Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-08-10
PERKINS WILL NOT
Be CITED FOR
CONTEMPT
STEEL TRUST COMMITTEE
DECIDES TO BACK DOWN
Questions as to Witness Per-
SOnal Contributions to Cam
paign Funds Ruled Out Of
Order After Executive Session
fBy Morning Journal specssl L..=sd wire, /,

fby Morning Journal specisi Ls.=ed wirs.l
washington, Aug. 9.-George w.
Perkins, director of United States
Steel corporation, and former partner
of ]. p. Morgan and company. was
not ordered before the bar of the
mousse today by the house committee
on inquiry into the affairs OF the steel
corporation. Neither viii he be.
After heated executive session of
the committee, In which was discuss
ed the refusal of Mir. Perkins -
answer suggestive line of questions
regarding contributions of corpora
uons 10 campaign funds, the commit
tee reached an understanding where
by all threats We're Withdrawn
At the outset the committee was in
duced by Representative Littletou to
reconsider the action of yesterday In
which the chair was sustained in err
dering that the witnesses answer
questions as TO his campaign contri-
buttons. After this plan was agreed
upon as to just what questions
should be asked, and il was
understood that Richard Lindabury,
counsel for the steel corporation,
would declare that he knew of one
contribution of $4,000 made by the
corporation to a campaign fund in
1904. This he afterward stated he
fore the committee, and thereupon,
the political phase Of the inquiry ap.
parently was dropped.
When the executive session OF the
committee was ended. Mr.. Perkins
was called upon by Chairman Stanley
Representative Littleton. upon the
arrival of Mr.. Perkins began state
ment relating how he had been absent
on the previous day when Mr.. Per-
kins had been asked to what extent
he had made contributions to cam
paign funds after he became con-
nected with the steel corporation.
Upon the amissibility of this evil
dence" said Mr.. Littleton vote was
taken and it was held to be legal TO
ask such questions. have examined
thoroughly the resolution of the
house under which .his committee
was appointed and after much delib-
Grafton and consideration, | have
made up my mind that any question
TO any witnesses as to personal cam
paien contributions is not admissible
under the resolution, unless II can be
shown that such contributions were
made with the UNDERSTANDING that
thereafter the contributor was to bel
reimbursed by the steel corporation.
"As to the question put yesterday
relating to the difference in the meth
od of keeping records between the
United States steel corporation and
the New York Life Insurance com
pany. that matter is still pending.
Representative Ball, under direction
of the committee, will continue TO In
terrogate the witness and | wish II
understood that | will meet future
questions as they come to me-"
Representative Bartlett of Georgia,
democrat, is reported to have stood
by Mr.. Littleton in the executive ses-
sion in his view OF the situation.
When Mr. Beal reached the ques-
ton as to the New York Life In
surance company, Mr.. Perkins did
not answer and an answer from
him was not insisted upon. Instead
Richard V. Jindsbury, counsel FOR
the United States steel corporation
said: II wish, to say that am as un-
alterable In my opinion relating 10
some question as is the chairman IN
his l do not object to questions as
to campaign contributions OF the
Steel corporation. but | do object TO
any inquiry into the practice OF the
New York Life Insurance company as
to campaign contributions.
"In 1904 the United States Steel
corporation contributed $4,000 to a
political campaign, whether for a
state or national campaign. | do not
remember. | will look up the records
of this and any other contributions
and submit them to the committee.
This contribution, Mr.. Perkins knows
nothing about"
Then that obviates the necessity
of further questions in that regard,
said Representative Beall.
Mr.. Perkins said he had never had
expectations of reimbursement from
anybody.