The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-14
Boston Man Is to Be Put Through Real ''Third De-
 gree' Examination
BROAD AUTHORITY
 GIVEN INQUISITORS
 IN LEAK" INQUIRY
If the Witness Refuses to Diyulge Names He Will Be Cited Be- fore Bar of House for
 Contempt

| Washington, January 13.-Members with the broadest authority to compel witnesses, and particularly Thomas w. Lawson, to answer questions, will re-
 sume Monday their investigation Of i rumors that advance information
 reached Wall street on President Will
 son's peace note.
 1 Determined to go tc the bottom of
 the situation from every angle be-
 fore reporting to the House on the
 Wood resolution for a sweeping con- gressionaI inquiry in "Ienk" stories,
 the committee has subpoenaed nIl per-
 sons and papers that it considers
 might shed light on the rumors. Besides Lawson, Bernard Baruch of ! New York and several other New York and Chicago brokers have been asked to
 testify Monday.
 | All of the telegrams sent from Wash ington on December 20. the day stock
 market speculators are reported to have proited by advance informant ton, also have been asked for.
 ALL EYES ON LAWSON Interest in the recalling of Lawson to 1 the stand overshadowed among memb CTS I of Congress tonight all other develop ments in connection with the reopeuing of the hearing. Under a resolution adopt ed by the House today, the committee is empowered to compel him to answer any question. The resolution was drawn at an executive session of the committee, which endeavored to make it broad enough to cover 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 willingness to go as far as possible in strengthening the committed s hand.
 I PREPARING QUESTIONS l Lawson will be interrogated from a set
 of wn.sen questions now being prepared. He will De asked, among other things, to name the congressman who told him
 a story about cabinet official, a banker and a senator being Involved in a profit taking conspiracy in connection with the l leak, and also to name the trio them ] selves. If the Boston financier fails to
 answer. the plan is to cite him for con- tempt and give him an oporptunity to
 make answer before the bar of the House. Then, if he stands by his refusal he will l be turned over to the sergeant-at-arms, and the House may order him held until 1 he decides to answer or it may refer the case to the courts. m THINK REFUSAL LIKELY 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. The authority of the present
 Congress to punish recalcitrant witnesses expires March 4, and it is pointed out
 that the contempt proceedings brought l against District Attorney Marshall of New York several months ago still are held up and Marshall remains unpublished
 Should Lawson be turned over to the District of Columbia courts however. as
 some members of Congress advocate, pun 1 ishment might be easier
 TO SEE BARUCH'S BOOKS ] MT. Baruch will be asked to show his l books, which were not produced when
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