Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-27

Continued From First Page)
mittees to hold hearings and summon
witnesses, which was adopted In the
case of the rules committee. Senator
Smoot argued, however. that when
ever q Senate committee had under
taken a specific investigation, like that
of the Teapot Dome oil leases, 1t had
first obtained authority for such an in
vestigation from the Senate. Other
wise. he said. any Senate committee
ton it desired.
Overruled by Majority.
A majority of the committee over
ruled the contention Of Senator Smoot
and determined to go ahead with the
questioning of Mr.. Mellon. The witness
before he submitted himself to ques-
tioning made the following statement
to the committee:
II am advised by counsel that I am
not obliged to appear before. be sworn
by or testify to this committee on the
ground that this committee has not
authority to subpoena me before 1t or
require me to answer any questions.
THE United Press, to which I am d.
rectly responsible, believes the public
welfare can best be served by making
all news quickly and easily available
when it is in the public interest to do
SO. Therefore, and Notwithstanding
any lack OF authority OF this committee.
I am here TO answer questions
can do so without violating any conf
dence which I may consider has been
reposed IN me, either directly or by
custom Of the press.
II am authorized TO state that the
Il trnC To al fVn
any other Investigations by this COM
mittee in consonance with its duties to
the public, but neither the United
Press nor I conceive 1t to be my duty
to reveal any confidential communica-
ton made to me.
THE statement is given with all pos
sible Difference to this committee ana
each of its members, and I am ready
to answer questions within the limits
which have just stated
Committee Room Crowded.
In reply to questions by the COM
mittee, seeking in various ways TO reach
the source of Mr.. Mallon's information
regarding the proceedings of the Senate
In secret session, the witness contented
himself with saying that he would not
reveal his confidential sources of infor-
nation. He declined to answer many
of the questions on the grounds that
they went to the sources of his in
formation. The tiny committee room
of the rules committee was crowded
to its capacity when Mr.. Mallon took
the stand. The interest which has
been aroused in the case Of the So
called Senate leak" was evidenced by
the throng of spectators. Among them
were Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. wife OF
the Speaker: Mrs. j. Borden Hartman
and several members of the Senate who
are not members of the committee.
Mr.. Mallon testified that he had been
employed by the United Press for 10
years; that for or 8 years he had
represented that press association as its
reporter In the Senate press gallery and
on the floor of the Senate.
Chairman Moses called his attention
specifically to the articles sent out
under his name by the United Press,
giving the action of the Senate in
executive session on the Lenroot nomi-
nation.
will you be good enough to inform
the committee where you got your
information?" said Senator Moses.
II must respectfully decline to reveal
the source of my information" replied
the witness. Every day newspapermen
obtain news from Senators which Is
given them in confidence and which
they hold confidential and do not re-