Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-01
CALL CUMMINGS
FOR EXPL LANAT|ON
Of JUNKET REPORT
Democratic National Chair
man Is Subjected to
Severe Grilling.
SMILES BROADLY WHILE
FREAR POUNDS TABLE
Informs Probers That More
Damaging Statements Are
Soon to Follow.
SAYS HE'LL OBTAIN RIGHTS
Asserts Spruce Conditions Have Been
Worn Threadbare and There
Is No Need Of Inquiry.
SMILES BROADLY WHILE
FREAR POUNDS TABLE
SAYS HE'LL OBTAIN RIGHTS
IRy Associated Press.l


Cummings, chairman of the Demo
cratic National Committee. called be-
fore the House subcommittee inves-
tigatinE aircraft expenditures to tes-
tify under oath tonight why he had
permitted the publicity bureau of his
organization to brand a proposed conf
mittee trip to the Pacific Coast as
"junket." took full responsibility for
the statement. and declared it was
not circumstance to what would
come later.
From the moment he entered the
self 70 the membars demanding the
explanation. until he went away. Mr..
Cummings continually was smiling
table with great heat and stopped the
proceedings to have certain replies
eourtesy rS Mr 'nS GSm@ings iGr h Hrnng @0fH o
.my good fellow, said that he knew
unable to satisfy the Republicans,
There were one or two sharp retorts
from CHAIRMAN Frear, to one of which
ancthefFsnd still smEiag. declared,
My, wash.t, that a delicate thrust"
Wants More Vigorous Article.
At the outset. Mr.: Cummings told the
the particular article to which the
Republicans took offense, he quite ap-
tioning that Chairman Frear told the
stenographer not to permit certain
which the witness replied that in
court OF justice he would have his
Know espeeiaiiy was the BASIS Maferd for the he
charge that the subcommittee was
smelling committee" and that It soon
after a sharp wrangle. Mr.. Cummings
said that as he understood it. the COM
mittee contemplated a Western trip to
done over by Charles f. Hughes
No Call for Inquiry.
There have been other Inquiries"
subject has been canvassed until it is
threadbare: Moreover. the taking up
OF OF subject of this character by,a com
mittee which | submit is not friendly
to the administration and not in
position 10 give an unbiased report. is
in ordinary political parlance "A junket."
rs it fair 10 this COMMITTEES when
IL is ordered to make the trip to call
it a junket? Chairman Frear asked.
II think so." Mr.. Cummings replied
1T is perfect folly to spend money on
trip of this character when you
ought really to send public accountants
aLd when there are SO many otnerr
Problems, including the high cost of
living. demanding consideration"
The Republican organization" the
witness went on. has indulged in
plenty of slander directed at the Presi-
dent of tho United States. and you
should be sportsman enough to stand
mild criticism. This isn't marker to
what's coming"
Threaten Investigation.
"If YOU do there will be an inves-
tigation by the House." the chairman
interrupted.
Fine the witness replied II have
quite enjoyed myself this evening""
IN commencing the public services
OF Mr: Hughes. who conducted the air
difference between Republican leaders
IN Congress and the President was
that the President had selected for the
inquiry a man OF known impartiality.
investigation
Representative Magee. Republican.
New York. asked Mr.. Cummings for
yes or no answer bearing on the war
army food. "
w,,Wass Wny that's, that's a trick question" the
" ~ 'icss Ieplled ITS like asking a
maS ..S,ri,k II he's ,na quit beating his wife"
al .rihe that out. Mr. Magce shout
ed' ana 1t was stricken out
Was Once Republicans.
Chairman Frear contended that the
democrats were making concerted
attempt to discredit the inquiry. whiIn
MI VI, cummings insisted that tile Re.
trying to criticize every single act of
the administration during the war The
committee chairman brought out thai
prior to 1896 the witness was a Repub
.lcan; He told how he and Mr.. Maree
ana Representatives Lee. Democrat. Of
california members OF the committees
had protested against being forced n
travel to the Pacific next month. Mr.
Frear said he had been to the coast
oyer every railroad, SO the trip was no
"jmnket' for him.
There. was great need, Chairman
Trear proceeded, for an inquiry into
the forthcoming sale OF millions of
dollars worth of government propertv
tie presented letter from Senator
Chamberlain, OF Oregon, inclusing mic
lures of lumber engines lying In bitches
along the railroad track Examining
them for a moment. tho witness re-.
marked:
They are hardly worth sending this
committee to look at" but added that
he did not wish to he understood MS
derrecating investigation OF any war
activities.
Does Not Fear Inquiry.
Mr.. Magee wanted to know II Mr. |
Cummings, as chairman OF the Demo
cratic organization, feared the results
of the inquiry.
quite the contrary. my dear sir"
he replied. II lock forward with