The Washington herald., 1912-02-06
BLUMENBERG Is
MADE TO TESTIFY
Insists that Alleged Comics
sion Was Fabricated.
EVIDENCE is NOT COMPLETED
in Contempt for His Con-
duet Before the Committee and
Relieved from Duty as OmcIaI
Rcp0rter-Case VIII Go 10 the
senate for Its Action.

Milton W. BIumenberg. oficial reporter
for the Lorimer investigating committee.
was yesterday relieved from duty and
cited to appear as a witness. This was
the sequel to the statement made by Mr..
BIumenberg before the committee last
Saturday night that the stenographic
notes submitted in evidence by Detective
Burns dictoSraph operator. ]. +. Sheri-
dan. were fabricated. II was not eX-
peCted that Mr.. Blunenberg would be
able to appear before the committee yes
terday on account OF his physical condi-
tIon, but he was present, accompanied by
his brother, Menden r. Blumenberg. one
Of the Official reporters Of the House.
To BE Punished for Contempt.
The action Of the committe was taken
in executive session. a resolution being
also adopted providing that steps
should be taken toward the punishment
of Mr.. Blumenberg for contempt of the
committee. In open session the com
mittee heard the conclusion of Mr..
Sheridan's testimony, who repeated
that his notes were accurate. He pro-
duced the dictograph before the COM
mittee and explained its workings, and
in response to a question from Chair
man Dillingham; declared that he was
willing to submit to any test that the
committee might prescribe to determine
the accuracy of his report and Of his
capacity TO hear and record a conver-
sation under the circumstances which
had surrounded his report made at To-
rento OF the alleged conversation be-
tween A. c. Bailey. Harry Kerr, and
Charles MCGOWAN, in which MCGOWAN,
a Lorimer witness, Is alleged to have
made damaging admissions.
BIumenbcrE on the stand.
After heated argument, Mr.. Blumen--
berg was called as a witness, and for
more than an hour was subjected to a
griIlinE examination. Senator Kern and
Senator Lea took turns at questioning
him. II was manifest that both Senators
resented the action OF the official re-
porter of the committee. They tried to
get him to admit that he had acted for
the Lorimer side in his efforts to I'm
peach the accuracy Of Sherldan's report.
but the witness insisted that he had
acted on his own volition. He said that
he had become interested in the witness
account OF the working Of the dicta-
graph merely as a stenographer and
from the standpoint Of a shorthand ex-
pert. He testified that he had thought
that the machine was device for re-
ceiving and recording conversation. and
that 1t was mechanically perfect for such
work, and did not require the assistance
of any human agency. Prompted by his
interest In the machine, he had inter-
viewed Sheridan for about five minutes
and had decided that Sheridan was, an
amateur" and after studying the notes
as they appeared in Sheridan's notebook,
produced in evidence, he had reached
the conclusion that they were "manufac-
tured."
''Did any one suggest to You that you
examine SherIdan?" inquired Senator
Kern.
NO" was the reply.
why were you Interested" demanded
Senator Kern.
ct was not interested in Sheridan as
witness or in the testimony he gave, but
simply from the standpoint OF a short
hand reporter"
ImpeIIed by Sense of Duty.
He admitted on cross-examination that
he had taken a seat by Attorney Hynes
at the night session for the purpose OF
furnishing him information on which the
attorney might cross-examine as to the
accuracy Of Sherfdan's shorthand report