| OCR Text |
Show SAYS WEEKS TOLD TRUTH Representative Byrne Reiterates Re-iterates That Congress Reaches Lowest Ebb WASHINGTON, July 6. Delegated by house Democrats to reply to th.-recent th.-recent speech of Kepres, ntativ, Mon-jdell, Mon-jdell, Wyoming, the Republican leader, on "the achievements of congress," Representative Byrns. of Tennessee.' I ranking Democrat of the nppropria-i Hons committee, declared in 'an ex-l tension or remarks "to bo printed In the congressional record that Secretary Secre-tary Weeks "frankly and bluntly told 'he irutn' in assorting in an address that congress had reached its lowest abb Mr. Weeks Is quoted as having de-clared de-clared in a sudden burst of candor," Bald Mr. Byrne.' "that this congress, which is overwhelmingly Republican, had reached the lowest ebb in the entire en-tire history of thv country Considering Consider-ing his long service. In the house, the senate and :s secretary of war, testimony testi-mony coming from such a high Republican Re-publican sourse will undoubtedly be accepted In preference to the bluaed opinion of Mr. Mondell, whose candidacy can-didacy for the United States senato rests upon the record made by congress cong-ress und r his leadership. REFERS TO NEWSPAPER ' Feeling keenly the force of general criticism leveled against congress.' said Mr. Byrns', "the majority leader .very harshly criticises those who hav seen fit tobondemn the present cong- resa for Its shortcomings, und failure! to give evidence of statesmanship, and j keep faith with the people."' Referring to Mr Mondell's reference to newspaper editors, Mr. Byrns declared de-clared the editors could "take com-, fort In the fart I h. II n Miirh crltlclsmi they have been no more harsh than was tho distinguished secretary of war, who holds such a high place in th present administration, and whose jloalt to the Republican parte not even the gentleman from Wyoming will deny ' SPORE ins MIND. Tho difference Is that the secre-t&l secre-t&l . of war frank!-, and blunt U told the truth. " Mr B rns added, " while the gentleman fiom Wyoming was! speaking with the I nit-,i States sen-utorshlp sen-utorshlp uppermost In his mind " I After a general denial of the state-, men put forth by Mr. Mondell as to I ihe saving of ppbllc funds, Mr Byrns ie(iared "one of the most disappointing disappoint-ing and unpardonable failures," of the (administration was "its culpable neg- lect to promptly and vigorously prosecute prose-cute the war prof ItcerB.'' "For fourteen months the attorney genorjil took no .teps to bring these profiteers to Justice," he said, and there seemed to be a purpose to let the statute of limitations run and per- ,,,,,, l .cai mini; " , criminal .uid civil liability." WAR FRAUD PKOSIOCI lins "So evident did this become.' he added, that two Republican repre-j sentatlves Woodruff and Johnson jfelt it their duty to bring this neglect to the attorney general and the department de-partment of Justice to the attention of. I congress and the country." Touching on the failure of the house to act on the Woodruff-Johnson resolution reso-lution for an investigation, and tho subsequent appropriation of half a million dollars for war fraud prosecutions, prosecu-tions, Mr Bryna dcolared "The money asked for was prompt- lv and unanimously granted. The gentleman from Wyoming takes credit for this action, but I submit that the administration, lashed by two mem- j bcrs of its own party, who were actuated ac-tuated by a high sense of public duty, can claim little credit therefore It In a sovere reflection on the administration adminis-tration and the Republican party that tho mnjoni-. b-nd, r.v suppressed thlfi resolution hi the ruN oinmlttee and refused to permit a public inquiry as to the causes which Influenced thl inaction upon th part of th depart - ment of Justice " |
