The sun., 1917-01-13
Rules Committee EmpOw-
cred to Make Him Tell or
Cite Him for Contempt.
FIVE DAYS TO REPORT
Bitter Partisan Debate Ends in
Decision to Corner BOs-
ton Operator.

testify, the House Rules Committee VIII
call Thomas w Lawson before it again.
probably Monday, and demand that he
name the Congressman who, he says,
told him that a Cabinet officer, men,
ber Of Congress and broker were In
conspiracy to make money in the stock
market on official secrets.
II Lawson again refuses to name the
Congressman and the trio involved In
his story. as 1t is generally believed he
will, the committee then will report him
either to the House or the District courts
on contempt charges.
When the House had talked for two
hours and was about to vote on the
committees report, which favored drop
ping the investigation into the alleged
leak Of the Presidents peace note. Rep
resentative Cantrill of Kentucky, a
Democrat OF the committee who had not
Joined in the debate. made proposal
that changed the whole situation.
Nr. Cantrill's Proposal.
Let the committee be instructed he
said. Ito bring Thomas w. Lawson be-
fore it and submit to him in writing the
question he refused to answer. II he
does not answer then let Lawson be
cited before the bar of this House and
determine whether Thomas w. Lawson
has more power than the American
Congress"
The House then decided to refer back
to the Rules Committee the Wood resolu-
ton providing for a special investigation
with directions to report on it within
Ave days.
The decision to-day came as the coun-
ter climax to the stormiest partisan
debate the House has INDUCED in since
the present session of Congress. The
Republicans charged that the Democrats
were afraid OF thorough investigation
The Democrats retorted that the investi-
CATION was proposed for partisan advan-
tage and that there was no basis for
the charges either against Congress or
the executive branch Of the Government.
Lawson was derided and made an
object OF scorn and at times speakers on
the Democratic side intimated that Rep
! resentative Wood. author of the investl-
| eating resolution. should be placed in
| the same category. Despite the partisan
| character of the debate neither Demo-
Gratis nor Republicans were apparently
willing that the Boston stock operator
/ should be permitted to escape the wrath
| Of the House.
Representatives Lenroot Gardner
Campbell and other Republicans led in
! the stormy fight against the abandon
ment of the investigation. Representa-
tives Henry. Harrison and Garrett were
the chief spokesmen for the defence.
Bennet Accuses Democrats,
Representative Bennett, one OF the
minority members OF the Rules Commit.
tee. insisted that the conduct OF the ma
Jority members justified the deduction
| that they were afraid to investigate the
leak. "rhe majority" he said, called
about all the witnesses in Washington
who could not prove anything, but they
specifically refused. declined and neg.
lected to call people who could prove
things. OF course. IL you leave out all
the material witnesses YOU cannot make
out case.
Mr.. Baruch was summoned to bring
his books II was not done. The tele-
graph companies were to bring theil
messages of the 9Th and Goth of Decem.
Der. 1t was not done. The situation is
this: That every time the majority
members of the committee came to the
point where they could start to pick ur
the bricks necessary to trace the in.
formation directly back to WASHINGTON
they stopped. Why did they stop"
Representatives Gardner and Camp.
bell, the latter minority member OF
the committee. also asserted that onl,
an incomplete preliminary investigation
, had been made and that many source.
, OF possible information had not beer
scrutinized.
Are you afraid" said Mr. Campbell
turning to the Democratic side of tn,
House, "to bring these matters to light
. II you vote down this resolution you will
convince the country that you ar,
afraid"
, The evidence had shown, Mr.. Camp
, bell said that FLA. Connolly & Co,
to Wall street and that the leak" cam,
from Washington over a private wire
The majority action. he contended. gav,
no opportunity for investigation of wha
wire the leak travelled over and h
; argued that should be done. The Con
/, /, molly firm Is the one in which r. w
Boiling, a brother of President Wilson
, wife. Is partner.
"You had evidence charged MI
n Gardner. but you never examined
! single one OF the dozens which you i'm
= pounded, and therefore l say to you, MI
a Speaker, that this investigation has no
p been conducted in way to find ou
anything"
u Invective by Henry.
The climax OF the acrimonious discus
: sion was reached when Representativ
l. Henry took the floor. He insisted tina
: Representative Wood had not been abb
to give the committee any proof what
ever of his charges.
LET me appeal to you Democrats
3 he exhorted ito hear me while ! me,
u these outrageous charges and this II
It famous political conspiracy against ii
o Democratic Administration and II
8 Democratic party One eX-Presiden
n Theodore Roosevelt. in the New Yor
}. Times, says that he will lend his aid an
u comfort to Mr.. Gardner and Mr.. Woo
70 to press this Investigation. Why, gentl
r men, the President was answering Il
3 note Of the German Government and Wa
seeking to bring about peace. These gel
y tlemen want to embarrass him and I
= hi. hands Are you willing to do II?
10 appeal to you az Democrats and appe
to you as patriotic citizens"
r. Mr.. Henry. aroused TO pitch Of orr
| Co,ftiwued - Sinth Pane