New-York tribune., 1918-09-28
Senators Ask for
All Documents i'm
Brisbane Inquiry
Information Gathered by
Palmer and Justice Depart
ment Goes TO Committee
Especial Dispatch to The Trbune)


WASHINGTON, Sept 27.-All the
information held by A. Mitchell Palm
or, United States Alien Property Gus
todian, who. exposed the Brisbane
brewers deal, and by the Department
or Justice in regard to pro- German
and political activities of the brew
ers OF this country, was asked for to-
oav by the Senate committee which
Is preparing TO investigate the brewers.
1t is expected that at least part OF
TINS evidence will reach the committee
III time to permit it to begin work Tues
Gay.
The committee. at its meeting this
morning, again postponed discussion
as to tha exact scope of its inquiry,
but its request for this evidence which
embraces much of the most important
material the hackers of the inouiry
had hoped TO get before the public.
shows that the investigation viii not
be limited
No decision was reached as TO what
witnesses Will be called, if any, the
committee preferring to let that mat
ter depend on the leads developed when
it begins digging into the evidence
already accumulated. 1t is suggested
that few witnesses will be needed to
establish the charges made in the
Jones resolution, under which the in
quiry is being conducted. but thcre
Wall certainly be demand from some
of the people affected to give them a
chance to explain.
The question that will develop soon
after the hearings begin is whether TO
follow out trails which may he started
hy the Palmer evidence and by that
gathered III Pittsburgh by United
states District Attorney f. Lowry
Humes IN 19i6-thc two sources which
are specifically indicated in to-day's
action by the committee though tho
Pittsburgh case is not mentioned bv
name.
In neither case has all the evidence
been rounded up. though the Pittsburgh
material ~es pvt in shape for trial.
when tha brewers paid some $40 900
t,ucs rather than le. is come into court
In the iirst place, a large part Of the
documents, including cancelled checks.
letters. etc. which Humes tried to get
were out OF his reach. so there is cer-
AalliiN 10 compete record OF the brew
crs' activities in tha hands of the law
Officers. In the second place. much Of
The evidence which Nh Humes did get
was returned . TIE United States
Brewers Associat>~ and other brewers
after the cases wcr, disposed Of. since
it was not complete. and also since il
had no bearing OF matters that then
seemed actionable-such as the eupport
OF djsloyal propaganda.
Thus the Pittsburgh documents,
while affording d great mass Of direct
evidence. also gave great many clues,
which The committee can follow out if
it wishes. but which il is not compelled
to consider under thc terms Of the
jones resolution.
More or less the same situation OBJ
tains in regard to tn. Palmer evidence.
The United States Alien Property Gus
todian has had on his hands Il .remcn-
dous Job IN trying to find the ramifi-
cations of the businesses he has taken
over, to handle them and prepare Their,
tog sale. He has not had time nor
enough men TO follow out all the clues
that papers he has seized have offered.
nor has 1t been his duty TO do 40. But
IN this case also it Will lie within the
powers of the Ovcrman sub committee
TO follow up these hints If it wishes