The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-08-10

MAY KEEP
SECRETS
Steel Trust Investigators Decide
Not TO Press Campaign Do
nation Queries.
EXPLANATION MADE OF X
BIG SYNDICATE DEAL.
Involved Conversion of 100000
600 Preferred Stock Into Sec
Ond Mortgage Bonds.

WASHINGTON. Aug 9.-Georce w.
Perkins, director OF the United Statex
Steel Corporation. and former partner
In J. Pierpont Morgan 4 Company.
was not ordered before the bar OF the
house to-day by the committee of in
qu!ry into the affairs of the steel cor
poration Neither will he be. After
a heated executive session OF the
committee to-day. in which was dis
cussed the refusal on advice of coun-
sci, on Mr.. Perkins part to answer a
suggestive line oi questions regard
ing contribution Of corporations IN
campaign funds. the committee reach
ed an understanding whereby all
threats We're waived.
AT the outset, the committee in ex-
ecutive session. was induced by Rep
resentative Littleton to reconsider the
action OF yesterday. in which the
chair was sustained in ordering that
me witness answer questions as to
his personal campaign contributions.
Admits Contribution.
After this was done n plan was
agreed upon as 20 just what questions
regarding campaign contributions
should be asked and IL was under.
stood that Richard Lindabury. counsel
FOR the steel corporation. would de-
clare that he knew OF one contribu.
ton OF $4,000 made by that corpora-
ton 10 campaign fund in 1904. This
he afterward stated before the com.
mittee. and thereupon the political
phase of the inquiry was apparently
dropped.
When the executive session OF tha
committee vas ended. Mr.. Pcrkins
was called for by Chairman Stanley,
Il wish TO say" Mr. Lindaburv be-
gan. Il do not object TO questions as
TO campaign contributions of the steel
corporation; but do object 70 any
inquiry into the practice OF the New
YORK Lille 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 OF any other contributions
and submit them 10 the committee
This contribution Mr. Perkins
knows nothing about"
Then that obviates the necessity
or further questions in that regard"
said Representative Beall
End Political Inquiry.
Several questions along that Iina
followed. 10 which Mr. Perkins re-
Piled that he never had expectations
Of reimburscmcnt from ANYBODY and
there the campaign contribution in
quiry abruptly ended.
During the noon recess. Rcpresenta.
tives Stanley. Sterling and Littleton
called on President Taft 40 the White
House and gained his permission for
the expert OF the steel committee TO
have access TO the information. as vet
not made public gathered by the
bureau Of corporations regarding the
steel corporation
Following the disposition of tha
campaign question Representative
Bcall led Mr. Perkins again into the
financial panic and the Tounessee
Coal a Iron deal. bringing up event
ually the bond conversion transaction
made by the steel corporation
In the course Of the panic IuvesfI.
cation. Mr Hoall asked Mr. Perkins
" he remembered an Interview i'm thu
New York Times. in which he was
quoted as having said Thar the CHIEF
sore spot in the panic was the Trust
company Of America MIR Perkins did
not recall having given such an inter.
view. but he said he had talked COM
stantly TO newspaper men during that
period
Mr. Hcail asked r no had ever
talked 10 Melville T. stone. general
manager of the Associated Press.
about the interview and 10 hc had not
attempted 90 Justify the infBrvlew
hN eNuIufufrr that "urf.ea trsr-o-t
was ccntcred upon fhc Knickcrbocker
Trust Company and tho Trust Com
be- Involved
Mr Perkins said that be- talked 70
hr stone frequently during the panic,
fconffnned ON rnn.h rnr.