The sun., 1917-01-14
House Gives Rules Commit
toe Broad Powers to Pur-
sue Leak Inquiry.
ORDER TO GET NAMES
Sergeant-at-Arms to Take BOs-
ton Man Into Custody if He
Remains Obdurate.


Lawson. 1t is ready to be sprung II he
refuses to answer the questions put to
him concerning the source of his infor-
nation on the alleged peace leak.
II the Boston man continues to be re-
cAlcitrant the Rules Committee OF the
House under authority conferred on 1t
to-day will on Monday take up the Sec
ond phase of its investigation into the
Wilson note leak and make trouble for
Mr.. Lawson. The leak inquiry will be
resumed that day.
In addition to the Boston stock oper-
ator Bernard Baruch and several other
witnesses have been summoned or re-
called to appear before the committee.
The list includes s. B. Friday of Osh-
kosh Wis; F. w. McKinnon Of the
brokerage firm OF McKinnon & Co. Of
Chicago. Donald Mcdonald. editor of the
Financial NeUs OF Boston. to whom
Lawson is said to have confded the
names Of the Cabinet member and Sena-
tor who maintained a stock gambling ac-
count with Wall Street banker; rep
resentative Of the firm of f. NJ. Lock-
wood Company of New York, James
Reilly. representing one Of the ticker
services. and others.
Rule. Committee Fortified.
The Rules Committee was fortified to-
DAY by a resolution adopted by the
House specifically empowering it to re-
quirc witnesses to answer all questions
and directing II to compel Lawson to
name any member Of Congress or any
other person" alleged by him to have
given him information concerning the
leak"
The committee laid its plans to-day to
bring the Boston operator to speedy ac-
count IL he fails to comply with the de-
mands OF the committee. Two ways are
open to 1t, to cite Mr., Lawson for con-
tempt or to bring him before the House
with the request that the Sergeant-at-
Arms be directed to take him into Gus
tody and keep him there so long as he
remains obdurate.
The subcommittee of the Rules Com
mittee having this phase of the contro-
versy in charge decided that II wouid
be wisest to follow the latter procedure
Whether II will be effective In the event
that Mr. Lawson still refuses to divulge
the names sought Is still doubtful III
is possible that through a habeas corpus
. proceeding he may delay the visitation
Of the vengeance Of the House until
March A. when Congress expires and
with II the authority of the present
House. Since the attempt TO punish II.
Snowden Marshall. United States Attor-
ney for the Southern District Of New
York for contempt the members have
become sceptical Of the effectiveness OF
any contempt proceedings.
The reopening of the investigation
was in effect ordered by the House TO-
day by the adoption OF two resolutions.
One of these confers on the committee
the usual authority to summon wit
nesses.
InauisitOrial Resolution.
The other confers on it broad inquisi-
torial powers and directs 1t specifically
to get the desired testimony from Law
son. The latter resolution reads:
Resolved, That in the consideration
Of House resolutions numbered 422'
429, committed to the Committee on
Rules. said committee be and 1t Is
hereby authorized and empowered to
require witnesses to answer all ques-
tions propounded by said committee
or any member thereof touching the
subject matter Of said resolutions,
and to require any witness called be-
fore 1t to testify fully as to any in
formation in his possession. whether In
the nature OF hearsay testimony or
otherwise, relevant to the matters set
forth In said resolutions, and said
committee Is specifically directed to
require one Thomas w. Lawson to
name any member of Congress or
other person alleged by him in his
testimony before said committee on
January 8 and ., 1917. to have given
him any information relating to the
subject matter of said resolutions or
either OF them.
As result of the action OF the hous'
the Rules Committee will possess
wider range of authority than before II
conducting the inquiry. Not only is
specifically directed to examine GER
tain witness but also to undertake, un
der the earlier Wood resolution. which
had been pigeonholed. to ascertain
whether there has been leak ant
whether any official OF the Government
was responsible for II.
Under this resolution II Is possible
that the entire controversy may b,
taken up. sThe second Wood resolution
with reference to which the committe
has been acting had to do only will
the charges made by Lawson rehectinI
on Congress.
Effect ON Lawson.
There is stll some doubt that tn
threat OF punishment for contempt wit
the authority OF the House behind
will move the Boston stock operate
I" he any more communicative thai
, he was before. He has insisted tina
the committee was undertaking only
preliminary investigation and agreed Z
name names only In the event tina
a general investigation into leaks" O
various kinds from Washington be un
dertaken. The inquiry ts still OF pre-
liminary character designed to dscios
the necessity OF ordering more com
plete investigation.
1t Is probable that the Republica
members will make an effort TO have tn
entire field covered before the matte
Is again referred to the House. IL MI
Lawson should answer the questions pu
TO him II would necessitate the sun
moning Of more witnesses.
Mr. Lawson, who was in New YOrl
was informed OF to-days action and ser
word he would be here Monday.