Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-04-08
IS AR|R|| {: TE | !: ! | J \,
!. !. | LIBEL B ! CHARGE
Secretary Penllto'n Of Mler.
chant Marine League.
STEVENSON IS ACCUsER

Minnesota Congressman Furnishes
Evidence Resulting in Secret Indict-
ment by Federal Grand Jury at
Washinaton-liveIy Tilt at Ship
Subsidy Hearing Between Steiner:
son and Mecleary.
Washington, April 6.-John A. Pen.
ton, secretary of the Merchant Marine
league Of the United States, was ar
rested here charged with libel. The
arrest was made on a secret indict-
ment returned by the federal grand
jury on evidence presented by Repre-
sentative Stevenson of Minnesota,
author of the resolution under which
the subsidy investigation is being con.
Quoted. Mr.. Penton was witness be-
fore the committee. AS he left the
house Office building he was served
with warrant and taken to police
headquarters. He was detained there
only few moments, bail being fur
nished by Washington friends.
Considerable feeling was developed
before the select committee investi-
eating the alleged existence of a ship
subsidy lobby when Representative
Stevenson, author of the charges,
asked James T. McCleary of Mime
sofa, formerly a member of the house
and formerly second assistant post
master general, If he had not used his
privilege to the floor of the house to
urge upon members ship subsidy leg
islation.
Mr.. McClearY resented what he de-
clared to be an unfair inference in the
question propounded and asserted,
with emphasis, that although he fire.
quently availed himself of the privi-
leges of the floor, he never used that
privilege for the purpose of lobbying.
Not Active for Ship Subsidy.
II do not mean to say" declared
Mr.. McCleary, that never talked
merchant marine to members of the
house, but I do mean to say that l
was not active in behalf of the legis-
lation and so far as 1 remember l
never originated conversation on that
subject"
did any one tell you," asked Mr..
Stevenson, that you should not talk
ship subsidy on the floor of the
house?'
II think some member suggested
that once" replied Mr.. McCleary.
isn't it fact" persisted Mr.. Stee-
nerson, that a member of the house
would not sign a petition you were
circulating asking that you be ap-
pointed director of the mint because
you were lobbying for ship subsidy?"
"The man who refused to sign the
petition did not have the courage to
state it that way and you are the
man." declared Mr.. McCleary with
some heat.
Chairman Olcott announced that
Mr.. McCleary's activity in endeavor-
ing to obtain an appointment as d.
rector of the mint was not pertinent TO
the investigation, but Mr.. STEVENSON
insisted that it had a tendency to
prove his allegation that there was
lobbying in the house.
Tells Why He Favored Bill.
Mr.. McCleary said that his interest
in an American merchant marine
dated back to his membership in the
house and that he became particularly
interested when he was second as
sistant postmaster general because of
the difficulties he encountered in send
ing mail and his inability to send it in
American bottoms.
In response to questions by Mr..
Stevenson Mr.. McCleary admitted
that he delivered a number of ad-
dresses on the subject of merchant
marine at the request of the officers
of the Merchant Marine league Of the
United States.
In some instances he was paid full
expenses, in other instances only part
Of his expenses were paid, and in no
instance, he said, did he receive more
than his expenses. His last trip, he
said, was to New Orleans and Birm-
ingham, Ala. On this trip Mr.. Nc
Cleary said his expenses totaled $125
and that he was only paid 500 by the
league.
Mr.. McCleary said he had no knowl-
edge of a lobby for or against ship
subsidy.