New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-03
PUJ0 THREATENS ARREST
House Believed Likely to Back
Up Money Trust Committee.

FROM mo- lllhuUe bureau. ]
Washington. Jan. "A yelled threat that
the House will order the forcible arrest of
William Rockefeller. who has successfully
duded subpoena servers Of the Puio
Money Trust Investigating Committee. is
contained I'm a statement issued tonight
10y Chairman Pujo. Meanwhile, members
OF the House and Charles r. Crisp the
parliamentary clerk. are searching for
presidents and there is great diversity Of
opinion concerning the power Of the
House TO enter forcibly the Rockefeller
domiche Six additional deputies from
the Office of the sergeant-at-arms left
Washington tonight to re-enfOrce those
already on picket duty about the Rookie
fel.er home Mr. Pujo says:
The House of Representatives. through
the committee of, which ] am chairman,
in my opinion has the legal power 70
have process served upon one within the
jurisdiction Of the federal government II
Is 20 be hoped il Will not be necessary To
put this force in full motion I'm order to
accomplish the desired result.
After the return 10 Washington to-
day of Jerry South. Chief Clerk Of the
House, who joined In the futile search for
the elusive millionaire. Chairman Puio
had numerous conferences with House
leaders and with Mr. South regarding
the proper course to be taken by the
money trust committee. IT is under
stood that Mr. Pujo was also in COM
munication with Samuel Untermyer,
counsel for the committee. who is in
New YORK. Mr.. Pujos statement is
guarded. but it is generally apparent
that members OF the House are sore -
and il is probable the House will back
up the money trust" committee in the
event Mir. Pujo puts his threatened reso-
luton calling for the arrest OF Mr..
Rockefeller
Representative Mann. the minority
leader, while expressing doubt that Mr.
Rockefeller's evasion amounts as vet 10
contempt said: IL have been unable 10
find any precedent for a case Of this
character. and fine legal question is In
voved. However. | believe the House
would be inclined 10 back up the Puio
committee. regardless of the lack of
precedents."
Mr.. Mann declined To commit himself 20
the proposition advanced by some Demo-
Gratis that Mr. Rockefeller's evasion of
service amounts To contempt. and the
House membership is divided on the uues-
ton of whether contempt lies with simple
evasion of service or whether il cannot be
charged until service has been disobeyed
Representative Underwood. OF the ma
iority. takes the unofficial view that Mr.
Rockefeller cannot be construed as guilty
of contempt until he has declined TO obey
a subpoena, which has not yet been
served
on the other hand. Representative
Henry holds that Mr.. Rockefeller is now
guilty Of defiance of the House. and that
the question at issue is whether the
millionaire or the House OF Representa-
lives is supreme.
Mr.. Pujo recites that the committee has
expressed it's willingness To take the testi-
mony of Mr.. Rockefeller at his home or
office. but the offer has not been accepted.
The Accounts Committee has practically
given SeTgcant-at-Arms Riddel carte
blanche so far as expenses are concerned,
and additional deputies are being sworn
i'm daily while the chief clerk, a volun-
teer deputy of the House, is anxiously
awaiting authority to make sorcibe en-
trance into the Fifth avenue or the Tar
rytown home of Mr.. Rockefeller.
Unless Mr. Rockefeller capituates dras-
tic action Dy the Rouse Is probable. II is
suggested thai Dir Rockefeller may APP
peal TO the ccurts for writ of habeas
corpus in .b8 event of his arrest but the
rank and ale OF the House seem inclined
10 put tte matter 10 Il test.