Evening star., 1925-03-15
Ernst's Request for Right to
Call Fellow Member "Liar"
Precipitates Uproar.
C0UZENS CHARGES CITED
AS CAUSE OF OUTBURST
Borah Sees "Pitiable" Point
Reached in Personalities-Lan-
guage Later Withdrawn.

Long smouldering bitterness in the
Senate over the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau investigation broke into flame
charges against each other across a
crowded. chamber and one finally
asking the privilege OF calling an
other "wilful, malicious and
wicked liar"
The request, made by Senator
Ernst, Republican, Kentucky, came as
climax to a sizzling debate In which
that Senator. who is a member of the
committee: Chairman Couzens, and
Senator Glass. Democrat. Virginia, a
former Secretary of the Treasury,
were the principals.
Senate In An Uproar.
The Senate was thrown into an up
roar which lasted for several min
utes during which there was doubt
as to the identity of the Senator at
whom Mr.. Ernst desired to hurl his
epithet. Thinking that reference was
to him, since he had just conclude ed
his speech, Senator Glass advanced
across the chamber toward the Ken
lucky Senator with a demand that he
name his man.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader. drowned out both
Senators with a demand to present
a point OF order and meantime takin G
position between the Kentucky and
Virginia Senators. Senator Ernst
finally was taken off his feet, but the
hubbub continued and Senator Reed.
Republican, Pennsylvania. attempted
to throw the Senate into executive
session so as to shut out the scene
from the crowded galleries that
watched in eager expectancy.
Borah Reproachea Body.
That failed, but order finally was
restored when Senator Borah, Re-
publican, Idaho, told the Senate that
1T is very pathetic thing and a
very pitiable thing that we have
reached q point here in the Senate OF
the United States where We cannot
discuss public questions without in
duiging tn such personalities
Meantime. out OF the confusion
Senator Ernst had assured Senator
Glass that his reference was not to
the Virginia Senator. Later, after the
Senate had voted, 80 to 4s, against a
motion that he be allowed to pro
ceed in order" the Kentucky Senator
was given the floor and withdrew his
language, but declared that he want
ed to read to the Senate what 1t was
that brought about his request
Here Was the statement made by
the Senator from Michigan (Mr
Couzens)," he said. Such a state
ment 1 have never before had made
concerning me-"
Reads Couxens' Statement.
He then read a statement previous
ly made by Chairman Couzens in re-
ply to a charge by the Kentucky
Senator that the chairman in inves-
tigating the Treasury had been actu-
ated by personal animus" against
Secretary Mellon.
The Couzens statement was:
The prohibition unit agents have
been in touch with him (Senator
Ernst) hour by hour, by telephone
and by personal calls, so that they
might know in advance what the
committee has proposed to investi-
gate. AS evidence of that, the rec
ord will show that letters have dis
appeared out of the files, that COM
munications have disappeared, and
that letters have been lost, because
apparently 1T was to the ADVANTAGE
of the Treasury that they should dis
appear, and undoubtedly they were
informed by the Senator from Ken
lucky 50 that they might do these
things"
Declaring that this was a serious
charge, Senator Ernst said he was
amazed that those who heard 1t did
not take exception to 1t. He ex-
planned that he himself could not hear
it because one of his ears does not
function properly.
II never heard Of a paper disap-
pearing." he said. II do not know
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