The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-28
JAIL FOR LEAKS"
IN NICARAGUA CASE
Senator Stone Makes the Threat
and Asks for an In
vcstigatiOn.
W. ARSOI.NES MR.. BRYAN
Republican on Senate Com
mittee Says Secretary Has
Talked About Proceedings.

wksHtNGToN. June 2T--Chairman Stone
Of the Foreign Relations Committee and
four Of his associates to-day took steps
In the Senate To locate the '1eaks" from
the committee through which information
has found its way into the newspapers
from day to day concerning the hearings
In the secret sessions OH the Nicaraguan
treaty.
"a disgracetul performance was the
way senator stone characterized the act
OF giving out the secret work Of the COM
mittec. lie also threatened to have the
offender or offenders sent to jail.
mo man connected with the committee
In any capacity can give out the conf-
Dental business Of that committee with
out he has upon him the brand of abso-
lutte dishonor and betrayal added Mr.
Stone in addressing the Senate on the
matter.
Absoives Mr.. bryan.
The Senator from Missouri declared
that II WAS Incredibly impossible that
either Secretary Bryan or the Nicara-
guans have given out information.
1T IL impossible to believe that the
Secretary of state was guilty OF the dis
honorable act of betraying the confi-
dence Of the committee" he said.
At the morning meeting Of the COM
mittes to-day AT which the leaks were
discussed there were Ave Democrats and
one northumberland smith OF Michi-
gan, who is opposed to the treaty. Other
Republicans have remained away.
one Republican member said few
DAYS ago that he was tired OF attending
the committee hearings and have Mr.
Bryan, who seemed to be wet nursing
the committee, gravely impose secrecy OF,
everybody present and then give out the
version of the affair that he wanted TO
70 to the public through the press. This
member has therefore remained away.
When the committee adjourned II was
evident that the matter Of the leaks
was to be carried into the open SENATE,
where Mr.. Stone told his story, read a
statement from the committee and offered
q resolution for an investigation. which
was referred to the Committee on Audit
and Control
Mr.. stones Resolution.
This is the resolution:
That the Committee on Foreign
Relations he and hereby h authorized
and empowered to investigate and
ascertain from whom information OF
committee In executive session relat-
ing to international affairs Is given
out, and to prosecute said investiga-
ton said committee is hereby author
lied and empowered to send for per-
sons papers, to Issue subpHnas, to
administer oaths and to employ
stenographers to take testimony at
not exceeding 81 per printed page;
the expenses OF said investigation 10
be paid out of the contingent fund
OF the Senate warrants signed
by the chairman of said committee.
Senator Norris OF Nebraska, after in
auiring why Senators not on the COM
mittee had not been supplied with cop
les OF the testimony. offered resolution
directing that this be done.
Senator Stone explained that II was
deemed advisable for the present to with
hold the copies from the Senators who are
not members OF the committee. Senator
Smith served notice on Chairman stone
later that he had information that some oil
Secretary Bryan's friends outside OF the
committee had been coming to the Caplto
and carrying away copies OF the testimony
from day to day.
May Bring open Discussion.
II Is believed that the Investigation and
uproar created over the leaks" will lead
to opening the doors on the discussion
Mr.. Norris declared In open Senate tha'
he saw no reason why Senators should I'd
kept in the dark as to what was going OF
in the committee or even why the public
should not know about 1t also Senator
Borah has had In mind resolution call
ing for open doors on the debate on thu
treaties and full publicity.
Senator Sto,, was evidently very angr,
over the publication of testimony on thu
Issuance OF the additional currency by thu
Diaz administration and declared to-da,
that somebody would 20 to jail for It,
II Is understood that the attempt to shu
on information about the Nicaraguai
matter originated In . suggestion from
the White House,
In the Investigation that is proposed
newspaper men are to be called ant
quizzed and made to divulge the source
OF their information on penalty OF tn
contempt process. The committee unde
the Stone resolution Is to be armed Will
all powers necessary to enforce its deman'
for testimony.
In one breath Senator Stone declare.
that the information in the newspaper
was grossly Inaccurate and then he sal,
the published reports indicate that som
one had been talking out y; committee.