New-York tribune., 1919-06-09
Root, Polk and Wickershaln
Also May Be Summoned
to Disclose How Treaty
Reached New York Men
Inquiry to Begin To-day
House Plans Recess While
Senate Struggles With
Series of Investigations
New York Tyibun

| Ne,v York Tribune
| Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 8.-The Senate
investigation to determine how Especial
interests" in New York came into the
possession of the text of the peace
treaty will be opened by the Foreign
Relations Committee tomorrow.
Not since the investigation Of the
"leak" on the Presidents note to the
Entente and the Central Powers, ask
ing upon what terms they were willing
to conclude peace, has there been such
general interest in an investigation
by Congress.
No witnesses will be put on the
stand tomorrow. The meeting will de-
eide just how the investigation shall
be made-by the full Foreign Relations
Committee or by subcommittee, in
secret or in public. 1t is certain the
hearings will be open.
Senator Lodge and Senator Borah,
who made the charges leading to the
investigation, will be first witnesses.
They are expected only to repeat what
they already have said on the floor of
the Senate. Both have said they will
decline to make known the names of
their informants, and there is no way
OF compelling them to do so.
Borah to Summon Notables
Senator Lodge believes the commit
tee will not obtain any definite in
formation. Senator Borah, on the
other hand, is known to be anxious to
call former Secretary of State Root,
Acting Secretary Of State Polk, former
President Taft and George w. Wicker
sham before the committee. He be-
lieves some very definite information on
how the treaty got into the hands of
New York men can be furnished by
some of these men,
Senator Borah said tonight he was
certain that copy of the peace treaty
is in the possession of former Presi-
dent Taft. He believes the text of the
treaty was furnished to the former
President to assist him in his cam
paign. for adoption of the league of
nations covenant. If Mr.. Taft is sum-
moned, and it is found that he has
copy of the treaty inhis possession,
Senator Borah said he would make
every effort to compel him TO put the
treaty in the record of the hearing.
A reply is expected this week to the
Senate resolution requesting a copy
of the treaty from the State Depart
ment, and with it a renewal of Senate
discussion.
House Plans Vacation
The House is planning for a rest
,1rrh L ~
Senate wrestles with the peace treaty
and the league of nations covenant.
Majority Leader Mondel admitted to-
day that such a plan was under con-
slderation. He said, however, no def
mite decision as to the length of the
Houses vacation would be made until
appropriation bills are out of the way.
The Republican steering committee
has figured that the appropriation
measures can be sent to the Senate for
its action by June II. Efforts will
be made to frame the bills in such a
way that the Senate will find no items
in them to which to object and thus
eliminate the necessity for protracted
conferences. The prospect is that the
| House will have cleared up its sched-
ule by July l at the latest.
Many Investigations Pending
The present plan is not to take the for
mai adjournment, to which the con-
sent OF the Senate would be necessary.
but to have continuous series of
three-day recesses through July and
August. Several committees Of the
House will be busy with investira.
| =
Department by select committee will
continue throughout the summer
Chairman Graham said to-day the in.
curry would last at least six months.
An investigation of the shipping Sit
uation probably will be conducted by
the Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries, and the Ways and
Means Committee will be busy with
hearings looking to general tariff re-
vision.
Each Monday the members of these
committees will gather in the House
chamber and some one will move an
adjournment until the following Thurs
! day. On the following Thursday an ad-
Journment until Monday will be moved.
The bars will be up against points of
no quorum. Such a point if made
would result in summoning all men,
bers to Washington.
1t was learned to-day that Speaker
Gl!lett and Chairman Graham had
dlfhculty in selecting exactly the kind
OF a committee they wanted to do the
investigating. Many members declined
10 serve. Some frankly said they
"'sned to get back to their districts
and get reacquainted with their con-