The Washington times., 1913-01-08
MONEY PROBERS
WANT TO KNOW
THEIR POWERS
Opposition to Investigation
Becoming More
Apparent.

Antagonistic opposition to the
Money trust investigation of the Pujo
committee was disclosed today. A
special meeting of the entire House
Banking Committee was considered
to force show down" from recalci-
trant witnesses, and to thresh out
problems of procedure.
Refusal of the Administration to
disclose confidential reports by ma
tional banks to the Comptroller of
the Currency; evasion of testimony
of William Rockefeller, of the Stand
ard Oil Company, and fat refusal of
G. G. Henry, a New York broker, to
disclose banks involved in promot-
ing the California Petroleum Com
pany, were to be discussed.
Comptroller Summoned:
Lawrence o. Murray, Comptroller of
Currency, was summoned before the
committee today. Through him it was
proposed TO show that President Taft
refused to divulge the national banks
reports to the Treasury Department,
with their wealth of confidential in
formation deemed especially valuable
by the investigators. Murray's testi-
mony was designed to show immediate
necessity for passage by the Senate of
the resolution, already passed by the
House. giving the Pujo committee in
quisitorial powers over the Controllers
confidential reports.
Chairman Pujo said today that con-
tempt charges would be rushed against
Broker Henry. The papers were being
prepared today for certiication to
Speaker Clark and submission to the
United States district attorney for the
District of Columbia. The district at
torney will decide IL a case is made
out against Henry for presentation to
the Federal grand jury.
Henry's refusal to disclose the names
OF banks and bankers participating to
great profit in floating California pc
troleum stock affords the committee an
opportunity to test its power to force
testimony from unwilling witnesses by
contempt process.
Henry is guided in his course by at
torneys for the New York Stock Ex-
change, fatty Joining issue with the
Pujo committee.
e Expert To See Rockefeller.
Dispatch Of an eminent throat special
ist to Bahama TO examine William
Rockefeller is planned Immediately by
the Money trust probers
Chairman Pujo said the committees
expert would leave here late this week
Pending the specialists report no fur
Their action is contemplated against
Rockefeller under the accepted serv-
ice, by the millionaire of the commit
tees subpoena.
Correspondence between President
Taft, Comptroller Murray. Attorney
General Wickersham, and the commit
II recited the futile fight of the COM
mittee for access to Murray's bank rec
ord.
without this data it will be impos-
the House with needed legislation"
was a clause of Mr.. Untermyer's appeal
TO President Taft. Comptroller Murray,
replied for the President that Congress
has no ''vistoriaT' powers over the
banks.
Taft to the Committee.
President Taft told the committee
thcN os Noold iISh SuNI doAd
he had at hand. but that he did not
wish to burden the Comptroller with ex-
ira investigation work or to disclose
confidential matters. Access to the
banks, returns was insisted upon by
the committee and refused.
The committee desires to know to
what extent these banks are used by
the great financial powers" Cntermyer
wrote Murray. The Comptroller sad he
had supplied all public informa ton in
his office. He said the value Of stocks
held by the banks had been ascertained
but that it was held subject to release
by the President.