The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-21

Washington, D. CA new light has
been thrown on the Ansell-Baker
court martial controversy of last spring
through words passed on the floor Of
the House when Representative Kitchin
of North Carolina disclosed the fact
that former Colonel Ansell Is now
and has been drawing a salary, or
fee" of from $4,000 to S25, 900 an
nually for his services,
This information leaked out when
Congressman Kitchin took occasion
TO ask Chairman Good. Republican,
OF Iowa, of the House Appropriations
Committee, why the investigating
committees were asking an appropri-
alton of $1,000. Chairman Good
came forward to reply, but he was
choked off by several Of the Repub-
lican leaders, including Uncle Joe"
Cannon, Representative Nicholas
seem TO relish answers to these in
quiries. A running word duel ensued
IN which Kitchin ultimately carried
, his point.
"If the gentleman from Iowa is not
too much disturbed by others around
him." interjected Congressman Gar
ner of Texas II would like to get
some idea Of the items for which the
/ s77, 900 has been used" -.
Kitchin Questions Cbairmcn
Congressman Kitchin then suggest
ed that maybe some of the chairmen
Of the various investigating commit
tees, if they were present on the floor,
might elucidate some of the unusal
items appearing in their expense ac-
counts. After enumerating them,
(Mr. Graham OF Illinois, of the war
expenditures investigating committee;
Mr.. Mckenzie Of Illinois, Mr.. Frear,
the economist" of the aircraft In
vestigating committee; Mr. Joseph
Walsh Of Massachusetts, of the Ship
ping Board investigating committee;
Mr.. Royal johnson Of South Dakota
and Mr.. Reavis) only one OF them re-
sponded to his name on the floor.
There is my friend Mr. Reavis. Of
Nebraska" said Mr.. Kitchin after an
interruption, who is one OF the auto
mobile investigators. II they were
here they could explain. They knew
these items were coming up this af-
ternoon and knew that the gentleman
from Texas was going to ask some
questions about them and that he was
very curious to know how all this
money could possibly be spent"
During this colloquy Mr.. Walsh
answered TO his name. Later Mr.
Reavis and Mr.. Mckenzie came in.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kitchin read off his
bill of cofplaint," enumerating some
of the figures on which he and Mr..
Garner desired information.
"On page 1914" said Mr.. Kitchin,
reading from a committee report. lis
; an item, C. G. Gabrielson, II days
and 5 hours, at S25 a day, s365.6S;
I expenses s490.S9. cannot under
stand, you know, why his expenses
were about 500 more than his salary,
/, unless he was hired on the expense
basis instead Of on salary basis, so
that his expenses would be the princi-
pal thing and the salary the incident
. 5laxr
and his expenses sS5 day. I know
that Mr.. Frear could explain that.
Expenses Exceed Salaries
Here is another little item. My
) friend, the gentleman from Illinois
p (Mr McKenzie) is present, and there
? is absolutely no doubt that he can ex-
plain this. On page 1915 l find o. W
t Illig, 25 days at SIS a day, 1915; ex-
penses slS7'
Another one, w. J. Spcrl % days
at SIS a day 1915; expenses s1S5.61.
; Here is another one for my friend
2 Frear's subcommittee: SALARY is days
, hours at s25. day, s45s.SS; expeus.
es S512G7.'
Here is another one under my friend
: Graham's subcommittee: Services.
, days $500; expenses, sl93' In som,
= Of these cases 1 would rather be EN-,
5 ployed on the expense basis than on
= salary basis"
= Mr.. Kitchin then asked Congress
y man Walsh why it was that the lat
D ter's "parlor-car trip" to the Pacifi,
+ Coast had cost the Government s4O6l
e while "Mr. Frear, who carried NOR,
I. parties to the Pacific Coast, and wen
e into a larger examination, should hav,
had railroad expenses OF only $14O1.'
= Referring to the employment Of Col
o onel Ansell. Congressman Kitchin said
a They have got an attorney not onl,
il for the general committee, but for al
except a few OF the subcomittees