The Washington times., 1911-11-29
THE LlTTLETON STANLEY
FEUD,

Congressman Littleton has been en-
tirely frank in his attitude about
the steel investigation throughout. 1t
has been intimated in some quarters
that he has sought to help the steel
corporation by getting the Stanley in
vestigation pulled off, Mr.. Little
ton denies this most emphatically, SO
far as it concerns motive. but he ad
mits that, the Government having
started prosecution of the corporation,
there is no occasion for the investiga-
ton to proceed. Considering the re-
markable stretches that have been
given to the immunity statutes at
times, it certainly seems that there is
reason for care in such proceeding.
1t is worth while to remember that
Mr.. Littleton was repeatedly the most
persistent and skillful examiner of
witnesses in the earlier stages of the
inquiry. Down to the time when Con-
gress adjourned for the recess, Mr.. Lit
tleton's interest had in no wise abated
Rather, he took a most prominent part
in bringing out the details, from Mr..
Oakleigh Thorne and others, of testi-
mony that shed much light on the
facts of the 1907 panic. The record
made by Mr.. Littleton during these
earlier weeks of the inquiry certainly
must be searched with exceeding care
to discover evidence that he was play
ing double part, or that he was seek
ing to shelter the steel people.
In view of the charges that have,
however, been made, Mr.. Littleton has
demanded that certain witnesses be
summoned before the Stanley commit
tee, in an investigation of these
charges. To this request Chairman
Stanley replies that it does not seem
to be within the province of the
committee to take this action, and rec.
ommends that Mr.. Littleton should ap.
peal to the House for such an inquiry,
into matter affecting Mr.. Littleton's
integrity in performance of his duties.
The precedents and the practice
would seem to bear out the view OF
Mr.. Stanley in this regard. 1t is not
apparent that the Stanley committee
has any grant of powers from the
House that would sustain it in making
such a supplementary or collateral in,
quiry. It's business is with steel, and
not with charges that may be made
concerning the personal attitudes OF
Congressman or anybody else in con-
nection with the steel hearings.
The whole muss is unfortunate and
decidedly uncomfortable. It is GER
tainly regrettable that Mr.. Littletor
should be attacked because he has
been so frank and candid in his ex
pressions of opinion about the pro
priety of continuing the investigation
That sort of thing is unfair to publ.
men, and calculated to make towards
of them unless they have more cour
age than the average person always
displays. Mr.. Littleton is by no means
alone in his misgiving about the de
sirabihty of going ahead with the in
QUESTION. There are a good many 9th
er lawyers who incline to agree will
him. If the Department of Justice
wants matter which the committee car
produce through further inquiry, ther,
seems no reason why it should not as
certain from the Stanley people tn,
general purport of matters which Mr.
Stanley expects yet to develop, ant
then make its own investigation O.
these phases, in the processes of tax
ing testimony in a court proceeding.