Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-16
FIRE To BE CENTERED
ON LAWSON At NEW
LEAK CHARGE PROBE
House Committee VIII Make
Him Name Those He Says
Profited, or Cite Him to
House for Contempt
CBy Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1S.-Members
of the house rules committee, armed
with the broadcast authority to compel
witnesses, and particularly Thomas W.
Lawson. 10 answer questions, Will re-
sumo Monday their investigation CT ru-
mors that advance information reached
Wall street on President Wilson's peace
note.
Determined to go TO the bottom of
the situation from every angle before
reporting to the house on the Wood
resolution for sweeping congressional
inquiry into LEAK stories, the com
miItee has subpOenaed all persons and
papers that il considers might shed
light on the rumors. Besides Lawson,
Be,E ard Baruch of New York, and sew
eraI other New York and Chicago brok-
ers have been asked to testify Mon
day.
All of the kilograms sent from Wash
ington on December 20, the day stock
market spectators are reported TO have
profited by advance information, also
have been asked for.
Interest in the recalling of Lawson
to the stand evershadowed among
members of congress tonight all other
developments in connection with the re-
opening If the hearing. Under a res
olution adopted by the house today, the
committee is empowered. to compel him
to answer any question
RESOLUTION is BROAD.
The resolution was drawn at an execu-
tive session OF the committee which en-
deavored to make il broad enough to COW
er every possible avenue of escape from
contempt charges for any witness, and
the house in adopting the proposals as
soon as it was presented displayed a
willingness to go as far as possible in
strengthening the committees hand.
Lawson will be interrogsted from a set
of written questions now being pre-
pared. He will be asked among other
things the name of the congressman who
told him a story about a cabinet official,
a banker and a senator being involved
in a profit-sharing conspiracy in connec-
tion with the 'leak" and also to name the
trio themselves. If the Boston financier
fails to answer the plan is to vote him
for contempt and give him an opportuni-
ty to make answer before the bar of the
house. Then if he stands by his refus-
al, he will be turned over to the sergeant
at arms, and the house may order him
held until he decides to answer or it
may refer the case to the courts.
officials expect the contempt proceed
ings will be necessary. for they do not
believe Lawson will answer the commit
tees questions. If the case is handled
solely by the house, however, and no
direct appeal taken to the courts, many
officials think it doubtful if he ever is
punished
POWER TO PUNISH.
The authority of the present con-
gress to punish recalcitrant witnesses
aNpfraS March & and IL is Dointed out
that the contempt proceedings brought
against District Attorney Marshall, of
New York several months ago still are
held up and Marshall remains unpunish-
ed.
Should lawson be turned over to the
District Of Columbia courts, however,
as same members of congress advocate,
punishment might be easier.
Mr.. Baruch will be asked to show his
books, which were not produced when he
appeared before. F. w. McKinnon, a
Chicago broker will be asked if his firm
sent advance notice of the coming Of
the peace note to one of it's branch Of
fees. Members of the brokerage firm
OF Lockwood & Co, of New York. will
be questioned generally about leak
rumors and James r. Reilly, Of the Dow
Jones company ticker service, and the
Wall Street Journal, will be recalled for
further particulars regarding a fore
warning on the note. Donald Mcdonald,
of Boston. will be asked about a CONVEX
sation he is said to have had with Law
sen. ard T. r. Sartwall, of the Interna-
tional News Service, will be asked about
the auI horship of a news item sent out
from Washington before the inquiry
opened saying that a high official"
might be involved.