The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-17
Congressman CrOzier Threatens tO Start New Kind of
 An Investigation
LITTLE SCHEME EXPOSED
 IN MISTAKEN IDENTITY
MT. Crozier Declares That Plans Were Long Ago Made To Bring On Panic and Then Present Financial
 Bill To Congress. i!

Washington, April 16.-In picturesque language. at times violently denunciatory, Alfred 0. Crozier of Wilmington, Del, today told the House committee on bank ing and currency that he had unearthed d secret scheme for a compromise on tue {, Aldrlch currency bill. He intmated plain ly that the members of the currency com mission and the American Bankers asso- citation did not act fairly with the bank ing and currency committee in unani- mously opposing the Aldrich bill yester- day
 While opposing the bill on principle he said, "the members objected to it be- cause the emergency currency was to bear per cent interest and are ready to support it now if the interest is reduced to per cent.
 Last evening our distinguished banking friends held a conference" he said. 'Te- day they are having another with the wicked promoters of the wicked Aldrioh and Yreeland bills. What for? They arc agreeing on compromise. On what basis? Just a simple little amendment reducing the tax to per cent and some other minor changes"
 He declared that the conference was only held after it was stated that the hearings before the banking and currency committee had been closed
 ''Gf this committee had not honored me with this opportunity to speak at this postscript to the public hearing" said MI. Crozier and if one of the distinguished bankers who addressed yon yesterday had not mistaken me last evening for one of their fraternity and unreservedly told me the whole programme, the trick would have been turned quickly and suddenly.
 "The Aldrich bill" MT. Crozier declared. lis gambling game from start to finish. brought here by gamblers and promoted by gamblers for gambling purposes"
 He asserted that he knew the late finan- cial stringency was brough on deliberately by Wall street men.
 T was told in Wall street that such a measure as the Aldrich bill would be brought before Congress and that panic would precede it"
 MT. Prince suggested that this charge was very serious one, and ought not to be made on opinion, but on actual facts
 Mir. Crozier replied that if a commis- sion was appointed he would furnish a. list of witnesses to the counsel by whom this charge can be proved.
 AS an evidence of the conspiracy to bring on a panic. Mir Crozier said a prominent financier to the president of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company that it to be brought on before the meeting of Congress and on that information he said the ran- road borrowed $30.000000. Urged to tell who the financier predicting the panic was, MT. Crozier said he did not like to give his name at this time, but would give it to the counsel of any commission Congress might appoint to investigate the ca uses of the recent financial crisis. He predicted thai when the panic was finally investigated it would be seen that there had been concentration of banking capital in New York.
 Upon the conclusion of Mir. Crozier's statement, Chairman Fowler announced that hearings on the Aldrich bill were closed After d short executive session the committee adjourned until tomorrow at 10:SO o'clock, when it is expected an adverse report on the Aldrich bill will be agreed upon.
 The Vreeand bill is before the commit tee. and if Mr Nreeland should desire to have hearings on that measure he prob ably will be given an opportunity to pre- sent any testimony he desires