z COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 103 TO INVESTIGATE THE EXPENDITURES IN MAY 10 AND 17, 1911 WASHINGTON EXPENDITURES IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT. [Committee room, basement, main building. Telephone 278. Meets on call.] COURTNEY WALKER HAMLIN, Chairman, Missouri. S. H. DENT, JR., Alabama. 2 CHARLES R. DAVIS, Minnesota. A, J.J. Jab. Zo recat SMA 12043 EXPENDITURES IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, D. C., Wednesday, May 10, 1911. The committee this day met and was called to order at 10.30 a. m., Hon. Courtney W. Hamlin (chairman) presiding. Present, Messrs. Hamlin (chairman), Dent, Roddenbery, Stephens, and Davis. The chairman made the following preliminary statement: The CHAIRMAN. I think it would be well to let the record show the authority under which these hearings are being held, and the stenographer will now take the following: These hearings are being held under the general rules outlining the duties of these expenditures committees by the House and also under special resolution. The general duties of the committee, as outlined, are as follows: The examination of the accounts and expenditures of the several departments of the Government and the manner of keeping the same; the economy, justness, and correctness of such expenditures; their conformity with appropriation laws; the proper application of public moneys; the security of the Government against unjust and extravagant demands; retrenchment; the enforcement of the payment of moneys due to the United States; the economy and accountability of public officers; the abolishment of useless offices; the reduction or increase of the pay of officers, shall all be subjects within the jurisdiction of the nine standing committees on the public expenditures in the several departments, as follows: In the Department of State, to the Committee on Expenditures in the State Department And so forth. Then this present Congress passed this special resolution: Resolved, That the Committees on Expenditures in the State Department, in the Treasury Department, in the War Department, in the Navy Department, in the Post Office Department, in the Interior Department, in the Department of Justice, in the Department of Agriculture, in the Department of Commerce and Labor, and on Public Buildings be, and they are hereby, instructed to proceed to examine into all the affairs of said departments as fully as is permitted to them and made their duty to do by the Rules of the House relating to said committees respectively. And the investigations of said committees may cover such period in the past as each of said committees may deem necessary. And said committees, or any subcommittees thereof, shall have power to subpoena and compel the attendance of witnesses and to examine them under oath, and send for records, books, and papers and all other evidence that may be necessary to make the investigation full and complete, and that the Speaker shall have authority to sign and the Clerk to attest subpoenas duing the recess of Congress. Said committees or any subcommittees thereof shall have authority to sit during any recess of this Congress. TESTIMONY OF HUNTINGTON WILSON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE. After being first duly sworn, Hon. Huntington Wilson, Assistant Secretary of State, testified as follows: The CHAIRMAN. Now, Mr. Wilson, you may state your name and your position, please. |