Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-08-12
TRUST GAVE $4,000
TO 1904 CAMPAIGN

ter perkins is Freed From Telling
of Personal contribut ons.
Washington, Aug l0.--Following
two long and stormy executive ses
sious. the Stanley steel trust" inves
tigating committee resumed delving
into campaign contributions by the
United States Steel corporation.
The executive sessions had been de-
voted to determining whether or not
to force George W. Perkins. steel cor
poration director and former partner
In the banking firm Of j. r. Morgan &
CO., to tell about personal and cor
porate campaign contributions. At
first, 1t was said. on authority OF
Representative Young. Republican,
that the committee had reversed 1t.
self, and that the threat OF haling
Mr.. Perkins before the house for con-
tempt Tor not answering questions had
fallen by the wayside.
When the committee reassembled 1t
became apparent that the reversal
had only to do with personal contribu-
tons.
When the executive session was
ended, and the committee was pre-
pared TO proceed with the examination
Of Perkins, r. v. Lindabury, counsel
for the Steel corporation and for Mr..
Perkins. announced that the Steel cor
poration In 1904 contributed $4,000
70 campaign fund, but whether 1t
WAS national or state he did not know.
He said he would produce the papers
AS soon as possible. and that Mr.. Per-
kins was not connected with that con-
tribution. f,~.lsls.Ss - b 4 4Il
5eali Is lnsistent.
Representative Beall declared he In
tended TO press the question of finding
out whether the New York Life COM
pany and the Steel corporation had
made contributions. Mr.. Beall inti-
mated that II the Stanley ruling be
reversed in its entirety he intended
to bring the question up on the door
OF the house.
MI Perkins was then called to the
stand and Mr. BealI began to ques-
ton him concerning campaign contri-
buttons made by the New York Life
and the Steel corporation. Mr.. Linda
bury again interposed an objection to
Mr. Beall's questions.
After little preliminary sparring
between Attorney Lindabury and Mr..
Beall the latter asked Mr.. Perkins:
did you ever make any personal
campaign contributions that were re-
imbursed by corporation?" II never
did" replied the witness.
While deciding not to press Mr..
Perkins on personal campaign con-
tributions, the committee decided to
require the steel corporation to pro-
duce the books of subsidiary compa-
MES. The power of the committee to
do this also had been questioned.
The committees decision not to
press the inquiry into personal cam
paign contributions was based on the
conclusion that the house resolution
did not give authority TO go into those
matters. II was said that Represen-
tative Littleton, Democrat, of New
York, insisted that the committee
would thus transcend its power.
Mr.. Littleton, with the four Repub-
lcan members, constituted a majority
of the whole committee, which COM
prises FIVE Democrats and four Re
publicans.
Even should any otter questions
campaign contributions be
pressed" said r. " Lindabury, coun-
sci for the Steel corporation, they
would not be answered"
Confer With Taft.
Following the first executive ses-
sion, the probers caused q bfand-new
stir when Representative Stanley, the
chairman; Representatives Liitleton
Herbert Knox Smith, commissioner Of
had a conference with
President Taft at the White House.
All refused TO discuss the confer.
snce, but later ii was learned Mr.
Stanley and his associates had gone
o the White House to ask the presi.
tent to release further reports Of the
Of corporations on the
iteel industry With view Of getting
It some Of the subjects sought in the
inquiry
President Taft, It q said. promised
2 farm "a the commi tee all informa-
ion II the possession II the bureau
i corporations " regard 70 the steel
iust which could be furnished with
II the law.
The president expected to have an
'ther conference with the committee
nen and Mr. Smith later, when the
mount Of Information to be furnished
nd its kind would be determined
Under the law. Mr.. Smith reports
irectIy to the president, but he said
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