The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-10
or is M r. Perkin S
I it d | e ore Ear
of Hou e.
H0FAlo WAIVED
g. u ALL is PEACL
Committee, in Executive Session
Is Induced to Reconsider Ac-
tion in Ordering Witness to
Answer Queries as to His
Personal Campaign
Contributions.

Washington, ID. c.. August 3.--George
w. FcrHins. uirtctor OF the United
states steel Corporation and former
partner In j. p!erpUnt Morgan e Co.
wds not ordered before tne bar OF the
House To-Day by the House committee
oi inquiry into the affairs of the Steel
cooperation. Neither w,ll he be. AZ
ler hsated executive session of the
committee to-day, in wh.ch was dis
tnssed the refusal. on advice of coun-
sci. OF MIR. Perkins's part to answer
suSSes tive line of questions regarding
contributions OF corp orations to cam
paiSn funds. the committee reached an
Understanding whereby all threats
were waived.
The committee, In executive session.
was induced by Representative Little.
ION TO reconsider the action OF yester-
day. in which the char was sustained
IN ordering ina, the wl,ness answer
questions as 10 mis- personal campaign
contributions.
Political Phnsc Dropped.
After this was done pan was agreed
upon as TO just what questions regard
ing contributions should be asked, and
II vas understood that Richard Linda
berry. counsel for the Steel Corpora
ton. would declare that he knew of
one contribution OF $4,000 made BIZ
That corporation to q campaign fund
IN 1904 This he afterward stated be-
tore the committee. and thereupon the
political phase OF the inquiry appar-
emily was dropped.
When the executive session of the
committee was ended Mr.. Perkins was
called for by Chairman Stanley Rep
'esentatiVe Littlcton. upon the arrival
OF Nh Perkins, began a statement. re-
!atins how he had been asked to what
extent he had made contributions to
campaign funds after he became con-
nee,ed with the Steel Corporation.
!, Upon the admissibility of this evi-
dence. said Mr.: Littleton, "a. vote was
taken and it was held TO be legal to
ask such questions. ] have examined
thoroughly the resolution of the House
under which this committee was an !.
pointed, and after much discussion and
consideration have made UP nv mind
that any question to any witness as to
MS personal campaign contributions is
NOT admissible under this resolution
unless IL can be shown that such con-
triontions were made with the under
standing that thereafter the contribu
Tor was. to be reimbursed by the Steel
Corporation.
AS to the question put yesterday
relating to the difference in The
method OF Keeping records between
the United States Steel Corporation
and the New York Life insurance
Company. that matter is still pend
ing Representative Beal under al
rection of the committee. will con-
tinue to interrogate the witness. and
| wish II understood that I will meet
future questions as they come to me-"
Representative Bartlett. OF Georgia.
also Democrat, is reported to have
stood by Mr.. Littleton in the executive
committee in his view of the stu
alton.
Chairman STANLEY declared 1t was
we'll known that the campaign con-
tributions that were not spread upon
uminousness" were made by corpora
tons.
Decision Not Altered.
AN inquiry" said Mr.. Stanley, "as
TO the methods by which the United
States Steel Corpora ton kept its
books with reference to this prac-
tice is relevant. Mr.. Beall may and
Will exercise a wise discretion in the
matter. but as to the question as to
what difference there was in the way
the United States Steel Corporation
and other corporations-that Is, the
New York Life Insurance Company
kept Its records. the chair Is or the
opinion that 1t IS relevant and com,
petent should Mr. Beall Insist upon
an answer to that question. The de-
cisicn of the chair Is not to be al
tered"
Though this declaration created con-
siderable excitement for a moment
when Mr.. Beall restated the question.
Mr.. Perkins did not answer, and an
answer from him was not insisted upon.
Instead. Richard V. Lindaberry, coun-
sci for the United States Steel Cor
poration. rose to make a statement.
II wish to say" Mr. Lindaberry be-
gan. that / am as unalterable in my
opinion relating to some questions as
is the chairman in his. I do not OBJ
ject to questions as, to campaign con-
tributions of the Steel Corporation
but do object to any inquiry into the
practice OF the New York Life Insur-
ance Company as to campaign con-
trbutions.
I'm 1904 the United States Steel
Corporation contributed $4,000 to a
political campaign. whether for State
or national campaign l don't remem-
Der. will look up the records of
this and of other contributions and
submit them to the committee. This
contribution Mr.. Perkins knows moth
ing about"
Then that obviates the necessity Of
further questions in that regard said
Representative Beall.
Several questions along that line
followed. to which Mr.. Perkins replied
that he had never had expectations OF
reimbursement from anybody, and
there the campaign contribution in
quiry abruptly ended,
May Use Information.
During the noon recess Representa-
lives Stanley, Sterling and Littleton
called on President TAFT at the White