Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-21
Mr.. Bonaparte Too Busy to
Meet Senate Committee,
SENDS COURTEOUS LETTER
Committee, However. Refuses to
Make Contents Known.
NOT IN FORM OF SUBPOENA
Chairman Clark Explains That At
torney General Was Merely In
vited to Tell About Steel.

4 highly developed order of unctuous
courtesy is being maintained between the
Senate committee on judiciary and Attor-
ney General Bonaparte over the question
of whether the Attorney General will OF
will not appear before the committee to
explain the merger of the Tennessee Coal
and Iron Company and the United States
Steel Corporation. When the subcommit-
met today Senator Clark of Wyoming, the
chairman, submitted letter which he re-
ceived yesterday from Mr. Bonaparte de-
clning the committees invitation to ap-
pear today for the reason he had an en-
gagement in the Supreme Court. The
committee considered the letter, and then
solmnly agreed not to make the letter or
its substance public The committee also
declined to authorize MIR. BonaparIe To
publish the letter, even after he had cX-
pressed willingness to do so, although
the committee decided it had no objcc-
ton to the Attorney General giving ii
out if he desired to do 50 upon his own
authority.
Not a Subpoena.
The investigation begun by the sub
committee was ordered by the Senate
after the receipt of a message from
sponsibility for the failure of the Attor-
ney General to bring an action against
the steel corporation because of the
merger.
Before proceeding the committee decided
to invite Mr.. Bonaparte to appear before
the compittee and make an explanation.
Chairman Clark was careful to explain in
connection with the announcement that
the invitation had been sent and that it
was not in the form of subpoena.
In spite of this precaution the impress
sion prevails that 1t was worded that
it would be difficult for Mr.. Bonaparte to
interpret it differently than polite sum-
mons.
Increases the Tension.
While members of the subcommittee
unanimously say that Mr.. Bonaparte's
reply was the embodiment Of courtesy, il
is evident that it contained some express
sion or ignored some suggestion from the
committee that has not tended to increase
the cordial relations between the commit
tee and the Department of Jus.ICe.
The fact that the ucommittee has seen
fit to make a mystery of the correspond
ence probably has exaggerated its i'm
portance, but at the same time ii has
made IL manifest that the committee will
not receive any aid from the White House
or the Department OF Justice in pursuing
its inquiries.
Correspondence Called For.
Senator Culberscn today introduced ir
the Senate resolution directing the At
torney General TO send to the Senate
copies OF all correspondence in the De-
Iartment of Justice relating to the al
legged violation Of the Sherm IN antitrust
act by the American Sugar Refining Com
pany in connection with an alleged lean
by that company ITO one SegaI." in which
LODI ,n,-ir,
capital stock of the PENNSYLVANIA Sugar
Refining Company. and under which il is
alleged an agreement was entered into
that the Pennsylvania Sugar Refining
Company should not engage in business
Under objection the consideration OF the
was postponed until tomorrow