The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-06-21
Lorimer Case is Again
Being Investigated
CONTINUED from First Page)

IN connection With the Payne-Aidr!ch
tariff bill
The new committee appointed by
resolution Of the SENATE hae not ex-
pected to begin its hearings until
Thursday, the 22nd. but thu desire Of a
material witness 70 get rW'sy to Europe
brought about a decision to begin the
taking Of testimony with Mccormick
as the first occupant o. the witness
stand. Room 81 Of the Sannte Official
building, lerge and airy apartment.
has been set apart for the use OF tho
Lorimer committee.
Mr.. Mccormick was brought into the
case with the testimony given the
Helm investigating committee Of the
Illinois senate by Clarence S, Funk
manager Of the harvester company, but
he was not himself a witness before
that committee.
1t was not expected that his testi-
mony would be extensive as, from
Funk's statement, his only knowledge
Of the alleged irregularities in connec-
ton with the Loriner election con-
sisted Of what Funk had told him Of
his reported conversation with Edward
Hines relative to the raising of the
fund of 100000 in Lorimer's behalf.
AMPLE CORPS OF ATTORNEYS,
Provided with an ample corps OF at
torneys, clerks and stenographers and
other assistants, the committee of eight
is prepared to proceed with the work
as rapidly as circumstances will per-
nit. The first meeting was called for
IL o'clock today after which it was ex-
pected than an adjournment would be
taken until Thursday.
The committee continues to promise
that If possible the work will be con-
cluded during the present session of
congress. It Is realized, however, that
in order to accomplish this result it
will be necessary to crowd on all pos
sible steam. Every person mentioned
in connection with the case will be ex-
amined, together with new witnesses
and it is expected that visits to both
Chicago and Springfield will be neces-
sary. Mr.. Lorimer himself will be
questioned infinitely.
I'VE will follow every lead that pre-
sents itself" said one Of the members
of the committee just before the be-
ginning Of today's sitting.
The inquiry is in the hands of a
select committee composed Of eight
members Of the committee on privi-
leges and elections but Notwithstanding
the relations Of the members to that
committee this organization will be en-
tirely independent of it. Having been
directly authorized by the senate the
committee will be responsible only to
that body It is in no sense a SUBJ
committee.
FLETCHER A MEMBER.
OF the eight members Of the special
committee, four, Messrs. Dillingham; of
Vermont, Gamble of South Dakota,
Jones Of Washington and Kenyon of
wa are Republicans and four, Messrs.
. ohnston of Alabama, Fletcher of Flor
ida, Kern of Indiana and Lea of Ten
nessee, are Democrats. The members
are supposed to be divided evenly for
and against Lorimer, but all of course
realize that they are to act as judges
and that therefore they must enter
upon their duties prepared to change
convictions If the evidence should be
of a convincing character in the d.
rection opposed to their views.
The members claimed to be favorable
to LOrimer are Dillingham; and Gam
bic, Johnston and Fletcher, two Repub-
licans and two Democrats, and those
as against him, Jones, Kenyon, Kern
and Lea, two Republicans and two
Democrats. All of the pro-Lorimer
men were members of the last congress
and cast their votes for the Illinois
senator in the investigation made by
that congress.
Senator Jones is the only anti Lori
mer man who had an opportunity to
vote on the previous roll call. Messrs.
Kenyon, Kern and Lea are all new
men but they have made open express
sions of their conviction that the facts
in the case are sufficiently against Mr..
Lorimer to justify his expulsion from
the senate.
The committee will have the assist
ance of John Marble, an attorney for
the Interstate commerce commission,
and of John J. Healy, who acted for
the Illinois senate committee in the
same capacity. Former Judge Elbridge
Hancey of Chicago, will be counsellor
for Mr.. Lorimer, as he was in the pre-
vious inquiry.
As now arranged the first witness on
Thursday will be former Governor
Richard Yates of Illinois, but there has
been no decision as to who shall fol-
low him. 1t is expected that, however,
Mr.. Funk will be called at an early
day as most of the facts brought out
! by the Illinois inquiry were the result
| of his testimony before the Helm COM
mittee. Mr.. Lorimer is not expected to
appear until much later in the inquiry