Evening star., 1908-02-04
NO LIGHT FOR COMMITTEE
G.. p. o. INVESTIGATORS EN-
COUNTER LEGAL OBJECTION.
Witness Advised by His Attorney
Not to Answer Certain Line
of Questions.

The hearing this morning before the
Joinr printing committee. which is inves-
tigating charges of irregularities in con-
nection with the government printing
Office bids. dragg d along without produc-
ing much information.
The spectacle of dignified congress
sional committee of investigation sitting
for several hours in a vain effort to secure
information is a bit unique round the
House end of the Capitol. But that was
the case this morning. Yesterday was
bad enough, when the subcommittee
struggled for an hour with Frederick AL
fred of New York. but today was worse.
Both hearings had their humorous side
uppermost.
Mr. Handy a Witness.
Today j. F. Handy. also of New York,
secretary and treasurer of the Audit Sys-
tenn and the Audit System Supplies Com
pany and president of the j. w Pratt
Printing Company and the Suffolk Dis
tributing Company. was the witness.
Mr.. Handy was questioned IL some
length by Representative Lands of In
diana, who is chairman of the subcom-
mittee of investigation, and who.' for
most of today, was the entire membership
as we'll. In reply to the chairman rigor-
Gus questionining, Mr.. Handy said that
of the Audit System. and received 500 a
week for his services. he didn't know
the salary OF Vice President and Gen
eral Manager Raynor; had never seen
the pay roll, didn't know how many
men the company employed. had no
idea Of the gross or net business of the
company, didn't know anything ABOUT
the government printing office con-
tracts. had never seen the books of the
concern, and paid out about $1,000 a
l< Mr. Dow ~
inquiring where it went. He thought
1t was used to pay the salaries rf the
cOmpany's force which is now working
in the government printing office, but
lective weekly salary amounts. He
was real sure, however. that lone OF
Furnishes the Money.
"Oh. 1 see.' suggested Mr.. Landis.
"You just furnish the money and are
not interested further than that?'
Mr. Handy smiled acquiescence.
A line of questions originated by Mr..
Lands with the idea of comparing the
business methods Of Mr.. Handy with re
spect to the Audit System with his
methods in connection with other enter
priseS In which he was engaged soon
came to an abrupt termination. After
the drift of the chairman's remarks had
been INDICATED MI danuy lurHeu 10 H.
Golden Donaldson, his counsel and asked
If he must answer. For reply Mr.. DON
aldson rose to his feet and introduced
Chairman Lands to Blackstone and Some
body on To-ts mentioning in the course
Of his remarks, that it was up to the hon
ora BILE gentleman from Indiana to put
his helm hard aport and make try for
the harbor of information on another
tack. Which Mr.. Lands did
After two hours of Il can remembers
from Mr.. Handy. Chairman Lands ad-
journed He had to do it all by himself.
Senator Whyte never did show up for
today's session, and after about an hour
Of the festivities Representative Perkins
of New York. the third member of the
subcommittee, climbed out of his seat and
fed noiselessly in the general direction
of the Senate terrace.