The Washington times., 1912-09-17
SENATE COMMITTEE
ON CAMPA|GN PROBE
TO MEET HERES SOON
Chairman Clapp Has Called
Members for Conference
September 27.

Chairman Clapp, of the Senate sub
committee, empowered to make an IN
vestigation of political contributions un-
der the Penrose resolution, will confer
with the entire committee on September
a. three days prior to the first session.
Senator Pomerene, who was in WASH
ington for conference Sunday, left
yesterday afternoon. No other men,
bers of the committee are expected to
visit Washington before September u.
All possible publicity will be given the
testimony of witnesses, according to
Chairman Clapp. The hearing will be
held in the large room occupied by the
Senate Committee on Appropriations, on
the first floor of the Senate wing. Places
will be made first for witnesses and
the press and the public will be admit
ted to the number that the room will
accommodate.
Meetings Will Be Public.
"It would be impossible to admit all
persons who might be interested. I do
not know where we could find room
large enough" said Senator Clapp.
The three political interests or ele-
ments will be represented and every
newspaperman will! be given a place.
AS much of The public as can be ac-
ward. l think no fault can be found
with such an arrangement"
The same stenographic corps which
has done Senator Clapps work for the
past eight years will report the hear
ings. Headquarters for the stenog-
raphers will be arranged in the Patents
Committee room. Senator Clapp wrote
yesterday, merely as formality, to
mittee on Patents. asking permission to
use the room.
Witness List Growing.
The list of witnesses is increasing
daily. Several more names will be add
ed the latter part of the week. Many
of the men may know nothing of in
terest to the committee, but they will
be asked to come. The names Of the
more prominent men on the list of wit
nesses have been made public. The
list as whole would. according to the
chairman, make very commonplace
reading"
None of the witnesses have yet en-
ployed attorneys, SO far as known.
If John D. Archbold, George w. Per-
kins, and Colonel Roosevelt have any
papers bearing on campaign contribu'
tions, they will be asked to produce
them. Theh first examination will be OF
the men themselves, though said Sen
ator Clapp. The committee Is empow
cred, under the resolution, to subpoena
witnesses and to send for books, papers
and records.
1t Is doubted that Mr.. Archbold has
any correspondence relating to financia
transactions during political campaigns
as 1t is believed that William Randolph
Hearst has most of Archbold's CORE
spondence of this nature. Archbol(
testified at one time that Hearst hat
practically all of his private CORE
spondence.
Diplomats and Railroads.
The relation Of campaign contribu
lions to ambassadorial appointments. t.
tariff schedules, to railroad legislation
and to executive acts of all kinds will
be inquired into. The resolution Is ex
tremely broad. Its breadth has pro
duced serio-comic situation; each tim
that a new angle Is thought of tnquir,
is made of Senator Clapp. And to eacl
inquiry as to whether this or that angl
of campaign contributions Is to be In
vestigated Senator Clapp returns a.
invariable affirmative answer.
Senator Pomerene. who succeeded Sen
ator Lea as a member of the committee
went over the plans for the investiga
ton with Senator Clapp Sunday, an
agreed to all the plans made by tn
chairman. He also suggested a feN
names of new witnesses.