Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-01
CUMMINGS "GETS"
FREAR'S GOAT" IN SUBJ
COMMITTEE HEARING

suknIl y UUht ~ OUU
COMMITTEE HEARING
Washington. Julv s1.-Homer s. Cum
mings. chairman Of the Democratic ma
tional committee, called before the
House subcommittee investigating air
craft expenditures to testify under oath
tonight why he had permitted the pub
licity bureau Of his organization to
brand a proposed committee trip to the
Pacific coast As q "junket." took full
responsibility for the statement and de-
| clared that it was not a circumstance to
what would coms later.
From the moment he entered the com.
mittee room and introduced himself to
the members demanding the explana-
ton until he went away, Mr.. Cum.
| mings continually was smiling, while
Chairman Frear pounded the table with
great heat and stopped the proceedings
to have certain replies stricken from
the Record. With mock courtesy Mr..
Cummings, turning to the chairman and
addressing 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 a
cigar from another and still smiling.
declared: my, wasn't that a delicate
thrust"
At the outset Mr. Cummings told the
committee that while he had not read
| the particular article to which the Re-
publicans took offense, he quite ap-
proved it. except that it was not Wig
orous enough. It was during this ques-
tioning that Chairman Frear told the
stenog-apher 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 What the chairman wanted to
know especially was the basis for the
charge that the subcommittee was a
smelling committee" and that it soon
was to start on ''junket."
Finally. after sharp wrangle. Mr..
Cummings said that as he understood
it the committee contemplated =
western "trip to look into spruce con-
ditionc relating to aviation, when all
Charles e. Hughes.
There have been other inquiries"
the witness continued, and this whole
submit has been canvassed until 1t
is threadbare. Moreover, the taking
up Of a subject OF this character by
a committee which I submit is not
friendly to the administration, and
not in q position to give an unbiased
report, is a waste of time and pub
lie money and. in ordinary political
parlance. a junket."
us it fair to this committee when
when it is ordered to make the trip
to call it a junket?" Chairman Frear
asked.
II think So" Mr.. Cummings re-
Piled. ut is perfectly folly to spend
money on a trip Of this character
when you ought really to send pub
lie accountants. and when there are
so many other problems. including
the high cost of living, demanding
consideration"
THE Republican organization"
the witness went on, has INDUCED in
plenty of SANDER directed at the
President Of the United States and
You should be sportsman enoug. 10
stand mild criticism. This ISM a
marker to what's coming"
IF you do there will be an inves
tiEation by the House.: the chair.
man interrupted.
'eEine," the witness replied. 'I
Rave quite enjoyed myself this eve
ming"
Ir commanding the public service
OF Mr.. Hughes, who conducted the
aircraft inquiry. Mr.. Cummings said
the difference between Republican
leaders in Congress and the Presi-
dent was that the President had Sc
lected for the Inquiry a man of
known inpartiality, while the ot,-
er was a purely political investiga-
ton.
Representative Magee (Republican)
OF New York. asked Mr.. CUMMINGS
TOT yes" or mo" answer bearing
On the war investigation and the re-
stitant sale Of army food.
why that's trick question" the
witness replied. IT'S like asking !,
man If he has quit beating his wife ;.
Strike that out" Mr.. M.vas
shouted, and it was stricken out.
Chairman Frear commended that
the Democrats were making a con-
certed attempt to discredit the in
quiry. while Mr.. CUMMINGS insiste5
that the Republicans in control OF
Congress were trying to criticize
every single act of the adrajnistr,-
ton during the war The committee
chairman brought out that prior TO
1886 the witness was a Republican
He told how hp and Mr.. Masee and
representative Lee, Democrat, Of
California, members Of the commit
tee, had protested against being
forced to travel to the Pacific Coz Ct
next month. Mr.. Frear said he had
been to the coast over every rail-
road SO the trip was no junket" for
him. AVA
Ihere was great need, Chairman
frear proceeded, for an inquiry into
the forthcoming sale of millions of
dollars worth Of government proper.
~. He presented a letter from Sen.
ator Chamberlain of Oregon, encols-
ing pictures of lumber engines wing
IN bitches along the railroad. Er.
aiming them for a moment, the wit
ness remarked:
They are hardly worth sending
.nis committee to look at" but, he