n HAS SENATE POWER OW OWER ER The recent senatorial slush fund Investigation In Illinois raises a question which should not cot be b a Question at all that Is Has the United States senate the right to compel witnesses to to answer Its I Questions IThe The senate rules are ae clear They I say that when the tho senate dele dele- deleI delegates I i gates a committee to find lInd out something that It wants ants to know I witnesses must answer all ques Ques- ques- ques questions I tiona asked under under penalty of a 1100 to 1000 fine and from one oneto oneto oneto to 12 In jail However there has always been the question It has come up again and again since congressional In- In In Investigating committees were first appointed Somehow It never has been passed pasted on by the courts Either the balky witness has lost his nerve ye and finally answered or orthe orthe orthe the committee h has s weakened and andI I let him go without his answer ve We have prospects now ow of ot a first class definite test ot of of the sen ecu senate's ates ate's right to probe When con con- congress congress gress gress meets next winter Inter Senator Jim Reed will m hue have a little story to tell ell about Sam Sam Insull tho Chi ChI- ChIcago Chicago Chicago cago traction tract baron refusing to answer er one of Reed very perIL perti pertinent nent questions Jim TIm says saya that question Is going to be answered or somebody's go go- goIng going ing Leg to Jail He Me doesn't say Sam Sm that's left for foe you ou to Inter Infer If Reed has bas his way war not only Insull but his attorney Daniel J Y er ler Thomas Thomos W Cunningham of Philadelphia and perhaps even States State's Attorney Robert E Crowe ot of Chicago whose testimony didn't send Reed precisely Into may look out from behind the perpendicular gratings The senate rules z-iles are clear The They say fine fino and Jail not fine or jail And so It should be If I the senate cant can't get an answer on ona ona ona a matter that is of the utmost Im Jm Im- Im Importance Importance to the electorate then who can It Is plainly the senates senate's prerogatIve prerogative to Investigate Insull of ot course would be a ahard ahard ahard hard person to place In Jail There would bo all sorts or ot appeals and If Reed calls for a a showdown on the matter as U he vows he be will the tho fed federal federal ral supreme court may have ha the las last word In the matter malter Cut But the tho rules rul's are aro clear and JC If the tho senate the tho supreme mak law lawmakIng lawmaking ing log body in Iu the tho land hasn't the authority to carry out Its own wn laws then what hat