The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-04
SENATOR THREATEN
TO CHASTISE WITNESS.
Tcnnesseean Intensely Annoyed by
What He Regards rs Impertinence
of Base Sorting Company Head.
COMMITTEE ROOM IN TURMOIL
Nine Firms with Representatives In
Council of National Defense Said to
Have Share OF Government Con-
tracts.

Washington. Jan. "A near fist
fight was staged before the senate mill
tary affairs committee, late this after
noon, as a climax to charges con-
corning secrecy in the awarding OF
army contracts.
Senator Mcclellan, Of Tennessee,
threatened to chastise Charles Essen
man, who was testifying as chairman
of the supply committee of the coun-
Gil of national defense.
Il asked the chairman of the COM
iaittee to make the witness answer
properly. cried Senator Mcclellan
If the witness does not do so. will
take steps myself TO make him"
Il am not afraid" said Eisenman.
II want the witness to answer, re-
peaked Mcclellan, land 1 don't mind
saying I'll take the matter in my own
hands"
You're not threatening the chair
man, are you?" asked Senator Cham-
berlaiu, OF oregon. in an amused fash-
ion.
NO, sir. but / don't want any re-
And / don't want him to keep hurting
himself at committee members
The committee room was in tur-
MOL. Senators kept bobbing up and
down. while Senator Mcclellan and
Eisenman glared at each other across
the table. Senator Chamberlain
banged his gavel. The stenographer
pleaded that he could not hear more
than one person at time. Finally
com par alive calm was restored
The purchasing by the supply conf
nittee for the army was the target
of inquiry all afternoon. In answer
to Senator McKellar's questions OF
yesterday. Eisenman produced papers
showing what firms represented upon
the committee had benefited in con-
tracts.
Nine firms which have representa-
tives upon the committee have re-
ceived $i2s, 900. 600 OF government
contracts OF this sum. contracts FOR
S14 1000. 900 have been awarded to the
firms since their representatives be-
came members. The contracts. how
ever. are said to be within the strict
construction of the law, for It has
been testified they refrained from ad-
vising upon contracts In which their
firms were concerned.
is II kpOd pbEiiitSE W NOEA@O+NA 80
details7" asked Senator Wadsworth
of New York, regarding the secrecy
surrounding contracts with the Base
Sorting company, which took the gov
eminent rags. =
II have never seen an industry III
my life so ramified with Jealousies ano
mistrusts az the rag business" replied
Eisenma1,
We'll, you say there are mistrust'
and iealousies. / submit for your fur
Their guidance that you famed th'
flames of this mistrust by eoncealment
No harm could have come of pub
] lefty"
Various letters were read complain
ing that no advertisement OF govern
ment awards was made Questions
were directed more and more swiftly
at the witness. He answered each a
great length. until checked in his sen
fences Finally ne said with grea
heat;
/ do you mean that we deal secret
IL with firms? Do you think that's
fair? l said that yesterday, and go
called down for it; I'm willing to b.
called down again, I'm not here Il
| be impugned or insulted."
| I'm not going to let the witness
say impugned his motive" said Sen
q St0r FreSilnEnuSSeH, OF New Jersey
w no WAS cross examining at the time
| Il addressed myself TO Senator Nc
Kellar," said Eisenman.
! I'm not going TO allow you 10 sa,
| that to me either" said the Tennessee
senator. II think your statement i'm
pudent II you can't conduct your
self properly. I'm going to ask tina
you be made TO do SO. | appeal to tn
chair
/ I'm inclined TO think you're boil
to blame" interiected Senator Cham
berlain. Il think your question 4
him implied he had secret agreement
with certain firms"
| Il don't admit that" responded Sen
ator Mcclellan: II was asking abou
the general policy of secrecy"
Well, we're not getting anywher
this way said Senator Weeks. o
| Massachusetts. Let's conduct tn
hearing with questions by one senate
at time
by this time disorder was complete
The stenographer was in perfsc
stew The gavei smashed down an,
questions went on, but In a minute
Senator Mcclellan got up and mad
has remark about being quite Willing
to correct Eisenman physically.
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