2 CHARGES OF HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS MADE HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Monday, September 15, 1913. The committee this day met, Hon. Robert F. Broussard (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen of the committee, this committee is without a clerk, but Mr. Curtis, who is an American citizen temporarily residing in Shanghai, China, where he practices law before the United States courts established there by our Government under treaty with the Government of China, has been here for a long time awaiting an opportunity to present a matter affecting the expenditures of that court, its method of handling business, and other matters pertinent to the jurisdiction of this committee. There being a majority of the committee present, if it is the desire of the committee we shall proceed with his examination, letting my secretary act, as he has heretofore done, as clerk of the committee. Mr. FERGUSSON. Í move that we proceed as suggested by the chair man. (The motion was agreed to.) The CHAIRMAN. I think it may be proper to put in the record section 42 of the Rules of the House of Representatives to show under what jurisdiction the committee proceeds in this matter. (Said rule 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 public expenditures in the several departments, as follows: The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation? * Mr. CURTIS. I am an attorney at law, practicing before the United States courts at Shanghai, and, by courtesy of the other nations, I practice before the international courts in Shanghai, before the British supreme court, and courts of the various nations, as well as before the consular courts. 3 |