Norwich bulletin., 1922-07-06
ASSERTS CONGRESS HAS
 REACHED LOWEST ERE

Washington, July 5.-Deiegafed by house democrats to reply to the recent seec;-h of < R { .resensAtsOe Npndell, Wyoming, the republican leader, on '.the achievements of congress- : Representa- tive Bvrnes. Of Tennessee, ranking dem ocrats of the appropriations committee, declared In ian. extension of remarks to be printed in the Congressional Rec ord tomorrow that Secretary Weeks frankly and bIunt1v told the truth" in asserting in an address that congress had reached its IoweN ebb
 Mir. Weeks is quoted as having de clared in 2 sudden burst of candor. v said Mfr. Byrnes that this congress, which is overwhelmingly republican, had reached the lowest ebb in the entire his tory or the country. Considering his. long service, in the house, the senate, and as secretary of war, testimony coming from such a high republican source will . undoubtedly be accepted in preference to the biased opinion of Mir. Mondell, whose candidacy for the United States senate rests upon the record made by congress under his leadership"
 Feeling keen1y the force of general criticism levesed aginst congress, said MT. Byrnes, the majority leader very harsflly criticises those who have seen fit to condemn the present congress for its sihort cominss and failure to give evidence of statesmanship and keep l faith with thessp people. ."-.--gsses
 Referring to Mir. Mondells reference to silewspe per editors. Mir. Byrnes de- clared the editors could take comfort in the fact that in such criticisms they have been no more. harsh than was the distinguished secretary of war, who holds such high place in the present t,r7. .4--seS .4a.. the republican party not even the gem tleman from Wyoming win deny"
 The difference is that the secretary of war frankly and bluntly tod the truth" MT. Byrnes added, while the gentleman from Wyoming was speaking with. the United States senatorship up- permost in his mind1
 | After a general, denial of the claims put forth by Mir. Mondell eas to the say ing of public funds, MT. Byrnes decIar- ed. "one of the most. disappointing and unpardonabie failuress of the adminis- Etratihn was its culpahle nAgi4ct to promptly and vigorously prosecute the 1 war Irof1teers. 'ss.-ef
 For fourteen. months the attorney general took no steps to bring these profteers to justice he said land there seemed to be a purpose to let the statute of limitations run and permit at least smany' of them to escape criminal and
 civil liability.
 So evident did this become" he add. ed. that two republican representtativef l-Woodruff and Johnson-felt it thei,
 duty to bring this neglect of the at. torney general and the department oi justice to the. attention of congress and the country.
 | Touching on the failure of the house to act on the Woodruff J ohnson reso lution for an investigation, and the. sub
 sequent appropriation of half a million dollars for war fraud prosecutions, MT Byrnes declared
 The money asked for was promp4l,
 and unanmously granted. The gentleman
 from Wyoming takes credit for this ac ticn; but I submit that the adninis
 tration lashed by two members of it.
 own party, who were actuated by \ high sense of public duty, can clain
 little. credit therefor. It is severe re 1ection on the administration ard tn
 republican party that the majority lead CTS suppressed this resolution in tn. : rules committee. and refused to perqni : a public inquiry as to the causes wh:cl influenced this inaction- upon the par
 of the department of justice.''