Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30
CANNON CASE RESTS
WITH PROSECUTOR
Nye AdjournS Senate Probe
to Await Action of Dis
trict Attorney.
BY the Associated press.

BY the Associated Press.
Chairman Nye of the Senate Cam
paign Funds Committee, yesterday said
he felt the authorities were ION notice
of the apparent violations of the cor
rupt practices act and Of the contempt
of the Senate developed at the hearings
this week into the use of campaign
funds by Bishop Cannon in 1928"
The district attorneys Office here
promptly took notice of the Senate
hearings. william H. Collins, first
assistant, said he would discuss the
case with District Attorney Rover when
the latter returns to the city early next
week.
Senator Nye also said he considered
1t imperative to inquire into the bank
account opened by Claudius H. Huston
In the International Germanica Trust
Co Of New York IN the midst of the
1928 campaign. and from which one
5000 check to the anti-,Snlith Demo-
Gratis Of North Carolina was paid This
account showed deposits of s183, 1886
between October IL and November OF
1928 and Withdrawals of almost $50, 900
during that period.
Huston later headed the Republican
National Committee under President
Hoover. Senator Nye said examination
OF this account was vital in determining
just how much Bishop Cannon adj
ministered IN 1928.
Committee Hearings End.
Adjourning the committee hearings
definitely until October. the chairman
said he expected Bishop Cannon to
ask TO testify under oath In explanation
Of the record developed before us of the
use of political funds made by him il
1928 He would not say whether the
bishop would be subpoenaed.
Two close associates of Bishop Cam
non on the Anti-Smith Democratic
Headquarters Conmittee-Miss Ada L.
Burroughs, treasurer, and J. Sidney Pc
tiers. secretary-refused TO testify to the
committee
Nye shas directed Basil Manly, the
committee expert, TO draft legislation
for tightening the Federal corrupt prac-
tees laws. In a letter to Manly, he
said the evidence in the Bishop Cannon
case demonstrated the necessity for
amendment of the law so as to provide
more definite and stringent provisions
for the handling and reporting Of po-
litical funds"
Cites Provisions of Law.
AS for the prosecution angle of the
case, Senator Nye pointed out the reso-
luton adopetd by the Senate says any
violations OF the law shown or any con-
tempt of the committee shall be pun
ished as prescribed by law"
Under that circumstance, the chair
man said he did not regard it necessary
for either the Senate committee or the
Senate to give the record to the dis
trict attorney
II feel" he said, ut is up to the au-
thorities to take cognizance of the VIC
lations."
However. Collins was not sure about
the authority of his Office and he be-
ileved, offhand that the Senate COM
mittee or the Senate would have to GER
tify the record to the district attorney
In this connection, Robert H Nc
Neill, counsel for Bishop Cannon, issued
a statement challenging the authority
of the committee and saying, "the mis-
use OF such funds is a matter solely for
the consideration by the grand jury
either In Virginia or in the District of
columbia and the record of the tnves-
tigation shows that Bishop Cannon has
demanded such investigation by Dis
trict attorney or States attorney
through grand juries ever since the 1928
campaign"
Interested in Letter.
Senator Nye also stated yesterday he
desired to examine more closely into
the letter of Bishop Cannon to Edwin
c. Jameson, the New York capitalist.
saying "Slenp has already paid three
fourths of the pledge" Jameson gave
Bishop Cannon S65,300 SIemp said he
gave nothing to Bishop Cannon and
did not know the pledge" referred to
by the bishop
In a statement, Senator Nye EN-
phasized that the first and perhaps
only function of the committee, under
the resolution which created it, has
been that of ascertaining facts and
reporting them to the Senate"
The hearings conducted by the COM
mittee during the past 10 months and
reaching into several States clearly re-
veal, not alone violation of the letter
and spirit Of the corrupt practices
law, but the necessity for a thorough
Of the law particularly as
relates to the handing and reporting
of political funds" Nye said