Evening star., 1911-06-06
PACT CHANGE LIKELY name A COMMITTEE
Second LorImer investigation
Is Soon to Begin.
EIGHT SENATORS TO ACT
Authority Given Committee to En-.
ploy Counsel to Search Out
Evidence.

To make the second investigation Of the
charges of corruption In connection with
the election Of William Lo1mer as SEN
ator from Illinois. the Senate committee
on privileges and elections has picked
Senators Dillingham;, Gamble, Jones and
Kenyon, republicans, and Senators Fletch-
er. Johnson. Kern and Lea, democrats
and with the approval by the Senate OF
their selection the subcommittee will at
once begin its work.
The probing committee has been framed
to be equally divided as to political af-
fliations and as to sentiment toward the
Lorimer case. Senators Dillingham;. Gam
BILE. Fletcher and Johnston voted for Lor-
inner at the last session; Senator Jones
voted against him, and Senators Kenyon.
Kern and Lea are new members of the
upper house, but known to be anti-Lori-
mer.
subcommittee Selected.
The subcommittee to make the investl-
CATION was named at a meeting OF the
full committee on privileges and elections
Yesterday afternoon. The committee first
discussed Senator Kenyon's motion that
the investigation be made by the full COM
mittee; but that was defeated by vote
of ten to three. Those supporting the
motion were Senators Kenyon, Clapp and
Jones.
Following the defeat of that motion,
Senator Bailey moved the appointment
of a subcommittee. and named Senator'S
Clapp and Sutherland In place OF Senators
Jones and Kenyon. The two former
yielded in favor of the two latter, ana the
Washington and Iowa senators were n
nally named.
The plans of the subcommittee contem-
plate the holding of many of the hearings
in Washington. but Illinois will be visited.
Plans Under Discussion.
Plans for the demonstration of the
case are being discussed informally
among the members of the subcommittee
which is to make the probe. and there
will be many points of difference In the
conduct of the inquiry between the first
and second investigations.
The committee probably will appoint
special counsel to present the evidence re-
garding the alleged corruption In the IL
linois legislature that led to the election
of MIR. Lorimer. During the nrst inquiry
the presentation of the evidence was left
by the committee to the counsel for the
Chicago newspaper that had been most
actively anti-Lorimer and to the counsei
for Mr. Lorimer The committee had no
counsel of its own.
The resolution agreed to IN the senate
for the second inquiry gives the COM
mittee specific authority to employ coun-
sci: and there Is much sentiment among
senator's that an attorney OF high ability
should be appointed to search out the
sentation In that connection several
prominent lawyers have already been
mentioned, including Louis D. Brandeis,
who acted for the prosecution" IN the
Ballinger-P -Pinchot Investigation, and the
former Secretary Of War, Jacob NJ. Dick
inson.
Several members OF the investigating
committee are in favor of holding as
many Of the hearings in Washington as
possible. 1t will be urged that the com
mittne should not 60. to Illinois unless
they must examine books and papers OF
take similar evidence that could not JUS,
as easily be produced in Washington. II
is contended that the holding OF the
ators who are not members of the prob
ing committee to drop In at the sessions
see the witnesses as they appear on the
stand and make suggestions as the in
quiry proceeds.
More of a "Reinvestigation."
It will be a reinvestigation OF the case
rather than a further investigation. IN
the opinion Of a majority OF the mem
bers Of the committee. While the COM
tee might accept previous testimony when
it appears to have brought out all OF the
essential features about which the wit.
ness had knowledge, is still felt tha,
the new committee would like to see al
Of the material witnesses on the stano
and nave the opportunity to cross-exam.
inc them The evidence already produced
before the United States Senate commit.
tee and before the Illinois senate commit
tee lis expected to furnish the basis foI
the beginning of the probe. and the com
mittee will branch out into new lines sug.
gested by the counsel and by the new
testimony produced.