The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-16
Senators Oyerman and Chil- ton Interested in Mine
 in Question
SENATOR OVERMAN
 ASKS FOR INQUIRY
Action Grows Out of Charge That Letters Boosting North Carolina Mine Appeared on Senate
 Stationery

Washington, June 1.-The way was opened in the Senate today for an inVesu- sation of the Senate stationery and the alleged employment of government ot- ficials in connection with the promotion of a North Carolina gold mine. Senator Overman, one of those mentioned in con- nection with the mine, introduced reso- lution calling for such an inquiry, and it was indorsed by Senator Chiffon, an other senator whose name figures in the same way.
 The resolution was referred without de- bate to the committee on contingent ex- penses and probably will be reported for action within few days. There is little doubt that 1t will be agreed to without opposition.
 The call for an investigation came as a result of a report published today that there had appeared in the offices of New York brokers letters boosting the mine of the Gold Hill Consolidated company, written on stationery of the Senate com , mittee on rules, of which Mr. Oyerman Is chairman, and of the committee on census, of which MT. Chiffon is chair man.
 'The letter on the census committee stationery was addressed to Senator Chiffon and signed by J. c. Williams, an economic and mining engineer The other letter was said to be identical
 Sent to Probe Mine
 According to the published report the chief expert of the United States assay I office was sent to investigate the mine by Comptroller of the Currency John Skelton Williams several months ago, when MT. Williams was assistant secre- tary of the treasury. What purported to be reproduction of the letters appeared carrying the names of all senators on the committees, as do all such letter heads. This disturbed several of the members of the committees and Senator LaFolette prepared a resolution identical with that introduced later by MT. over man, announcing if no one Use intro- duced it he would.
 Senators Overman and Chiffon both said they were interested in the Gold Hill com pany, but denied any knowledge of the use of the Senate stationery to boost it. Senator Overman said young lady in his office had made copies of the letter on rules committee paper at the request of Walter George Newman, said to be pro- moter of the mine, and Senator Chiltor said Williams, the engineer. came to his office and got his clerk to make copie. on census committee paper.
 -.-t This mine is in my county" sait Senator Overman Before the war, a one time it was the largest golC producer in the United States. An assay office was established at Charlotte, N. C., to test the gold from it. Sometime ago Newman. whom l know nothing about went down there and unwatered it. He said that by cross cutting he had found vein that had been lost. Attempting to have the assay office re-establlshed l refused to have anything to do with it Some did ask me to have it re-established production down there justified the re. establishment of the assay office.
 Invested S2CO0
 Tn view of what l knew of the min, and of what Newman reported, I invested 5000 in the stock. I have done nothing to promote it. All that has been done il my office was done by a poor woman wht worked there temporarily"
 Senator Chiffon addressed the Senat as soon as Senator Overman concluded
 ''I yield second place to no one in hay ing money invested in gold mines" h said. "All my life have fostered an idei that I might get out of the habit of no having enough to pay my bills by stril1 ing gold mine.
 ''I felt interested and sent this minin engineer, J. c. Williams down there When he returned he told me about tn mine and later wrote me letter Tha is all heard of it. Recently I heard som one had, on census committee paper. copy of a letter. My crerk told me tha Williams had come in and asked him t make copies and the most convenient pa per being the census committee paper, tn copies were made on 1t.
 q want the Senate to make a promp investigation and if there is anything t censure me for, I am ready to take m medicine"