Evening star., 1909-05-29
Criticises Efforts to Influence
Tariff Legislation.
SCALE IN GERMANY
Information Asked by American
Ambassador in Berlin.
MANUFACTURERS TESTIMONY
Chairman Of Finance Committee De-
clares That as It Is Unsigned
He Regards It as Worthless.

Senator 4Aldrich today denounced as
'impertinent" the efforts OF the German
government to influence American tariff
legislation by supplying anonymous infor-
nation as to the wages paid to German
workmen. His characterization followed
a statement By Senator Depew intimating
that German manufacturers were striV-
ing to influence Congress through the
German government aand American i'm
porters Of German goods.
The reply of the President to Senate
resolution calling for a statement of the
German government as to wages In Ger
many proved the signal for an ami
mated discussion as soon as the Senate
assembled today. The President stated in
his message of transmittal that the docu-
ment in question had been sent to the
committee on finance April IL.
Senator Nelson. going to the desk of the
Vice President. took the Presidents brief
message, and as he held 1t in his hand
asked that the statement referred to be
printed as a Senate document. Il am sur
finance committee has withheld that re-
port
Chairman Aldrich Explains.
Il have made some investigation as to
the character Of that report" replied Mr.
Aldrich, ''and l find that 1t consists of
statements by certain boards of trade of
Germany transmitting anonymous state
ments of German exporters in answer to
testimony taken before the House COM
mittee on ways and means. ] assume
that this is the first time in the history of
our country that a foreign government
has undertaken to send through diplomat
ic channels to the United States anony-
nous testimony of manufacturers In an
swer to statements made before COM
mttee of Congress. l am quite willing
that this document should be printed.
Mr. Aldrich said further. that the state
ment had been sent back to the State De-
partment, but that it would be returned
He said that this statement had been
treated by the committee as confidential,
as had all others of like nature.
Senator Depew's Criticism.
Mr.. Depew spoke of the Importance of
the business before Congress and assert
ed that 1t is purely an American question
yet" he said. I'VE find that foreign gov
ernments are entering the Senate cham
ber for the obstruction of legislation for
which the President has called an extra
session"
Stating that an international question
is involved Mr.. Depew said that the pub
lication of the confidential document
would be serious matter as has ever
arisen between the United States and a
foreign government. Continuing. the New
York senator said: Il am told that Prince
Won Buelow has sent to this government
an anonymous statement so much in de-
tail that 1t has gone even into the ques-
tion of raZors. Then / am told that it
has been put by the German government
into the hands OF importers and they have
put it into the hands of senator's with
free-trade tendencies. The question is one
which rises far above that of political
party. as the information was sent to
the State Department under the seal of
the German government
Mr. La Follette's Statement.
+ Mr. La Toilette declared that the Senate
was entitled to any information obtain
able that would enable it to measure the
difference between labor cost at home
and abroad.
He asserted further that he had been
informed that the fact the report has not
been given to the Senate for it's consider
alton has been the subject of criticism
and of some feeling on the part of the
German government in view of the fact
that in ii had been supplied information
in response to a request of this govern
ment
Mr.. La Toilette declared that as re-
ceived the statement concerning wages in
Germany had been signed by the German
manufacturers supplying it, but that they
had been erased
Mr.. Aldrich then explained that the
statement had been transmitted by the
German government on the condition that
1t should not be printed, and such teSti-
mony was, he said, worthless from his
point of view
The purpose of the President and the
State Department in transmitting this
German statement to the committee on
finance was the subject of varied COM
ment, as was the method by which 1t
reached the committee on finance.
American Ambassadors Request.
Mr.. Aldrich stated that the American
ambassador at Berlin had requested in
formation, but he explained he could not
have asked for replies to testimony given
before the ways and means committee.
Nothing on the record. he said,
shows what the ambassador asked for.
If / am not saying something harsh l
would say the attempt on the part OF any
government or OF a manufacturer of any
government to influence legislation of
Congress in this way is, to say the least,
impertinent"
Senator Carter Of Montana took the
floor and began an extended argument
for the purpose of showing that the docu-
ment In question would be of no value to
Congress- because it contained informa-
ton from German manufacturers who
refused to sign their names.
Tillman Protests.
This statement brought Senator Till
man of South Carolina to his feet quickly.
Mr. Tillman said that Mr.. Carter had
no right to use such language. as it
might be offensive to the German gov
ernment. Furthermore. Mr.. Tillman said
it was unfair to charge the German man
ufacturer with trying to lobby before the
Congress of the United States when the
information contained in this document
was requested by the American ambas-
sador.
II want to say, however" shouted Mr..
Tillman, that / am not defending the
German manufacturer against the Amer
lean manufacturer. / am like the SEN
ator from New York, and think we ought
to believe our own men first"
Then drawing himself up to his full
height and shaking his fist toward the re-
publican side of the chamber, he declared
loudly:
Il am a Yankee. l am for the United
States and every part of it now and all
the time
Report Ordered Printed.
Just as Mr.. Carter, continuing his ar
gument. had made the statement that it
would be better for the Senate not to
have this German document, Mr. Latta,
assistant secretary to the President ar
rived at the door and delivered to the
Vice President bulky communication.
1t was laid before the Senate by Mr.
Sherman and turned out to be none other
than the very document in question. 1t
was referred to the "nance committee and