Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
SECRECY IN WEST
ACTION IS SCORED
Put Senators in Ridiculous
Position, Dill Says-Nor-
riS Also Protests.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Protests against the consideration of
nomination Of Secretary West of the
Interior Department in executive session
were heard yesterday in the Senate.
Senator Dill, Democrat. Washington,
declared that members of the Senate
put themselves in ridiculous position
by considering nominations in secret
when they themselves must campaign
in the open for their own positions.
Senator Norris, Republican, Nebraska.
who fought Vests nomination, issued a
statement protesting against the secret
meetings for consideration of executive
nominations. He also reviewed his OPP
position to West, who was confirmed
MONDAY by a vote Of 81 to 81.
Refers to Roll Call.
A roll call published yesterday under
che copyright of the United Press which
: purported to be that showing the vote
on the West nomination was referred
to by Senator Dill with the remark
that he did not know whether it was
correct. He reminded the Senate that
under its strict rules he could not state
whether the poll was incorrect If he
knew it was
Il trust it will never become a rule
OF the Senate" interjected Senator
George, Democrat, of Georgia, that a
senator may not denounce as false any
Such statement by WhomSoever made. /"
Senator George said privately he had
been misrepresented by the roll call.
involved in Mr.. Vests confirmation, )"
said Senator Norris statement. was an
extremely important question of national
policy His ability and integrity are not
involved. His judgment and viewpoint
upon a question of national Importance
Is the only issue. 1t is in no way private.
IL has nothing to do with his private
life, but the question is a public one
having to do with the handling of the
natural resources of the entire country"
Reviews Vests Testimony.
The Senator reviewed Vests testi-
mony before a Senate committee in
vestigating contributions of Mr.. insult
TO an Illinois senatorial campaign. He
said West had told of investments in
the insult interests and later in testi-
mony before the committee considering
his nomination explained he had dis
posed Of these investments, although
members Of his family still owned stock
In the insult companies. It would be
difficult, Norris continued, TO select a
case coming before the Federal Power
Commission for the development of
waterpower on any streams in which
Mr.. insult would not be either directly
or indirectly interested. adding:
"The question at once presents itself
under these circumstances. is Mr.. West
the proper person to appoint as Secre-
tary Of the Interior?' 1t is not my pur-
pose to argue that question. but that
was the question which was decided by
the Senate.
1T is conceded that members of the
Senate, like people outside of the Senate.
have a perfect right TO differ upon this
point: but have Senators, being repre-
sentative of the people and acting as
trustees for the people, any right to
conceal from the people how they stand
and how they have voted upon this
proposition? Have not the citizens of
free country the right to know how
their servants stand upon national oues-
tons of this kind and of such impor-
Gance2"