Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-26
TESTIFIES IN INQUIRY TO
TRACE RUMOR'S SOURCE
Refuses to Back Down Under Cross
Questioning of New Yorker.
THOROUGH SIFT IS PROMISED
Chairman Johnson Overrules Repre-
sentative Prouty's Demand That
Insurance Testimony Be Strick-
en- From the Record.

In the effort on the part of the insurance
companies under examination in the in
vestigation before Representative John
sons subcommittee to trace the source OF
the statement that Justice Ashley NJ
Gould of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia had received $4,000 for
the use of his name. Representative Rob
ert l.. Henry of Texas. chairman of the
House rules committee testified yester-
day afternoon that Representative Red
field of New York had made the charge
to him once in the office of Speaker
Clark and once in the rooms of the rules
committee.
Representative Henry spoke with the
utmost freedom, declaring that there
We're no star chamber proceedings in his
committee. and under the closest cross
questioning by Representative Redfield
himself refused to back down from his
statement.
Representative Redfield wanted to go on
the stand and make another full state
ment, and Representative Prouty de-
manded that everything be stricken from
the record.
Johnson for Thorough Investigation.
Charles y. Douglas, an attorney for
the insurance companies, and James
r. Easby-Smith, appearing for George
InSham. superintendent of insurance,
spoke at length, asking that the en-
tire proceedings remain intact. Rep
resentative Berger Joined with Judge
Prouty, while Representative Johnson,
chairman of the committee, spoke his
mind very plainly, saying that mas
much Judge Gould had been at
tackled, it seemed to him TO be per
fect1y proper. under the resolution
which had empowered the subcommit-
matter and find out just who il was
that had started the rumOr-
In the morning session Justice Gould
himself had given the exact figures of
his remuneration from the companies and
had said that for all his returns he had
put in either effort or capital and that
the selling of his name was so far re-
moved from the fact as to be ridiculous.
The committee adjourned until Monday,
leaving the controverted question unset
tied.
Henry Terms Proceeding Unusual.
Representative Henry's testimony be-
gan Immediately, at question from
Charles a. Douglas. Mr.. Henry said:
.'Of course. this is rather unusual
proceeding, to make a statement about
why certain resolution was reported
from this committee, ana VIII Sd! thdt
i'm determining questions OF poilcy the
committee frequently has confidential
conferences and meetings-that Is.
some of the members do-Out Whefe
an investigation is to be ordered
into some matter over which Congress
has jurisdiction the committee always re-
oCires the making out of prima facie
case before they report in favor of the
resolution
Sometimes We have hearings that are
taken down by the official reporters for
the House, but in this case the hearings
were not taken down: that is, the pre-
liminary part; in fact. l do not think
any part OF them were taken down
afterward, but it came up in this way
One afternoon, late-I think 1T was be-
tween 4 and > o clock-I was called down
TO the Speakers Office to consult with
some members of Congress-1 did not
YNnow what il was about. l went down.
Nd found in the Speakers room Mr.
johnson. the chairman of this committee;
Mr. Redfeld and Henry George, ana
they said they had some matters to lay
before me chairman of the commit
tee on rules.
rlorIy yEac