Evening star., 1917-01-12
HOUSE POSTPONES
ACTION ON LEAK"
Reports Bring on Most Bitter
and Partisan Debate
in Months.
LINES ARE DRAWN SHARPLY

1aunted by republicans, who
charged they did not dare investi-
gate the further the charges of a
stock market leak on President
Wilson's peace note, the House
democrats today abandoned their
plans for closing the inquiry and
recommitted the Wood resolution
10 the rules committee for further
action without vote.
The postponement was voted iii order
that the committee might have time to
draft a resolution to broaden its powers
10 enable it to compel Thomas W. Law
son to testify and to punish him if he
continues to defy the committee.
Report Within Five Days.
The unexpected turn in the open pro-
ceedings in the House on the Lawson
leak investigation reopened the entire
matter, and instead of a vote on fur
ther investigation, the House instruct
ed the rules committee to reopen the
subject again and report within five
legislative days
The inference, shown plainly in the
late minutes of debate, is to summon
Thomas W. Lawson again to take coun-
sci as to the best and most efticacfous
method of making him produce the evil
dence he claims to have.
This surprising turn came almost at
the very moment when the House was
ready to vote on Chairman HenTyS $
recommendation that the whole matter
be quashed.
At the outset of the debate predic-
ticns were freely made that Chairman
Henry's motion would be upheld by
practically party vote. But, as the
sides. the Lawson charges and innuen-
does put the author of "Frenzied
Finance" in a very bad light with both
sides of Congress.
Mr.. Can.rill Stays Steam Roller.
Matters were all framed for a vote.
Chairman Henry. in a speech in which
10 be interrogated. called upon the
House to vote down a further fnvestf-
cation Although he was harried from
half a dozen sources. Chairman Henry
seemed to be guiding steam. roller
down straight for the further destruc-
ton Of an investigation.
At the last moment Representative
cantrill Of Kentucky begged for ten
additional minutes and receiving them.
sent thrill down the House when he
demanded that instead of q whitewash
the rules committee reopen the sub
jcct. call Mr.. Lawson again and to go
% fnd out whae p6wer the House of
Representatives has to force names
from a witness who spread scandalous
charges s,. and DR. refuses ssn to specify. sn,a,,vs
Garrett of Tennessee cautioned the
House not to go OF half-cocked. but to
study the matter thoroughly and to be
legally sure of the steps about to be
taken.
Therefore. the rules committee will
meet again tomorrow morning and the
Lawson charges will be reopened.
There has not been a session where
louder charges have been hurled across
tae line, the republicans making bold
"a say that the democrats were act
Eally shielding some one. and the
democrats setting up their best orators
TO charge the republicans with playing
cheap politics.
Says Democrats Fear Truth.
Representative Lenroot of Wisconsin,
republican. an adept in the use Of plain
words. declared he was forced to be-
iievc that the abrupt decision to ter
inmate the investigation means that
the democrats fear to face the truth.
Representative Campbell of Kansas.
as a preliminary to Offering substi-
tute resolution demanding a further
Investigation. declared there is evil
dence of a real leak. and mentioned
the possibility of leak in the private
wire between this city and New York
running from the office OF firm Of
local brokers.
Representative Harrison of Missis-
sippi characterized the resolution Of
Representative Wood of Indiana to be
full of partisan spirit and spoke OF
the letter from "A Curtis as measely
ID tfN~a Iy.v-
rison's talk Representative Bennet of
New York shouted out that the Tip
was known in Wall street before Sec
retary Lansing saw the newspaper
Representative Harrison. continuing
said: THE whole thing can be spelled
in three little letters" He called upon
Representative Wood for an apology.
Representative Garrett of Tennessee,
another of the democraticwise speak
ers. sarcastically said that Representa-
tive Wood Of Indiana Mad evidently en-
tered into a comedy competition with
George Ade.
While both sides lanbasted each
other. IL Is odd to relate that nearly
every speaker paused in his remarks to
refresh himself with poke at Mr..
Lawson. No ore had good word to
say for him.
Representative Garrett said: Prob
ably every one believes Lawson should
be confined. but there Is a difference of
opinion as TO where he should be con-
fined Some think in jail. others think
in al asylum. Representative Chfper-
field said Lawson was not normal
Finds No Evidence of Leak.
Not one particle of evidence was ad-
duced to sustain the resolution offered
by Representative Wood" said Chair
man Henry. No democrat will submit
that there was any warrant found for
these charges. and surely no republican
Wfill assert here that there was any evil
dence found to sustain them.
There is another resolution, the
original resolution for an inquiry into a
leak In the Presidents message still
before the committee. A subcommittee
has been appointed to consider the con-
Of q ictia