New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-23
Stock Exchange Head
May Be First
Witness
BROKERS' AGREE
TO SHOW BOOKS
Counsel WhippIe Confers
with Financiers Whose
Testimony Is Sought

The Rules Committee Of the House
of representatives. with Sherman l.
wbipple, Of Boston, as counsel, will
beein asking Wall Street this morn
i,v about the leak in the Presidents
peace note.
The hearing will open at ten o'clock
i, the Custom House. Mr.. Whippls
will preface the proceedings with an
address TO the committee. Following
NJ. address. he will call his first wit
,.,. who in all likelihood will be
Herbert G. S. Noble, president Of the
stuck Exchange. Mr.. Noble, who is
not under subpoena, has consented TO
sppear. i
Mr. Whipple spent a good part OF
Yesterday persusding his prospective
citnesses Of the broad powers of the
committee and Of the futility of OBJ
,,ructive tactics, and established an un-
ierstanding with them, he thinks, which
,ill enable him 10 conduct the hearings
in this city with a dispatch he had not
hoped for.
Brokers TO Produce Books
This will prove especially important
a. regards the introduction of docu-
mentary evidence, making detailed eX-
animation OF voluminous records un-
necessary. What documentary evidence
IS sought will be read into the record IN
connection with the testimony Of wit
nesses and will be abbreviated and to
the point, the brokerage houses in
volved having consented TO the produe-
ton of the books wanted.
All this preliminary work is in line
eith what one would expect from the
Boston lawyer after brief acquaintance
with and observation Of him. He has
otat has been called "the fighting
face together with perfectly natural
md courteous manner. His head is
massive. he is not a bit bald and not
.o;icesbly gray, and he Is clean shaven,
th firm lips and jaw which balances
bis protruding forehead.
lfter Mr.. Noble has been heard he
ril put on the stand other officials of
he Stock Exchange, including Secre-
any Ely. who will take up the remain
Ter of to-day's hearing in all probabil-
.ty After them win come the brokers
and spectators.
II is not expected that Mrs. Visconti
win be called to testify here. Thomas
w. lawson may 60 on the stand If he
20 desires. Mr.. Wihpple has not con-
lered subpenaing him.
Day for Facts at Hand
Tn other words, Mr.. Whipple and
he committee believe that the day for
facts has dawned, and if the Boston
lawyer has his way the facts will be
confined for the most part TO the sub
ject in hand, though he is not averse
finding out for the public Just how
hey do business on the Stock Ex-
change IN case such information is
relevant 10 the inquiry.
He went into conference with the
members of the Rules Committee at the
3iltmore last night shortly after the
arrival of the Representatives. The lat
The Congressional Limited, arriving
mere at Q o'clock. The whole party,
with the exception of the New York
members Thomas G.. Patten and Will
iam S. Bennet-is registered at the
BltmOre. where Mr.. Whipple also has a
room, having moved over from the Yale
Club
The committee is composed Of the
olowing Congressman. in addition TO
,he two already mentioned: Robert l..
Henry, OF Texas. chairman; Finis Gar
lett. Tennessee; N. d. Foster Illinois;
J. c. Cantrl, Kentucky; Philip J.
Campbell, Kansas Irvine l.. Lenroot'
Wisconsin; Burnett NJ. Chiperield,
Illinois: Byron p. Harrison, Mississip-
pi, and Edward W. Pou, North Caro-
lima
William Everett Clark. clerk of the
Committee; r. b. Gordon. Sergeant at
Arms. and W. j. Donaldson. superin-
tondent of the House Press Gallery,
arc also on the list at the Hotel
Biltmore.
Morgan To BE Witness
J. r. Morgan, Henry p. Dawson. Of
J. 2. Morgan & CO.; Frank A. Wander
lip. president Of the National City
Bank, and Pliny Fisk, Of Harvey Fisk
Co, are among inc more prominent
New York bankers under subpoena 70
appear during the New York session.
From the first three the committee,
10 has been suggested, hopes TO learn
where the rumor tina. leak occurred
stcrted, and what the animus behind 1t
nay have been. Friends Of Secretary
hcAdoo have intimated that members
q the National City Bank crowd set
Tho report shoat as q means of revenge
q their feud with the Secretary OF the
Treasury.
Others TO be called include Archibald
s. White. Of White & Son; G. d. Bar
ney. of c. d. Barney e. CO.; Bernard
". Bsruch, and II. Content, Of II. Con-
tent & Co.
Expert accountants have been re
isined to examine the books of the
irms involved in the stock transactions
which, il is supposed. resulted from
the leak. These transactions, according
10 report and popular belief, took part
Tor the most part on December 10, 20
and u, when 100000 shares changed
hands.
Mr. Whipple will be assisted only
BY associates from his own office IN
Boston.