New Britain herald., 1918-12-21
REED AND BECKER
 CLASH AT HEARING Propaganda Investigator Declines to give Names Of His Co., Workers HEARST ANXIOUS TO KNOW
Missouri Senator Scores Vcracity of Testimony Given by Deputy AttOr- ney-General of New York-Harsh Words Passed.

Washington, Dec. 21.-Cross- exam who is not a member of the commit tee, led to a sharp clash at today's session of the senate committee inves- tigating German propaganda between the Missouri senator and Alfred L.. Becker, deputy attorney-genera of New York, and Major E. Lowry Humes, in charge of the inquiry.
 Becker Refuses to Answer.
 Mr. Becker refused to answer ques- tions by Senator Reed as to the iden- tity of persons employed by the attor- ney-general of New York to get infor- nation concerning the German prop aganda system.
 Senator Reed demanded that the committee instruct the witness to an swer.
 Becker asked the senator if he de- sired to have information on matters relating to his client, MT. Hearst" :" Whereupon Senator Reed told the committee that MT. Becker's reply had been framed in an insolent man. Ter dnu dehleu that lie was appearing for Hearst.
 'T beg your pardon" said MT. Becker.
 You needn't beg my pardon" Sen ator Reed retorted. "Your answer was what your testimony has been all the way through this case, and it does not reflect credit on your veracity. am here in the interest of trying to develop some truth through a maze C testimo ony that has been distorted ' Insists on Keeping Secrecy.
 Mir Becker based his refusal to an- sWer the question on the ground that it was secret service work, and se- crecy was essential to it's success. He said he had known that the Hearst forces" had been trying for six months to find out the names of the men mak- ing the investigation and they haven't found out yet, which shows we have g pretty good secret service." Major Humes Enters Fray. Major Humes who has been con- ducting the investigation, objected to Senator Reeds questioning and Sena- tor Reed asked hAnn whom he repre- sented. N jor Humes replied that he represented the committee that had been detailed by the War departm ent to conduct the investigation and was under orders from the committee. If you do represent the commit | tee," said Senator Reed, 1T want to l know what kind of representation is 1 that you give when you refuse to give | up the names of people who got this testim ony."
 T will not dignity that question 1 with an answcr,' replied Major i Humes.
 Reed Hints at Politics. Another f1are-up occurred when 1 Senator Reed asked Mir Becker if it were not true that he, acting under q 1 special New York state war statute
 granting authority to make investi- | gations relating to the public pea ce | ah1 safety, obtained information
 winch he used for political purposes 1 MT. Becker interrupted the senator ir ] his long question with the comment; 'I hope the Hearst reporter is get ting tlAi--'' A moment later he apologized to the committee for the remark.
 Senator Reed tried to make Mir l Becker state the expense incurred ir l obtaining the aft1davits and deposi tions. Becker said he could not re- member the aggregate, but that nothing was paid the witnesses or de. ponents, except to cover their loss o1
 time taken in making the affidavits
 He added that all the af1davits were 1 ta ken in good faith and along with | (CnnfnllrH