Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-15

Washington. Apr. 14-Decision
was reached by the senate commit
tee investigating the department of
justice at an executive session to-
day to cite M. S. Daugherty, presi-
dent of the Midland National Bank
of Washington Courthouse, Ohio,
and brother of the former attorney
general, before the bar of the SEN
ate on a charge of contempt.
The committee. which held no
public hearing today. also conferred
at length behind closed doors with
Attorney General Stone regarding
questions before it, members later
expressing satisfaction with the
interview. Although the attorney
general said he had nothing TO COM
municate upon leaving the meeting,
senators declared there would be no
difficulty in the future in obtaining
files and records of the department
of justice bearing upon the investi-
cation and left the intimation that
Mr.. Stones attitude and conduct of
the department might cut short
their labors.
The contempt resolution against
NJ. S. Daugherty will be given to the
senate as soon as is can be prepared,
possibly toporrow, and will declare
that the Ohio banker has refused
at the behest of a senate subpoena
both to testify himself and to per-
init the records of financial trans
actions, involving II. NJ. Daugherty,
the former attorney general, declar-
ed to be in his possession to be in
spected by the senate or its agents.
Meanwhile the committee will
proceed with it's inquiry by a re-
sumption of it's public hearings to-
morrow when Chairman Brookhart
plans to seek more light on con-
tracts between the Wright-M
Aircraft Corporation and the depart
ment of justice arising from 'over-
payments on airplane contracts
during the war.
Howard Warrington. of Columbus,
O.. whose residence in the little
green house on X street." in Wash
ington. has been n center of much
testimony, has been ordered to
make his appearance tomorrow be-
fore the committee, Chairman
Brookhart said, but whether he will
at OIlCS Is d QutSllOu. lie COIilIilll-
tee preference appeared tonight to
be for obtaining details as to the
Wright Martin contracts. inasmuch
as testimony adduced in Ohio has
contained references to ownership of
$500 shares of stock in that corpora
ton by H. NJ. Daugherty, when at
torney general.
The resolution to cite NJ. S.
Daugherty for contempt, as ordered
by the committee. will seek diff
ferent procedure than was taken by
the senate toward Harry f. Sinclair,
for declining to testify before the
senate oil committee. The senate
asked the district attorney in Wash
ington to obtain an indictment be-
fore the criminal court against Mr..
Sinclair, whereas the Daugherty
committee will ask the arrest of the
banker and his appearance before
the senate itself for judgment.
Precedents exist for both actions,
it was said, but the step today was
ordered because it will permit Mr..
Daugherty at almost any stage of
the proceedings to purge himself by
furnishing the evidence desired.
Civil procedure resorted to in the
Ohio courts last week by Midland
National Bank officials to stop in
Quiry into it's affairsswas not even
considered by the senate committee
today. Senator Wheeler, Democrat,
proceeding without regard to 1t.