Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-22
RE|TERATES DENIAL
Col. Roosevelt Testifies in
Steel Trust Probe.
HEARING HELD IN OFFICE
Declares Again That He Had No
knowledge of Formation of Al
legged Corporation Pool.
HEARING HELD IN OFFICE

NEW YORK January o2-Theodore
Roosevelt and William Ellis Corey. for
mer president Of the United States Steel
Corporation. were the chief witnesses
called today to testify at the resumption
of the government hearings looking to
the dissolution of the so-called steel trust.
Mr.. Roosevelt consented to be examined
in his editorial Office; Mr.. Corey was sum-
moned to appear before the commissioner
in an office building downtown.
The oft-repeated story of the absorption
by the Steel Corporation Of the Tennessee
Coal and Iron Company promised again
to be the nucleus OF the eX-Presidents
testimony. How he sanctioned the deal
was told by Mr.. Roosevelt when he testi-
fled before the Stanley committee last
year. AT that time he said he was salts
fled that the Steel Corporation IN taking
only by a desire to check the panic OF
1907. The government contends that Of
fcerS of the defendant corporation miSled
him as to the status of affairs.
The present hearing. which Will prob
ably last several weeks, will conclude
the taking of testimony in the govern
ment's case.
Asked About Bonaparte Letter.
The hearing started shortly after IL
o'clock. Col. Roosevelt was asked but one
question by counsel for the government.
namely. whether statements contained i'm
a letter which he wrote to Attorney Cen
eral Bonaparte concerning the 7. c. & L.
deal were true.
The colonel replied in the affirmative.
r. V. Linda bury. counsel for the steel
corporation. then took up the cross-ex-
animation.
Mr.. Roosevelt testified that he was
aware that the government had under
taken an investigation Of the steel cor
poration before the T. c. & i. was taken
over
They reported to me unfavorably in
regard to the Standard Oil, but favorably
in regard to the steel corporation, he
said.
This is less interesting tnan the XII
mono strike remarked Col. Roosevelt,
during a lull. while counsel discussed the
admission of documentary evidence.
Mr.. Lindabury called Mr.. Roosevelt
attention to a letter, in which Commits
sioner Garfield OF the bureau OF corpora
lions said that he did not know of a sim
gle instance in which the steel corpora
ton had refused information to the gov
eminent. The colonel said that such was
has understanding Of the facts.
Familiar With Inquiry.
Il do not remember at what date the
government was made acquainted with
the operations of the steel corporation"
he explained. 1T was not until Mr.. Gar
field undertook his work. as commits
sioner that 1 had my attention speciflcal-
ly called to them
so you were familiar with these af-
fairs when you had your interview with
Gary and Frick"'
Il was familiar with the investigation"
replied the colonel.
Mr.. Lindabury read the coloners
previous denial that he had been misled
by Messrs. Frick and Gary concerning
the acquisition of the T. c. & l.
rs that still true?"
1t is. and l so testify declared Col.
Roosevelt emphatically.
Judge Jacob NJ. Dickinson. counsel for
the government. then took up the
coloneIs redirect examination. In sane
tioning the T. G. & l. deal. the witness
said he had 1.-TWO things in mind One,"
give to the entire country, not only New
York, but Minnesota, Louisiana and
other states.
1.-The other was the percentage Of CON-
troll Of the steel industry. which the
United States Steel Corporal ton would
have after the acquisition of the T. c.
& l."
did you know at the time that the
United States Steel Corporation was en-
gagged in the fixing Of prices of steel
L
panies which it controlled.
No knowledge of Monopoly.
II had no such knowledge" replied the
witness.
Judge Dickinson asked il the colonel
was aware that the steel corporal ton
had participated in a steel rail pool, and
it monopolized the tin plate in
dustry.
Il had no knowledge OF the things
you mention" he said.
Ibid you know that the +. C. & /. in
terests were spending $S.OOO.OOO in the
development of the property
Il did not. / know this-that its Sc
curities were worthless unless taken over
by somebody who would give them
value"
did YOU know that the steel corpora
ton had sent experts to examine the
II did not, but / didn't believe that
the steel corporation was taking a pig
in a poke
Judge Dickinson, you are asking me
L lot of questions concerning things L
lon't know" added the witness.
We'll, that's what 1 want to find |
put" replied the Judge.
rH