Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-15
SOME SENATORS
WANT AN INQUIRY
Alleged Misuse of Letter
Paper for Mine Promotion
Creates Stir.

Several senator's were contemplating
introducing resolutions today for in
vestigation of the alleged use OF United
States Senate letter paper in connec-
ton with promotion of a gold mine
company having property in North
Carolina.
Published reports today that letter pa
per of the Senate rules and census COM
mittees had been used in that connection
brought calls for investigation from sew
eral senators whose names appear upon
the letter paper as committee members.
Senator Overman of North Carolina is
chairman of the rules committee. and
Senator Chiffon of West Virginia Is chair
man of the census committee.
One resolution prepared proposed also
an Investigation of a published report
that a Treasury Department empioye
had been sent to examine the property AT
the order of John Shelton Williams. con-
troller Of the currency.
Disclaim Responsibility.
Senators overman of North Carolina
and Chiffon of West Virginia, chair
men of the two committees, both of
whom admit an interest in the mining
venture, insist that the use of the sta
tionery Of the committees. upon which
was placed letter giving a glowing
account Of the prospects OF the mine.
was due to a mistake; that clerks were
to blame. and that they are person
ally not responsible.
In the meantime. the letter. written
by an economic and mining geolo-
gist." and copied on the Senate COM
mittee stationery. is said to have been
circulated In New York and to have
stock in the company.
The copies of the letter were made at
the offices of Senator'S Overman and
promoter of the mining company. Al
clerks took the responsibility for the
when the copy mad been requested by
Newman, no other paper had been
handy. Senator oyerman said that the
OF the employees in his Office.
Resented by Senators.
| Some of the senators whose names ap-
pear on the committee stationery are in
| clined to resent the use of the paper.
Among the senators whose names ap-
pear as members of the committees are
Senators La Toilette. Wisconsin: Cum
| minis. Iowa; Warren, Wyoming; CALM
ger. New Hampshire; Kern. Indiana:
O'Gorman, New York; Sheppard. Texas;
Nelson, Minnesota: Williams. Mississippi:
1
Pont, Delaware; Shively. Indiana; Me
Lean, Connecticut. and Thornton. LouIs
lana.
Senator Pomerene is said to be a stock
holder In the company. and Senator
| Swanson Of Virginia also is said to be
| interested in the mine
The name of John Shelton Williams.
controller Of the currency. was mentioned
1 in connection with the mining company
today. 1t was recalled that while assist
ant secretary of the Treasury Mr.. VIII
liams. at the request Of Senator Overman
according to Treasury officials, had sent
to North Carolina the chief expert of
the United States assay office to deter
mine whether the United States assay
| Office at Charlotte. N. c., should be re-
opened. and in this connection to exam
inc the mine. The promoter has claimed
| that Mr.. Williams is an old friend. hav-
| ing gone to school with him.
Each letter is plainly marked copy"
and Senators Overman and Chiffon say
that this fact relieves the committee
members whose names appear Of any re-
sponsbility for the letters contents.