The Washington times., 1922-05-31
TAKING
RELIEF FUNDS,
SENATORSAYS
Watson Of Georgia Charges
Use Of "$1 G, 900 a Month
For Personal Use."
ny International News Service

Hoover with ''appropriating $4,000
a month from relief funds for his
own personal use." Senator Tom"
Watson Dem.) of Georgia created
another sensation in the Senate
today. 90
Watson renewed his attack on
Hoover after Senator Lenroot Rep.)
of Wisconsin criticised a denuncia.
ton of Hoover made by Watson on
May rs. Watson then bitterly de-
nounced Lenroot and was called to
order by Vice President Coolidge.
Lenroot arose first % read lot.
ter from Hoover denying he had fail.
ed to publish vouchers for his hand
ling of funds OF the American Re.
lief Administration. Lenroot asked
unanimous consent to have the lat
ter inserted in the Congressional
Record. but Watson objected.
''The privilege of good judgment
permits Senators some times 10 say
things that are not supported by the
facts" Lenroot replied. I'll read
Mr.. Hoover's letter myself"
In the letter. Hoover said Watson s
charge was based on absolute mis-
information" Hoover declared re.
ports had been published annually
on the funds handled by the com.
mission for relief in Belgium and
by the American Relief Commission.
THE books Of these commissions
were also subjected to searching
audits by private concerns, and the
reports were approved by foreign
spent" Hoover wrote.
The man against whom these
charges were made has not the right
to appear on the floor 10 defend him
self yet the Senator from Georgia
who made the charges, objected TO
having the defense heard Lenroot
concluded.
THE insolent junior Senator from
Wisconsin Nenroot), who voted for
the Esch- -Cummins bill, the most in
fluenced measure ever passed by
Congress, has risen three times in
arrogant denunciation o. the junior
Senator from Georgia." Watson re.
torted.
Warned BY Coolidge.
THE Senator from Wisconsin once
demanded that the junior Senator
from Georgia be compelled to answer
elsewhere for things he said on the
floor Of the Senate. defied him
then, and l defy him now. l defy
him on the floor Of the Senate or
outside the Senate. ] am not afraid
to meet him here and am not afraid
to meet him outside"
THE Chair has to warn the Sen
ator from Georgia to keep within the
rules" interposed Vice President
Coolidge. as the Senate hushed to
absolute silence.
The Senator from Georgia has
full command Of himself" Watson re-
piled. "If am not allowed to speak,
I shall yield the floor"
"I move the Senator be permitted
to proceed" Senator Harrison Dem.)
Of Mississippi. proposed.
THE Senator has a perfect right
to proceed" replied Coolidge. The
Chair merely warned him"
This Englishman, Herbert
Hoover" Watson then continued,
has never published in American
newspapers vouchers for his relief
expenditure. He did publish reports
in foreign papers. but Americans
shobld not be compelled to get their
reports from foreign papers. I again
repeat, Hoover never published any
vouchers in America for spending
millions of dollars OF the peoples
money"
Objects to Letter.
II repeat, there would have been
objections to Hoover, to Fall, and TO
Mellon, who holds his position in
violation Of law, II the President had
not come here and made a personal
plea for their confirmation"
Watson said he had objected to in
sertion of Hoover's letter in the
record because he did not want the
American people to think every Sen
ator approved It.
"Hoover's letter proves nothing"
the Georgia Senator continued.
Hoover has been constantly accused
Of appropriating $4,000 a month
from the relief funds for his personal
use. He is accused of having paid
vast sums to men who did nothing
for the relief commissions
Watson's parting shot was directed
at Lenroot.
Everybody knows the Senator
from Wisconsin is a bitter hater Of
the South"