Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-10
PERKINS NOT
TO Be CITED
FOR ORC0NTtMPT |
Financier Who Refused to
Answer Questions Con-
ecrning Campaign Contri-
buttons Bluffs Committee.

Washington, d. c., Aug. o. The
steel trust investigation committee at
an executive session today decided not
to press at this time questions of cam
paign contributions in connection with
which Geo. w. Perkins of New York,
director OF the United States steer cor
poration, was yesterday threatened
with contempt proceedings before the
house of representatives.
The committee decided to require
the steel corporation to produce the
books of subsidiary companies.
Chairman Stanley refused to make
any statement. Some members OF the
committee asserted that Mr.. Perkins
had been freed only from answering
the questions regarding his personal
contributions and that the matter OF
the United States steel corporation
and the New York Lite Insurance
campaign contributions bad been de-
ferred.
The committee and their decision
not to press the inquiry into campaign
contributions was based on the con-
clusion that the house resolution did
not give authority to 80 into those
matters. It was said that Representa-
tive Littleton Of New York insisted
that the committee would thus tran
scend it's power.
Taft to Give Smith Data.
President Taft, 1t was said, promised
to furnish to the committee all IN
formation in the possession OF the
bureau Of corporations in regard TO
the steel trust which could be furn-
ished within the law The president
expected to have another conference
with the committeeman and Mr. Smith
later when the amount of information
to be furnished and It's kind would pc
determined. 81 !, s.S
! when the, executive session q the
committee adjourned Chairman stan
ley said, Nothing to say until ? p. m.
"The chair changed its rulings on
campaign contributions" said Rep
resentative Young, republican.
Young ought to know" said Attor-
ney r. v. Lindabury, Of the steel cor
poration, smilingly.
A resolution was passed demanding
the books Of the subsidiary companies
and directing legal steps in the event
Of their non-production.
tCud1E Iuhu 0ldlll0y, 1SCPAOo0h1eSSA'SS "
Lfttleton and Sterling, Of the commit
tee, and Herbert Knox Smith, commits
sioners of corporations, had confer
ence with President Taft at the white
house following the executive session.
All refused to discuss the conference.
Chairman Stanley and his asso-
ciates, it was learned later, had gone
to the white house to ask the presi-
dent to further release the reports OF
the commissioners corporation on the
steel industry with a view to getting
at some Of the matters sought in the
inquiry.
Before the committee went into ex-
ecutive session the attorneys for Mr..
Perkins had a conference, and when
inquisitors went behind closed doors
one of the attorneys, Mr.. Lindabury,
accompanied them. While nothing was
positively learned as to the character
Of the discussion it is judged from the
loud talking heard through the door
that at times the discussing was de-
Committee Resumes Sessions.
The steel committee resumed ex-
ecutive sessions shortly after 2
o'clock. 1t became known that Mr..
Perkins was freed from answering
questions relating to personal cam
paign contributions on motion of Rep
resentative Littleton that the vote be
reconsidered by which Chairman
Stanley was sustained in his decision
yesterday. Chairman Stanley said that
II Representative Young withdrew his
appeal from the decision he would
reverse his ruling. That was done and
Mr.. Littleton's motion was unneces-
sary.