Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-01-26
sCHWAB, ON STAND,
DENIES STATEMENT
MADE BY AUDITOR.
OVERCOME ny OWN EMOTIONS,
BROKE DOWN WHILE on THE
WITNESS STAND
ny Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Jan. ?5.--overcomc by
his emotions. Charles NJ. Schwab TEN.
porarIly broke down On the witness
stand today before the Walsh congress
sional committee. which In investlgat.
4 ing affairs of the United States shin.
ping board. with tear filled eyes. he
denied charges of previous witnesses
that 100000 of secs, 900 voucher
charged 90 his account In the Rethe.
hem shipbullding corporation had been
allocated To expense of construction VI
government ships.
MIR. Schwab has been called TO give
testimony regarding ship construction
matters during his term ns director
general Of the emergency fleet corpor
alton. At the conclusion OF this tesil
mony. his attention was called by Hep.
resentntive i. NJ. Foster to testify that
since making his denial last Friday II
the charges. he had conferred with
Pcricy Morse ~ Pcrley Morse and com.
pany. the auditors who found the al.
legged voucher.
Mr.. Schwab admitted he had talked
with MIR. Morse. stating that "a Mr.
wlldman. whom he had known several
years. came TO him with the statement
that MIR. Morse was man ~ the high
est repute.
Il listened" Mr.. Schwab added. "and
said that u what you say IL true. and
what ] assure you ! can prove In truo.
that received none of this money.
should not Mr.. Morse h. willing to
make statement that he has made
mistake? Mr.. wildman said he thought
he would do NO."
As a result of this conference. n
meeting between Mr. Schwab and Mr.
Morse was arranged later at the Hotel
81. Regis. and the witness said hc re.
peated 10 Mr.. Morse what he had said
10 Wiidman-"that the facts I had re.
lated were true and that was now at
the end of long forty years business
career and that Il was matter so In.
Idescrihably deep In my heart OF he
charged with something of that kind,
that hoped he would correct Il.
He would not do a." Mr. Schwab
continued. 'Iie said there were explain.
ations and reasons s."
Here the steel mans voice became
husky and his frame shook with sup
pressed sohs.
II hope you will excuse me. Mr.
Chairman, and gentlemen ~ the com.
mittee" he started 10 continue-"but,"
and here his voice broke again.
For moment he cndeavorcd 10 con.
troll himself. hut without success.
He gave up the attempt and from
his eyes great tears rolled. which he
wiped away with his handkerchief.
The committee room was filled with
witnesses and spectators. and II was
evident that he had the sympathy IL all
by the silence that prcvailcd-a silence
broken by Representative Foster. who
said
II cannot help making this reflec.
tion Just at this time. As a member
II this committee. I want Ia express
on the record my appreciation Of the
manner. Mr. Schwab. In which you
have introduced evidence concerning
this voucher. Aside from my member
ship OF this committee. want to cx.
press INV appreciation as an American
citizen Tor the services you have ren.
dcred our country In the recent war.
There Is no jury" Mr.. Foster con.
tinued. TO hc affected. or court TO he
influenced. but say that out IL an an.
nrcciniion II the situation. | feel that
! am compelled Ia give expression 10
/ a.
This statement was greeted hy an.
nlans" from those In the room.
! u thank you very much" Mr..
Schwah replied THAT was the sub
stance Of my conversations with Mr.
Morse"
lie had now regaincd control ~ him.
self and In answer to the chairman's :
question said he had never instituted
any steps Ia have any audit stopped az
his ship yards or offices. lie said
matters of this kind were never brought
Ia his attention.
lie again thanked the committee and
asked them to excuse him fw his dis
MAY of emotion. and arising. walked
from the room. passing close to where
Mr. Morse sat among the sn,,tators