Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-08-16
PERKINS VICTOR ON
CAMPAIGN GIFTS
Steel Probers Decide Not to
Press Questions.
AFRAID TO EXCEED POWERS
Investigators VIII Insist on the Pro-
duetion Of Records of Subsidiary
Companies in combine-Taft
Promises Information.

Washington. - George w. Per-
Hns. director of the United States
Steel corporation and former partner
in }. Pierpont Morgan & Co.. was not
cited for contempt before the bar of
the house by the house committee of
inquiry into the affairs of the steel
corporation. Neither will he be.
The committee decided at turbu-
lent executive session not to press
questions relating to Mr.. Perkins per-
sonal campaign contributions. The
inquiry into gifts of the New York
Life Insurance company and the Unit.
ed States Steel corporation. it was
said. was left in allegiance.
The committees decision not to
press the inquiry into campaign con-
tributions was based on the conclu-
sion that the house resolution did not
give authority to go into this sub
ject. 1t was said that Representative
Littleton Of New York insisted that
the committee would transcend its
power.
Several members of the committee
asserted that Mr. Perkins had been
freed only from answering the ques-
tons regarding his personal contribu-
tons and that the matter of the
United States Steel corporation and
the New York Life Insurance COM
pany campaign gift had not been de-
cided finally.
Chairman Stanley and Representa-
uves Littleton and Sterling of the
committee and Herbert Knox Smith,
commissioner of corporations, had a
conference with President Taft at the
White House following the executive
session. All refused to discuss the
conference. Chairman Stanley and
his associates, II was learned. had
gone to the White House to ask the
president to release the reports of
the commissioner OF corporations on
the steel industry with view to get
ting at some of the information sought
by the inquiry.
President Taft. It was said, prom
ised to give the committee all infor.
nation In the possession of the bureau
of corporations in regard to the steel
trust which could be furnished with.
in the law. The president expected
to have another conference with the
committeeman aud Mr.. Smith, when
the amount of information to be re-
vealed and its kind would be deter
mined.
When Mr.. Perkins resumed the
stand. he vigorously denied as unwar.
ranted and unjust an intimation that
the Harvester trust. of which he is
the financial head, might be connect
ed with the steel corporation.
Congressman Beall asked Mr.. Per.
kins:
Did you ever make contributions
to political campaign expecting to
be reimbursed by any corporation ?"
II did not" said Mr. Perkins.
Mr.. Beall led Mr. Perkins into dis
cussion OF the conditions of the trust
company OF America. of which Oakley
Thorne was president. on Octo-
Der % and "a in 1907. He told OF
the conference with Cortelyou had by
Morgan. Stillman, Baker and other
bankers on the night OF October "a
and of Morgan's refusal to aid the
trust company.
Mr.. Perkins said at his request Sec
RETRY Cortelyou deposited $4,000. 900
in the national banks. knowing the
banks would take good securities from
tie trust companies
This money" said the witness
went to the Trust Company of Am.
erica and it weathered the storm"
He denied the famous Melville F.
Stone interview, in which Mr. Perkins
is reported to have said that unless
the Tennessee Coal company was alb
sorbed every bank in New York
would have been involved In the panic