Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-13
SHEARER PROBERS
MEET TOMORROW
Public Hearings Probably
Will Not Begin Before
Next Wednesday.

The Senate naval affairs subcommit-
tee appointed to investigate charges
that American shipbuilding companies
hired William B. Shearer as a lobbyist
to help break down the Geneva confer
ence on naval limitation, is to meet to-
morrow to determine what witnesses
shall be subpoenaed.
The actual hearings in the investiga-
ton probably will not begin before We'd
ncsday or Thursday of next week. Sena-
tor Allen of Kansas, one of the three
members of the subcommittee, has been
subpoenaed as witness in Wichita,
Kans., and probably cannot return to
Washington before Wednesday or
Thursday. 1t is the desire of the sub
committee to have him present when
the hearings begin.
The possibility that a charge of treason
might be brought against Shearer, and
the Shipbuilding companies which en-
ployed him, in the event they are found
guilty of opposing the Government of
the United States in its efforts to reach
an agreement with other powers on
naval limitation was discussed in GER
tain quarters of the Capital today.
The Government of the United States,
with the backing of Congress, has sew
eral times gone on record as favorlng
additional international agreements for
the limitation of naval ornaments. 1t
is argued in some quarters that efforts
to break down negotiations conducted
by this Government with foreign gov
ernmentS might be construed as an at
tack upon the American Government,
and, therefore, reasonable.
Senate Discusses Case.
The Shearer case was discussed brief
~ in the Senate today when Chairman
Hale of the naval affairs committee
arose to take issue with published re;
ports to the effect that he had washed
his hands of the matter following the
appointment of a subcommittee to make
the investigation.
Senator Hale explained that on ac-
count of his position as chairman OF
the naval affairs committee he Is nee
eSsarily in constant communication with
officials of the Navy Department, and
for that reason, he said, anything he
might say or do might be construed by
some as representing the view OF the
department. Because of this possibility.
he said, he did not appoint himself on
the subcommittee, but declared that the
subcommittee as now constituted is a
strong one.
Senator Hale also declared that no
advice was received or proffered from
outside of the Senate regarding the
selection of the subcommittee. Com
menting on a morning newspaper re-
port, the Senator declared that he did
not say that he had washed his hands
of the question. On the contrary, he
added, he intended to keep in close
touch with the proceedings He said he
did tell newspaper men that in future
they should go to Senator Shortridge,
chairman of the subcommittee. for in
formation.
After examining the court complaint
filed by William B. Shearer, who calls
himself a naval expert. for 100000,
which he alleges is due him from three
American shipbuilding corporations for
his services at the Geneva f1asco, the
committee will meet tomorrow to issue
subpoenaes for those whom 1t wants
to examine publicly.
Hearings Next Week.
Senator Shortridge, Republican. Cali
fornia, the chairman of the investigat-
ing committee, expects to begin the
public hearings about the middle of next
week He is confident that first wit
nesses will be Shearer and the officers
of the corporations which he is suing
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader, and Senator Allen
Republican, Kansas, are the other mem
statements declaring their determine
ton to get Ito the bottom" of the
Shearer case.
Senator Allen declared if the Shearel
charges are proved to be true it will be 8
matter for the closest scrutiny of the
Congress" All members of the commit
tee are determined to center attention
on the charges of Shearer that he rep
resented these companies at the Geneva
parley. The companies are now building
American cruisers which some members
of the Senate believe would not have
had to have been built had the Geneva
conference been successful.
Allen Is Journalist.
The examining committee of the Sen
ate includes two veteran lawyers and
a journalist Senator Allen is a news
paper publisher. Senators Shortridge
and Robinson are the lawyers.
BY the time the committee opens its
public examination of the parties in
volved in the Shearer charge next week
the Department of Justice is expected
to be able to report some progress on
the inquiry it has instituted at the
command of President Hoover.