New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-24
ROW IN STEEL COMMITTEE
Stanley and LittIeton Clash Over
Right to Proceed.
MAY CHECK THE INQUIRY
Fight To Be Taken to Floor Of
House as Soon as Con-
gress Convenes,
From The Tribune Bureau.

Nashingtnn Nov. 23.-There is open us
sension to-day among the Democratic mem
hers of the House steel investigating com
mittee, and halt Of the inquiry Is proc
able unless Chairman Stanley can deiea'
Representative Martin W. Littleton on the
floor Of the House. Chairman Stanley -
preparing n speech in answer 10 the move
Mr. Iittleton is expected to make to have
the hearings discontinued as soon as Con-
gress c0nyenos.
Representative littleton has practlca'y
bolied the committee and has taken ih'
view that since the administration has De-
sun suit To dissolve the Steel Trust ne
stanley committee is without further 1uii'-
dic;ion. Ills attitude is now plain To MS
Democratic colleagues on the commit"
and Nj. Stanley. anxious TO proceed win
tho investigation. is making ready TO ap-
peal to the House Mr.. Littleton can cast
the deciding vote ia committee as to
continuance of the hearings.
Representative Littletun abrGntly left the
hearing while enc of the Merritls vas t"s-
flying OH Wednesday. lie was not pres
- Yesterday when the hearing was con-
iiuued, aud il was learned authoritativeN
to-day that other members of the commit
tee DO not expect him to he present at
future bearings, unless the House itself
orders The inquiry to proceed.
when the committee reaszemhled hc"e
Mr.. Littlelon took the position that ,he
governments suit against tho Steel Trust
should nullify ali further activities on the
part OF the Stanley committee. There was
a heated executive session, ana the ques-
ia frtlI NM f.
tee assemblies early in December.
The Stanley committee IL composed oi
i've Democrats and four Republicans Mr..
I.ittleton is expected 10 vote with the Re
pubcans when the question of continuing
the hearings arises This would make the
vote 20 / against Stanley and send the
fight to the flonr of the House.
II nave nothing To say against AlT. Lit
tlctcu; ne is my personal friend said
Chairman Stanley to-day. But he ana ]
seem to differ considerably on this quns-
item have learned that an attempt will
me made on the House huor To have these
hearings discontinued ! am going To fight
this move to the bitter end, no matter who
preCiptetes the issue ] do not believe tina
the Steel Trust can control the Democratic
House, and 7 am determined that this m
vrstigaiinn shall proceed"
From sources close to Chairman Stanley
there came the following statement to-
night:
\ controversy la the House between
Chairman Stanley and Representative lit
Teton. both Democrats, is inevitable. stan
ley has heeu warned that Lttetou will not
side with him in committee, and the duel
of words on the floor uf the House will be
wcrth coming Mules ia hear. Littletou IS
understood To- have washed his hands OF
the Investigation since the government he
gan suit AGAINST the Steel Trust, aud con
fiict Is impending.
Asked what he would do II Mr.. Litiletnn
voted with the minority 10 discontinue the
hearings, Mr. Stanley replied
# can have the committee enlarged So
that tho hearings may proceed \ Demo-
cratic House can remedy this, If am out
voted in committee"
Fhe resolution creating the committee
provided that it should investigate "al vio-
lations Of law which have not been prose
CJted by the executive branch Of the gov
Mr. Littletou and some Re-
! ubliCan members Of tie committee say
that since the government has Instituted
suit the committee is without poWcr to pro-
coed under the resolution r-