The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-10
Steel Pro bing Committee
Turns Turtle on Mr..
Stanley
NEW YORK FINANCEIR
EVADES QUESTIONING
Tells Of Few Harmless Acts
and of 1907 Panic-Com-
mittee May Ad-
journ Soon

WASHINGTON. August s-ITh1
Stanley steel Investigating committees
turned turtle on the chairman to-
day. There is to be no punishment
for George W. Perkins. the New York.
/ finanoier, who refused to answer Ques.
tons OF the committee Els to cam
paign contributions from the steel
trust and the New York Life In
New York from Il painful though not
a dangerous operation, Representa~-
tive Martin w. Littleton threw tho.
weight OF his influence against Chair.
man Stanley In his determination to
force Mr.. Perkins to tell of these
contributions or go before the bar
for contempt. Mr.. Littleton was not
at the committee meeting yesters-
day.
/ With Representative Bartlett, OF
| Georgia, MIR. Littletn told Mr..
! Stanley that he had gone too far.
| They agreed to let Mr.. Stanley ask
/ II the steel corporation had contribute
| ed.
| Mr.. Bean asked Mr.. Perkins what
was the difference in the way the
| steel trust and tho New York Life
Insurance kept their minutes of di-
rectors' meetings. This was the
{ 8hNTAAtll LllaI caused Inc trouble yea
terday.
| All Prearranged.
! Mr.. Perkins did not answer but
Counsel Lindabury took the floor. 1t
/ was all prearranged by the majority
/ or the committee consisting Of Lit
tleton and Bartlett. Democrats:
| Young. Gardner. Stirling and Dam
forth, Republicans
My objection has been to the wit
ness being forced to tell OF prac-
tees of the New York Life Insurance.
Company in connection with the steel
corporation investigation" said Mr..
lindabury. Il find that the steel
corporation made "A contribution az
*le, GOO in 1904. l don't know whe-
ther this was for "a national or State
| election. The papers are on file
and we win produce them. viii
md out also what other IL any con-
tributions for political purposes have
been made by the steel corporation.
| but / Will not have my witness, Mr..
| Perkins, locked up with anything thu
New York Life may have done. I
VIII also object to all questions an
to personal contributions for political
purposes.
Representative Beaii accepted hi,
defeat gracefully. With sarcastic
smile he turned to Mr. Lindabury
and observed: TT obviously is I'M
necessary to continue the Investigation
alog this line. I may be permitted
to assume that the steel corporation
has made no political contributions
| since 1905 when you got Iawyera
John G. Johnson and David r Wat
son to tell you Il was illegal to do
so"
Mir. I.inasbury said he would su1,-
ply the information but Mr.. Perkins
said nothing.
Mr.. Iittleton announced his poxt-
ton as to Investigations into CAM
patgn contributions and Mr.. Bartlett
said soothing.
- Littleton Has Say.
II am opposed" said Mr.. Idttle-
ton, Ito pursuing the inquiry into the
personal contributions of New York
street corporation men for political
purposes untn their contribution was
lacquiesced In by the steel corporation.
An inquiry into the personal contrt-
buttons of any man la not within the
scope OF the investigation. I acouafnt-
ed myself on that question. and I
wish to be understood as speaking
alphabetically On all other questions
OF contributions / viii consider al
they arise
To this pronunciamento the Ne
versed chairman OF the COMMITTEES.
MIR. Stanley, replied: 1T Is well known
that Mr. Perkins made political con-
trfbutions How they were made IL
relevant TO this investigation We
hold, also. that 1t is relevant for the
committee to ask what differences
there was In Mr.. Perkins knowledge
OF methods of keeping the books and
directors minutes between the New
oFk Life Insurance Company and
the steel trust. Should Mr.. Beau in
sist on an answer to this question.
will stand with him. I do not
change
But Mr.. Beall did not ask the cues
ton, much less insist on an answer.
He took his instructions from a ma
jority OF the committee and asked
an iuocuous question.
Usefulness Impaired.
1t is the opinion here to-night that
as a result of the breakdown OF the
committee and it's division, its use
fulness has been greatly and sadly
impaired 1t il felt that the majority
controlling to-day Will point to the
work when the danger point to the
majority, the interesting point to the
public, has been reached. Chairman
Stanley has intimated recess from
next Saturday until October.
The committee was in executive ses-
sion most of the day fighting bitterly
on the question whether MIR. Perkins
should be held in contempt for fall
ure to answer questions as to cam
palgn contributions, Chairman Stanley
and Representative Galicuddy and
Beall stood for the committee and
its powers under the House resolution
Messrs. Littleton and Bartlett. DEM
ecrats. opposed. No vote was taken
on the question of forcing Mr.. Per-
klnS to answer or go TO iail, III WAS
hopeless Mr.. BealI had the single
, question on this subject framed for
, him and he asked II.
, Representative Gardner. Republic
can, also hurriediy brought to WASH
: ington for the emergency, had tho
| committee adopt a RESOLUTION caliinN
lConftuuad nm Eecond PnRnl