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witness from the Treasurer's office. If they should be asked to furnish 

 further information upon the part of the counsel the committee might 

 permjt^it in order to get more light. The committee is in search of 

 information for the purpose of legislation, to see whether 

 the laws need amending in any respect,' or to be 

 enlarged or restricted, or whether they should be 

 repealed, etc. This information is all for that purpose. This is not 

 a trial or contest, it is more in the nature of an inquest. It is a 

 a search for information wh^re it is in the breast of the committee to 

 say how far they will permit the inquiry to go upon the part of their 

 own counsel or upon the part of the other side. That is what I mean 

 to say. There is no absolute right. I suppose if the committee 

 desire to cross-examine Mr. Basselin by way of information they will 

 permit it, and if there be facts in regard to any other witness which 

 the committee desire the committee would permit such witnesses to 

 be examined; but to put it in the form of a contest, who is the contest 

 against, and what is the point of the contest ? What is this inquiry ? 

 It is the seeking of information by a oommittee of the Legislature 

 upon which to found' legislation and to recommend legislation for the 

 whole body.' 



Mr. Hitt. — To bring this matter up definitely I move that the 

 commissioners be allowed to appear generally by counsel. I make 

 this motion to test the question. 



Mr. Bush. — I think the limits in which counsel may interrogate the 

 the witnesses should be defined. They might cross-examine witnesses 

 upon their own part and have all the various rights of counsel in any 

 court. » 



Mr. Hitt. — Subject to the control of the committee, of course. 



Mr. Bush. — I have no objection to any counsel appearing, but I 

 think for the proper progress of this investigation and for the best 

 interests of it, it would be better to decide here whether the cross- 

 examination upon the part of one of four different attorneys should 

 be permitted. 



Mr. Hitt. — I do not think any one on the committee would permit 

 that. Let one gentleman begin and conduct the examination the 

 same as in court. 



Mr. Bush.— I am willing to allow the greatest latitude consistent 

 with the interests of legislation, but not for the purposes of obstruction. 



Mr. Adams. — I made some remarks asto what I understood was the 

 orderly way of procedure, Now, as counsel for the committee, I do 

 not propose to make any objection to anything that may be offered or 

 to any question they desire to ask. I am simply the servant of the 



