Evening star., 1932-02-13
HURLEY, ANGERED,
LEAVES HEARING.
Secretary Refuses to Remain
''to Be Called a
Liar"
Continued From First Page)

an, of New Mexico, who have measures
before the Senate for independence
When King began asking him oues-
ton the Secretary started to answer
before it was finished.
Just a minute" exclaimed King,
''ycu try to answer before the question
Is aSked!"
Charges Distortion.
"You have absolutely undertaken to
distort what said!" exclaimed Hurley,
his face flushed and his voice rising
angrily.
II resent what you said as untrue,
as some of your other statements have
been," King shot back.
It was then that the Secretary arose
and left the crowded committee room
Previously. Senator Cutting had told
the Secretary that, when asked "a
simple question" he had made stump
speech in reply"
IF I say anything here that is in
opposition to you gentlemen" Hurley
returned. cts a stump speech, but what
you gentlemen say is the height OF
craftsmanship"
Hurley asserted it had been "a kind
of lese majesty to hold an opinion con-
trary to that held by members of the
committee.
When the discussion once turned upon
the stability of conditions in the Phil
ippines, King remarked, We're not
very stable in the United States now,
economically"
Defends Americans.
81 disagree with these statements
about the United States being weak and
off color!" exclaimed Hurley. Lets
be Americans once in a while and have
faith in our stability"
Hurley said the bill sponsored jointly
by Cutting and Senator Halves, Demo-
crat, Missouri, was characterized by
weakness" and providing for "tute-
lage" of the Filipino people.
Cutting objected to these words.
War Department officials denied yes
terday that Secretary Hurley had testi-
fieo before Senate or House committees
that the F1lipinos were incapable Of
self government"
Their denial followed reports the Sec
retary of War had so testified in giving
his views on Philippine independence.
AS today's hearing opened, Hurley re-
piled to charges of political immoral
ity," made yesterday by Senator Halves
in criticizing the Secretary's desire for
ports.
He said his proposals were not made
with the intention indefinitely to post
pone independence, but to prepare the
Philippines for complete national re-
sponsihility when independence should
be granted.
He objected to withdrawal of American
authority while responsibility for the
Philippines political and economic well
fare is mandatory for the United States
Not Afraid, He Declares.
After Hurley had left the room he
went to the nearby Office of Senator
Bingham, Republican, of Connecticut.
chairman of the committee. There he
said to newspaper men:
IF Senator King had modified his
remarks to make them impersonal, I
would have returned. But could not
remain where a man, immune by rea-
son of his membership in the Senate,
was permitted to assan me personally.
THE proper resentment of his Ian
guage would be an affront to the Sen
ate and not to Senator King. 1t was
a star chamber proceeding where mons
opposed to the Senator and his coterie
had right to express a contrary
opinion.
"I am not afraid to stand the fire,
but did desire to emphasize the ty-
ranny of these committees because they
attempt to browbeat witnesses and
won't let any one express an opinion
If it does not coincide with theirs"
Will Vote Saturday.
After a lengthy executive session,
the committee decided to vote next
Saturday on proposals for Philippine
independence. No official cognizance
was taken of the Hurley incident.
Word was sent, however, to the Sec
retary of War through his aide that
the committee would be glad to receive
for the record the data prepared by
the Secretary on the question of inde-
pendence.
Chairman Bingham, close friend of
Hurley, said there was general regret
that anything should have occurred
which caused Mr.. Hurley to do what
he did"