Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-10
Naval Affairs Group Votes to
Investigate Charges That
Shearer Was Paid to Block
Armament Conference.
BORAH is EXPECTED
70 OFFER RESOLUTION
President Declares Disclosures of
Interference by "Those Working
Against the Government Require
That These Matters Be Gone Into
to the Bottom"

Shortly before the naval al
fairs committee of the Senate
voted today to investigate charges
that William B. Shearer was en-
ployed by three American ship
building companies to prevent
an international agreement for
the limitation of naval arma-
ments, President Hoover, at the
regular press conference, de-
clared that the disclosures re-
Gently of interference by those
who have been working against
this Government already are so
obviously evident as to require
that these matters be gone into
to the very bottom"
The decision of the committee was
made after it had heard Senator Borah,
chairman of the foreign relations COM
mittee, who strongly urged that the in
vestigation be made.
The resolution providing for the in
vestigation will be offered in the Sen
ate, probably today, by Senator Borah.
Chairman Hale of naval affairs COM
mittee, was authorized by the commit
tee to agree to the resolution for the
committee.
Adjourns Until Thursday.
The committee adjourned today until
Thursday in order to allow time fer the
presentation of resolution by the COM
mittee on audit and control of the con-
tingent expenses of the Senate, provid-
ing the necessary funds for the inveSti-
CATION. At its meeting on Thursday it
will decide what witnesses shall be sum-
moned and whether the investigation
will go ahead before full COMMITTEES or
a subcommittee. 1t is expected that
Shearer will be among the first wit
nesseS summoned.
Off1cials of the three. shipbuilding
companies, the Bethlehem Shipbuiiding
Co., the Newport News Shipbuilding &
Drydock Co., and the American Brown
Boveri Co.. which, it is charged, en-
ployed Shearer to represent them at
Geneva, undoubtedly will be called be-
fore the committee also.
Chairman Hale explained that the
naval affairs committee would go par
ticularly into the charge that Shearer
had been employed to break down the
three-power conference at Geneva, In
which the United States, Great Britain
and Japan sought some basis for limit
ing further naval ornaments. 1t is ex-
pected, however, that Shearer's actlvl-
ties generally will be involved IN the
scope of the investigation before IL is
concluded. Probably number OF naVal
officers will be called before the COM
mittee, it was said.
Only One Dissenting Vote.
The committee adopted a resolution
proposing the investigation with only
one dissenting vote. Senator Waterman
of Colorado wished to broaden the
scope of the resolution to cover all
kinds of propaganda. This would in
clude the activities of the pacifists and
their organizations. He was unWllllng
to vote for the investigation, it was
said. without this amendment.
Senator Borah, in statement to the
committee, declared that the employ
ment of Shearer secretly TO go 10
Geneva for the purpose OF breaking
down the naval conference II possible
amounted to a scandal" He argued
that anv agreement between Shearer
and the shipbuilding companies for
such a purpose was in reality GRIM
inal conspiracy against the interests OF
the American people and the Govern
ment of the United States.
Senator Borah admitted that he saw
no way at present OF prosecuting either
Shearer or the shipbuilding companies
under the law. He said, however. he
believed that the activities of a per-
son attempting to defeat naval limi-
tation should be brought into the open.
Borah Draws Resolution.
A resolution has been prepared by
Senator Borah. Senator Hale and Sen
ator Robinson of Arkansas, are to go
over the resolution with the Idaho Sen
= ator and when the draft is completed
it will be offered in the Senate, and, 1t
is expected, will be adopted promptly;
Senator Hale said that so far he had
received no communication from
Shearer or from officials of the ship
building companies. He said Senator
Borah had submitted to the commit
tee a number of kilograms, however,
dealing with the proposed investigation.
He did not disclose the nature OF these
kplaCramS