which interested parties were exclud
ed a majority OF the members OF IN
committee met and had the bill rea
once. and voted TO recommend Il 70
J, passage. the chairman OF the CON
mitiee introduced the bill on the iStl
asked for It's consideration on the l7tl
and tried TO advances the date 10 Oh
18th. without a single member OF IN
, senate except the majority member
1 OF the committee. ver having Ia
, an opportunity TO even read the bin
i much less to study It's effects.