The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-09
PERKINS FACES
Term IN JAIL
FOR CONTEMPT
Refuses to Answer Questions
on Campaign Fund
Contributions
IS GIVEN NIGHT
TO RECONSIDER
Former Partner of Morgan
Defiant When Examined
by Stanley Com
mittee

WASHINGTON August s.--sun~
down tomorrow may find George W.
Perkins. New York tinancier and for
mer partner of J. p. Morgan. pris- =
oner In the District OF Columbia tall
In contempt OF the house OF repra-
sentauves.
This fate faced Mr.. Perkins when
the Stanley steel investigation COM
mittee adjourned shortly before q
tonight.
On advice of counsel Mr.. Perkins
had persistenuy refused TO answer
questions regarding the political con-
tributions OF the steel trust. He was
given the night In which to think it
over. Tomorrow morning the ques-
tons WILL again be put to Mr.. Per-
kins. II he still declines to answer
he will thereupon be carried to thu
bar OF the house, where tho con-
tumacious refusal Of the financier will
be reported with recommendation
that he be committed for contempt
and be incarceratod until he decides
to answer.
1t is the general belief in Washing-
ton tonight that the house will up
hold the dignity of its select COM
mfttee and that Mr.. Perkins must
either answer the questions or go to
Jail
Perkins is Debonair.
Undoubtedly Mr.. Perkins realizes
the trap into which he has been led.
His manner has been debonair. even
defiant through the whole hearing
until late this afternoon. when with a
snap of his jaw, Chairman Stanley
bluntiy put to him the alternative
OF answering or going to Jail. Then
Perkins face paied and his manner
became most apprehensive. He pass
ed from a menaeing to a melting
mood and where before he had de-
clined to answer on his own initia-
tive. he now made ii clear that NJ
was perfectly willing to answer ex-
cept that his counsel advised against
il.
This sensational development
dwarfed everything else at to-day's
hearing which marked the first APP
pearance OF Mr.. Perkins a witness
before the committed The matter
of campaign contributions ran all
through the days session, however.
and it Is evident that the COMMITTEES
expects to open up perfect line
through Mr.. Perkins. So important
does Chairman Stanley regard 1t that
he was inclined to favor immediate
contempt proceedings against the witt
ness.
Stanley Is Dramatic.
1T comes new" he cried dramati-
caIly after Mr.. Perkins had the last
time declined tooanswsr on aa.4ceaof
Lindabury. counsel for the steel trust
in this investigation. lit comes now
to a question whether this commit
tee IS TO be sustained by the house,
This seems conduct contumaceous. de-
liant End ifg cosstern pit Of the commits
tee. Mr.. Perkins will be summoned
before the bar OF the house
Mr.. Perkins mbled. The per-
spiration broke from his forehead and
streamed down his face. With shak-
ing hand he mopped his brow and
neck. He turned questioning eyes on
AIR. Lindabury.
For the first time during the hears
ings Mr. Lindabury's tones We're un-
steady. II assume complete respon-
stbiltty for my advice" said he. Be
fore what you propose can be done
there must be other action and a
summons by the House. | demand
that the committee act with duo
regard for the law and the proceed
ings OF the House
Conference Is Held.
Mr.. Llndahury moved to ono of
the large windows to get air. There
/ followed several minutes OF con-
straint Then Chairman Stanley
sought Mr.. Lindabury FOR conrer-
ence. Representative Beall who
had caused the storm by his cross
examination on campaign cantrihu-
tons, Joined them. Judge Bartlett
led Mr.. Perkins into more peaceful
discussion of the panic Of 1907. When
the conference was over MIR. BeaIl
announced that he would question
Mr.. Perkins on campaign contribu-
lions tomorrow and Mr.. Perkins was
left free to discuss the wisdom OF
| his replies with Lawyers Lindabury
and Edgar A. Bancroft, counsel for
the Harvester Trust
Before this conclusion had been
reached Representative McGillicuddy
had Mr.. Perkins announce that hess
was not unwilling to answer the ques-
ton. but refrained from doing so on
the advice of Mr.. Lindabury. The
latter explained he did not want tho
steel corporation and the New York
Life Insurance Company mixed UP
| in the investigation. He said he
doubted the power of the committee
| to investigate the New York Life 81
compel production OF its books.
Other Interesting Features.
Other interesting features were de-
veloped at the hearing through Mr..
| Perkins and the production OF an
old minute book OF meetings OF the
executive committee of the Steel Trust
| during its early days and before the
executive committee was emerged In
| the finance committee in 1908.
There was presented plan Of
stock conversion into bonds present.
cd to the executive committee by Mr.,
Perkins under which $50, 900, 900 was
turned Into the trusts Golfers through
the device Of having stockholders sur
render per cent. stock for pNr