The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1919-08-07
CoN0RESSI ONAL. INvESTl-
[ GATORS STRIKE 4 LIVE
IN t4s. OM6


Cummins, chairman Of the Demo
cratic National Committee, called BE-
fore the House subcommittee investi
eating aircraft expenditures, to testi
~ under oath tonight why he hat
told the Publicity Bureau of his or
Ranization to brand proposed com
mittee trip to the Pacific Coast as :
"junket," took full responsibility fol
his statement, and declared it was
not circumstance to what would
come later.
From the moment he entered the
committee room and introduced him
self to the members, demanding the
explanation, until he went away
Cummings continually was smiling
whje Chairman Frear pounded the
table with great heat and stopped the
proceedings to have certain replies
stricken from the record.
With mock courtesy Cummings,
turning to the chairman and address
ing him as my good fellow" said
that he knew before he arrived that
he would be unable to satisfy the
Republicans. There were one or two
sharp retorts from Chairman Frear,
to one of which the witness, lighting
4 cigar from another and still sinil-
ing, declared, "My, wasn't that a del
icate thrust"
AT the outset Cummings told the
committee that while he hadtnot read
the particular article to which the
Republicans took offense he quite
approved it, except that it was not
vigorous enough. 1t was during this
questioning that Chairman Frear
told the stenographer not to permit
certain statements to remain in the
record, to which the witness replied
that in a court Of justice he would
have more rights.
Finally, after a sharp wrangle,
Cummings said that he understood
the committee contemplated West
ern trip to look into spruce condi-
tions relating to aviation when all of
this had been gone over by Charles
E. Hughes. :.
There have been other inquiries"
the witness continued, "and this.
whole subject has been canvassed
until it is threadbaEe."
SIS it fair to this, committee when
it is ordered to make the trip to call
1t . junket RI Chairman Frear asked.
4 think So" Cumnaings replied, 1T.
is perfect folly to spend money on .
trip. of this character when you
ought really to send public acount-
ants, and when there are so many
other problems, including the high
cost of living, demanding considera-
tion."
"The Republican organization" the
witness went on, "has Nindulged in
plenty of SANDER directed at the
President of the United States and
you should be sportsmen enough to
stand mild criticism. This isn't al
marker to what's coming"
"If you do there will be an investi-
cation by the House" the chairman
"Fine,s the witness replied. 81
have quite enjoyed myself this even
ing" a.
In commencing the public service
of Hughes, who conducted the air
craft inquiry; Cummings said the diff
ference between Republican leaders
in Congress and the President was
that the President had selected for |
the inquiry a man of known impair
tiality, while the other was purely |
political investigation. /
Representative Magee {Rep OF
New York, asked Cummings for a |
yes or no answer bearing on the war |
and the resultant sale
of army food.
"Why, that's a trick question" the
witness replied. "It's like asking .
man if he has quit beating his wife"
Strike that out" Magee shouted,
and it was stricken out.