The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-07
SENATE AT HALT ON
NEW HAVEN INQUIRY
Letter From Judge PrOuty Ad.
viscs Against RcOpcning
investigation.
RESOLUTION LAID OVER
Cummins Says There's No Fed.
cral Law by Which "LOOters"
Can BE Punished.


wa read in tho senate to-day by Mr..
Ncwlands. chairman OF the Committee on
Interstate Commerce. and which was writ
ten by Judge prouty OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission practically called
q halt on the proposed reopenine or the
investigation OF the affairs OF the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
by the commission.
After the Senate had considered reso-
luton introduced by Senator Norris OF
Nebraska II few days ago directing the
commission to reopen the investigation
with view of fixing individual response
billy 50 that criminal proceedings may
be Instituted Chairman Ncwlands came
forward with the letter from Judge
Prouty
The letter had been transmitted to Mr..
Newlauds by Chairman Clark OF the In
terstato Commerce Commission. In the
letter Judge prOuty frankly said that he
Old not believe that anything could he
ACCOMPLISHED by reopenng the investiga-
lion. Tie declared that the commission
had already exhausted It's jurisdiction and
suggested that the question propounded
IL Senator Norris's resolution ehould be
iercrred to the Department OF Justice.
senator Ncwlauds concurred IN the view
expressed 10y Judge prouty. The letter
threw a dumpcr over the proceedings In
the Senate. The resolution was laid aside
and will be taken M again tomorrow or
Monday for further consideration.
In the course Of the debate on the
Norris resolution Senator Borah of Idaho
said
III tho facts shown in Judge prouty's
report and IN the press are true, then
. H. la
IN the peniteutlary." said MI Borah. The
spectacle OF these men In the penltentary
IN stripes would have a more wholesome
effect than all the laws that We could
pass
senator Borah was appealing TO Sena-
tor Norris and the advocates of the reso-
luton to stay their hand for the time and
not embarrass the Administration in the
work of bringing criminal prosecutions.
Senator Lodge asked Mr. Norris II It
were not true that there was more in
formation in the possession OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission than had
been made public and of "a more damag-
ing character. He said II was possible
tina, the Interstate Commerce Commission
may have had a reason for pausing III its
investigation at the point 1t did lest II give
away It's hand.
Mr.. Lodge declared that II there was
o chance to recover some Of the money
sh,Seu 70 nay, "" 49, - o.'i
"o,ueIs nc Mou.u y" "a,''..s ,,,o, ,,or,
was no Federal law on the books under
n.h,ob ,ba loo,.rs co,,,d he unnished Then
he read Congress lecture Tor It's negli-
gence in refusing to pass legislation
bringing railroads under Federal super
,is,on as TO their stock issues. He said
ma, Congress had repeatedly been asked
10 pass such Hesitation and lad refused.
Senator McCumber asked Mr.. Cumnins
II IL were not a fact that many bills were
before the lnt.rstat" Commerce ana
judiciary committees OF tie senate now
that would meet the situation u passed
but that they had been continuously ~
nored.
con VAN W t'.'io ~ 49,, -,
nes ot aii! oou! s"'u WI, 80
,,le ieooiu va an ~, h,r., -, ,n. ,in,s
- ,o' W. 49, ',.' 49,, ~. Ssuat."
Sana,or c,,r,r,irs said mat iny,sti,a-
,;on. yvo,Id do mo good and that talk
~ ,rip,inol prosecutions meant nothing
Will. there Nas not 2 law on the statute
boo,xs of I'M. country under which the Al
torney General could prosecute a single
one OF the men involved in the footing
OF the New Haven.
THE reason the Atlofne! -Leheral
has not proceeded, said AR, tuihiiills'
els clear 10 me lie realizes thht ne can
senator poIo' 80 - - s.'-,',,,,a
wouiu i'ol oc ~ ~, LA , ,,,,,,.s >,
y! SUI 'u' so ''
ny, 80 Wv - -. =, ,,.,,. ..iI Nr Narris
~, - iii, ,,,u,,,,,,,v ,o a,,.
a.. ta'N -, ,,',s ,ss,,n ,rh.ro sbo,,ia
oous - ISL ,.o,,, ,,ros.n,,,,o, h, a
De nv ''.'N; e.. H., 49,. r,,,,r,,,,
80 -, ,,.,,t..'i',,' L.. r.a,, -, a, o.
.'1.'
,...t-..., ..... ,,.. t,,,,,,,,,,
VI, W i, ,t,., - 80
toh ne prcpostu WIN sNo i'',,e VI "'
immunity from t.uvrhl piosecu'-o'l'
we could get tue Information ileceS-
sary to establish III. facts IRON book
Keepers OF the Ne" Haven, ana II heces'
sary we could give them Immunity which
would not extend to the men higher W
the ladder in the management OF the old
New Haven" said he
He contcuded that the Congress would
never mass laws TO meet tho situation
,n,I =, investigation Ind b,oupht M,
,ho facts vim such fore, that ,uhlI,
s,,,,,s,,,, ,,'o,,id Lo .,,,,s,,, I'D ro,'or..s
80, -, ~,
'o.ue' " az, -, ,s 49,
uoit peHeNe 'he '"'''s'a'o Noiii'
hierce 'oiiihiHs'oii las any Po"ef uilue'
the present Ia" 10 Investigate 10 utter'
mine whether the managers or the Ne"
HaNen robbed the shareholders, said
Senator Cuminins. 1T could only do thai
II the robbery was related In some way &
Che auagti,p ~ mr. had "a 1irect hea ri ~ ,