New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-13
Washington Dispatch In
dicateS Inquiry May
Begin Early To-day.
PROSECUTOR HERE
LOOKS UP WITNESSES
Feels Sure, from Present
Outlook, He Will Have
Enough Evidence.

Gordon Auchincloss, Assistant United
s.stes Attorney. began yesterday the
federal investigation into the Surveyor
Pnsb- b-Representative Loft campaign
contribution letter case. His work yes
,srdav consisted of getting into COM
-,ppieation with som Of the persons
vbo will be asked TO tell what they
tnov before they are brought before
the grand jury now sitting.
Possibly 8 number of these persons
vii not reach the grand jury room.
Mr.. Auehincloss is anxious TO learn
,h-oueh them the names Of the men,
and probsbly some women. who are be-
reved 10 be in possession OF the more
material evidence.
aTbis case will certainly so before
,be grand jury" said Mr.. Auchincloss,
sunless we get a confession"
Mr. Auchincloss would not say what,
Il ANYTHING, had inspired the latter
half Of that statement
Did you have any prospective grand
;nrv witnesses before you to-day" he
was asked.
q will say only that | was in touch
with several persons to-day on this
ease" he replied. "I have not yet
Issued any subpenas, nor will say
what my plans are. Vile this is not
going TO be a star chamber proceeding
rather, it Is going 70 be right out in
the open-there are some features Of
the work did to-day that l prefer not
to discuss at this time"
SHOULD the United States Civil Ser
vice Commission decide TO begin its
Investigation first. will that halt the
grand jury inquiry here?'
my understanding is" Mr.. Auchin-
Gloss said, chat I am 10 60 right ahead
with the grand jury investigation. l
shall have the case pretty we'll along
7 think nov. by tomorrow afternoon
that is, the preliminary part"
From Washington last night came q
dispatch stating that in all probability
the federal Civil Service Commission
will begin its investigation this morn
ing
The letter from Assistant Attorney
General Warren, accompanying a
resume Of The Tribune stories sent to
hin BY Z. S. Attorney Marshall, had
not reached the hands of John A. Nc
lhenny president Of the Civil Service
Commission, when the latter's office
was closed last evening. 1t is the IN
tention Of Mr. McIlhenny TO learn the
first thing this morning why the sub
ject has no. been officially called TO his
attention. because it is understood that
he considers the case one Of such i'm
portance as 70 demand immediate ac-
ton.
Just what course the commission
will pursue in its investigation has
not yet been determined. II was made
plain Yesterday that the facts thus Tar
presented bring the case clearly within
the Jurisdiction OF the commission.
Whether the commission, after an IN
vestigation. will make a report re-
mains undetermined, for there is q
probability that it will simply collect
what evidence il can and turn it over
70 the Department Of Justice Tor ac-
ton.
II this latter plan is followed the
Department Of Justice in Washington
viii then place the evidence IN the
hands of Mr.. Auchincloss for use by
him. Assistant Attorney General War
len refused Yesterday afternoon to
make any comment on the case. lie
said he wanted to hear from the Civil
Service Commission before he outlined
the plans TO be followed by his Office.
The letter 10 the Civil Service Commits
sion he added. was mailed to that body
Wednesday and should have been in
the Office of the commission yesterday.
II Is likely that the number OF WIT
nesses to be called before the grand
jury here will be unusually large. As
the handwriting of the George w.
Loft" as il appears on the bottom of
the numerous letters is not the same
throughout all of he letters, IT VIII
be necessary 10 have produced num-
ber Of these communications
Mr Auchincloss Informed a reporter
FOR The Tribune yesterday that Mr..
Marshall had sert letter 20 the editor
Of this paper asking for the facts IN IT'S
possession which have not been printed
so far The letter had not reacheo
The lribun. last night