Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-04

mittee of the house will meet today to
begin it's preliminary investigation of
the Teak" on the presidents peace
note, which is alleged to have netted
administration officials and their
friends large profits in stocks.
1t is expected that the committee
will subpoena Thomas w Lawson, of
Boston, to tell what he knows of the
leak" Subpoenas also will be is
sued for Bernard Baruch. of New York,
names will be furnished to the commit
tee by Representative Wood, of Indi-
ana.
1t is expected that the New York
stock exchange officers will be asked to
come to Washington with their rec
ords. The investigation must be COM
pleted within ten days.
Heated Debate in House.
The reference of Representative
Woods second resolution calling for an
investigation of the Lawson charges to
the rules committee was preceded by a
heated debate in the house.
Rumors to the effect that Barney
Baruch, of New York. the presidents
appointee on the national defense coun-
Gil, sold $1,000 shares of Steel common
short on rising market thirty min
utes before the presidents peace note
became known were related to the
house by Representative Bennett, of
New Yorl. in answer to the challenge
of Representative Garrett, of Tennes-
see, for some one to name a rumor
regarding the leak that would call
for an investigation.
Baruch is a New York attorney and
stock Spectator who is credited with
being extremely "close" to the Wilson
administration. In addition to being a
member of the national defense coun-
Gil, created by the Hay act, he contrib
uted at least $4,000 to the democratic
campaign fund in the last election.
Baruch is reported to have boosted OF
his winnings ont the stock exchange at
the time of the recent bear raid, just
preceding and following the publication
Of the presidents peace note.
Gardner Certain Of Leak"
Representative Gardner. of Massa-
chusetts declared positively on his own
information that there was leak on
the presidents note.
Il know that there was a leak Mr..
Speaker said Representative Gard
ner land if I were on that committee
would summon the president of the
United States and would ask him who
were present when he discussed that
matter, and I would ask each one of
them whom they had told about the
coming action on that note. I would
\ 3d. l.,
dictation, which typewriter Transcribed
it, and 1 would find out. Mr.. Speaker,
where that leak came from"
The Wood resolution was called up
as a privileged resolution and was a
substitute for the previous resolution
which Mr.. Wood offered on the day
congress adjourned for the holidays.
The final resolution is not so broad as
the other, but merely empowers the
speaker to appoint committee of five
members to investigate the charges of
Thomas w. Lawson that if a real in
vestigation of the stock market leak
were begun by congress there would
not be quorum in either house or SEN
ate to consider the matter. Lawson
also charged that there would be a
shifting of bank accounts, as at the
time of the sugar investigation.
Made Question Of Privilege.
Democrats raised the point of order
that the Wood resolution was not priv
ileged, and it was during the debate on
this point that the sparks began to fly.
Speaker Clark was ready to rule that
the resolution was not privileged until
Representative Gardner asserted he
knew there was "leak." The speaker
asked Mr.. Gardner if he would make
statement of the fact in writing,
which Mr. Gardner did. The speaker
thereupon held the resolution privi-
legged. "a. 5.--a,.t-
Representative Wood then moved
that the resolution be referred to the
rules committee, with instructions to
report on it within ten days. This mo-
ton was carried without opposition,
and later was amended to give the
committee power to summon witnesses
and to employ extra help.