New-York tribune., 1911-10-26
Mr.. BARNES IN CONTEMPT.
Osborne Unable to Wiring An
SWerS from State Chairman.
CASE GOING TO COURTS
Albany Leader Holds That Ques-
tions Have Nothing to Do
with Purpose of Inquiry.
~ TeIccrnrh 10 - rr,hnre- !

Albany, oct 25-Villlam Barnes, jr.,
chairman of the Republican State Commit
tee, was declared in contempt Of the Senate
no less than twenty times to-day, while a
witness before the Albany Investigating
Committee, because Of questions he declined
to answer. In nearly every instance the
stenographer was directed by Chairman
Bayne to note the contumacy of the wit
ness" He also told James w. Osborne,
the chief counsel for the committe, to take
steps to force the witness TO give the de-
sired answers. Mr. Osborne said after the
hearing that he would Immediately apply to
a Supreme Court Judge for an order to
show cause why Mr.. Barnes should not
answer the questions, returnable either Fri
day or Monday in this city or New York.
If we want to punish Mr.. Barnes FOR
not answering questions remarked MI
Osborne with a smile, we've either got
10 recOnvene the Senate or go to the courts
But the trouble with getting the senate
back here is that II the state chairman
we're put in Jail for contempt OF the senate
the Senate would have 20 stay In session
as long as ne remained there. therefore
we are going to the courts
There is no likelihood of Mr.. Barnes going
to iail. however, as his refusal to answer
certain questions is because he held they
had nothing to 90 with the purpose lot
which the committee was created. II Is ue-
ueved that he would answer the questions
il directed TO by court order.
MIR Osborne to-day had another struggle
mostly in vain. to get certain Information
from Mr.. Barnes. The state chairman
either resorted 10 poor memory toid "S
little as possible when he did answer oI
refused to answer at all While adihit'lns
that he was responsible for the edl'orIdI
poljcv of "The Albany Evening Jourhal,
ra declined TO answer the question as "
v-bather he controlled its editoria! poho'
and business methods. lie said that He
directed its policy at times, and as MAJ
a,ipo editor had a right TO direct IL. MI
oshorne asked him II it ever occurred l"
hin, chat through his leadership poHucld"9
o,d ofncebolders might not be INDUCED u
t,,,e, business to The Journal or II 'lete
,,.as any, reason why The journal shou'"
,,., X nor cent bonus Tor printing con-
,,.acts piven 70 The Argus But the VII
ness would tell nothing, ana Wheh asl
tod instructed the business manage
-. 90 "The Journal not to permit ll'
cooks 10 be brought before tle 'o''''.'.'
,ae he said that the business hiahase' ,,at- i,o
o latter from the board or dire0'oi'
would answer the question:
,.s,.s - Produce journal Books.
called TO the stand. John II. Lindsay' tl'e
business manager, said that by dre'''U,. %.
- .,,o hoard OF directors Of "fhe Jourha'
- ,,,5 no+ nroduce the books of ne
I,,,.,al" When recalled TO the stand Nj
rorrae was asked II Anthony \. braoS
,.oe q etockholder Of THE Journal coi''
many and declined TO answer
,,1rsre Won suhppnaed Mr. Brady? MI
wainwright asked
"No. but I will" Mr.. Osborne ans"e'e"-
lie then instructed one Of his assistants
30 telerraph TO Mr. Brady asking nm 10
to present at the hearing tomorrow.
81 am going to find out who owns the
s,ock ~ The Albany Journal If II Is the
last act Of my Hfc," said Mr.. Osborne
Who declared that it had already been
ebovn that Mr.. Brady was a considerable
holder Of stock in The albany Hs
Company which had had business ue"i-
ings with Tine Journal.
Mr.. Barnes declined 10 answer the ques-
ton as 10 whether he paid for the slocA
he held IN the J. l.. Lyon Company' WHICH
does a large part of the state Wlnuhb'
When he was excused rrom the witness
stand Mr.. Barnes asked that the question
and his answer IN relation TO the Lyon
stock be read to him lie then said that
the reason he declined to answer was be-
cause he did not think il within the Juris-
diction of the committee. There seemed
,o he q yelled threat when ne added that
"the implication as 70 the method OF his
acquiring the stock would be a matter LOT
future consideration.
u think III let that 20 as my state
ment." he said when Chairman Bayne
asked for an explanation. Mr. Osborne
also suddenly became interested, asking If
he was 10 be hurt or injured in any way
and stating that he mad made no implica-
tions but had merely asked a few ques-
lions which the committee wanted TO kno"
about
Senator Wainwright Interposes.
~ believe | know what Mr.. Barnes
saf .ferttf