Evening star., 1927-03-20
BALLOT BOXES ORDERED SEIZED
AFTER BARRY DEFIES PROBERS

CONTINUED from First Page)
denying the authority of the commit
tee. He is at liberty, however, to take
any steps he may desire to see that
the ballots are safeguarded by the
committee"
Senator Reed referred to the at.
tempt Of the committee to have a
resolution adopted by the Senate in
the closing days of the last session,
extending the authority of the COM
mittee, and the filibuster which pre-
vented action on the resolution
THE inquiry may be made" he
said, why the committee insisted on
the resolution. The answer Is that the
committee believed that it's authority
might be questioned. just as 1t has
been, and we might be obstructed by
gentlemen who took the view that the
committee had expired with the Con-
gress.
THE resolution extending the pow
ers of the committee was brought for
ward, therefore, for these reasons. 1t
was resisted by filibuster that tied
up important public bills and sacri-
feed the public interest. The filibuster
was undertaken In order to prevent q
full investigation of the elections in
Pennsylvania and Illinois and pOssi-
bly, in one other State. The public
will have to Judge the motives of the
Senators who took that course"
Barry Protests Vigorously.
The controversy between the com
mittee and Mr.. Barry over the author
ity of the committee is expected to
raise some interesting questions. In
| his reply to the committee, the ser
! geant-at-arms of the Senate protested
vigorously against being compelled to
make reply before he had time to OBJ
| tain legal advice in the matter. He
called attention to the fact that he
had received the order of the commit
tee in writing at 125 pm, and con.
tinued:
when this order was conveyed to
me by you verbally at 1890, l respect
fully asked for time in which to take
advice on the subject, in view of the
apparent conflicting opinions as to the
present status of the committee and
the legality or propriety of my ac-
cepting and proceeding to spend for
official purposes funds furnished to
me through channels other than the
| ordinary channel of the disbursing Of
fcer Of the Senate.
You preemptorily told me that l
could have no time beyond the hour
of o'clock today, and as / stated, it
being Saturday afternoon, it would be
practically impossible for me to OBJ
| tain the desired and necessary advice,
because no legal authorities could be
| expected TO give an authoritative an
swer within the time specified.
Calls Request Reasonable.
Ac ha Mt. n for nf
the whole Senate, duly elected and
responsible for the loyal and efficient
carrying out of the business of the
| Senate, | most respectfully submit
| that my request for brief time TO OBJ
tain legal advice was entirely reason
able and that your demand for an i'm
mediate reply, amounting to an ulti'
matum, exceedingly inconsiderate.
1T is the duty of the sergeant at.
arms at all times, when ordered TO
serve a subpoena, to ascertain wheth.
er committee is duly authorized to
| issue it. and also to ascertain whether
the expenditure of funds in the serv-
| ing of summons is to be approved by
voucher.
The chairman of the committee to
audit and control the contingent eX-
penses Of the Senate has already an
nounced that he does not feel author
lied, In the light of his present in.
formation, to approve vouchers for
| the disbursement of money by the
| select committee authorized at the
| last session of Congress. / repeat
what / told you verbally, that / can
not carry out your directions until |
! have had time to consult with those
whose opinion should have legal
| weight.
II have no desire TO hamper the
work of dema andng, collecting and
forwarding TO Washington the ballots
from the four counties In Pennsyl-
vania, and will. with pleasure do so
when told by legal authorities that I
am authorized to do So
Right Upheld BY GOfr.
Senator Keyes. Senator Reed of
Pennsylvania and other Senators who
take the position that the Reed com.
mittee died with the end of the last
Congress. have consulted THE pre-
Icedents and believe they have the