Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-22
Privileges and Elections
Committee PoStponeS Case
on C0unSeI'S Request.
ILLNESS CONFINES
COLONEL TO HOTEL
Reed Appears Briefly Before In
vestigators as They Meet
Behind Closed Doors.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Inquiry into the case of Col. Frank
L. Smith, Senatordesignate from Illi-
nois. by the privileges and elections
committee, under the Reed resolution.
goes over until next Saturday at 10
am.
James NJ. Beck. former solicitor
general of the United States, at that
time will appear before the commit.
tee and argue the question of whether
or not the record obtained in the Reed
slush fund investigation furnished a
basis for barring Col. Smith from be-
ing seated as the appointee of Gov.
Small to fill the Mckinley vacancy.
The committee on privileges and
elections today held it's first meeting
to consider the Smith case. Col. Smith
was represented by counsel, ne him
self being i'll at his hotel.
Oscar Carlstrom attorney general
of Illinois, noted his appearance be
fore the committee as representing
the State Of Illinois.
Meets i'm Secret.
The committee met behind closed
doors, with the Smith counsel who in
cluded, in addition to Mr.. Beck c. j.
Doyle, former secretary Of state of
Illinois; James T. Condor, and Harvey
Wood of the Illinois Commerce Com
mission. of which Col. Smith has been
chairman.
Senator Reed Of Missouri. chair
man Of the slush fund committee
which obtained the testimony in Chi
cago last Summer upon which the
Senate based it's refusal to permit Col.
Smith to take the oath of Office on
Thursday. appeared for a moment he
fore the committee at the request of
Chairman Ernst. Senator Reed after
ward said that he did not intend to
take a part in the investigation and
that his purpose in naming the privi-
leges and elections committee in the
resolution adopted by the Senate TO in
vestigate the Smith case further was
to take the matter before a commit
tee which could not be charged with
having pre-judged the case.
The record taken in the Illinois
senatorial primary investigation by
the Reed committee. however, was
made part of the record of the inquiry
by the privileges and elections COM
mittee. Senator George of Georgia
made the motion which formally
brought that testimony before the
committee.
Members of the committee said
after the meeting they expected the
whole case regarding Col. Smith, In
Guiding the senatorial primary in
Illinois last Spring. would be in
vestigated by the committee.
Counsel Asks POstpOnement.
The postponement of the investiga-
tion until next Saturday was at the
request of counsel for Col. Smith
Mr. Beck said that he wished some
time in which to prepare his case. He
told the committee that he considered
the question one of the highest in-
portance to the American people
If the committee is going into every
phase of the Smith case and many
witnesses are to be summoned. then il
is doubtful whether the committee will
be able to report to the Senate until
toward the close of the present short
session. In such event there would
be doubt as to whether vote could b.
reached on the report before the final
adjournment of this Congress.
Chairman Ernst said, however, that
the committee was ready to go ahead
as fast as possible with the investiga.
ton and that every opportunity would
be given Col. Smith to present all
the facts he desired
Action BY State Itself.
Reports TO the effect that the state
of Illinois might institute proceedings
in the Supreme Court of the United
States to determine the right of the
State TO have Col. Smith sworn in
under an appointment by the COVER
nor, since his credentials are in due
form, have gained some ground here.
Mr.. Carlstrom, attorney general for
the State, declined to make any com
ment whatever regarding the reports.
What his procedure would be ne said
he would announce later.