The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-08
NJ CLEARY ON STAND
TESTIFIES REGARDING LOBBYING
FOR SHIP SUBSIDY.
Former Second District Congressman
Has Clash With Representative
Stevenson; Interest in Merchant
Marine Dated Back to His Mem
bership in House; John A. Fenton
Arrested for Libel; Gives Bail

Washington, April Considerable
feeling was developed before the select
committee investigating the alleged
existence OF a ship subsidy lobby when
Representative STEVENSON, author OF
the charges, asked James +. McCleary
the house, and formerly second as
sistant postmaster general, if he had
not used his privilege to the floor OF
the house TO urge upon members ship
subsidy legislation.
Mr.. McCleary resented what he de-
clared to be an unfair inference in the
question propounded and asserted, with
emphasis, that although he frequently
awaited himself Of the privileges of She
floor, he never used that privilege for
the purpose of lobbying"
II do not mean To say" declared Mr..
McCleary, that l never talked mer-
chant marine To members of the house
but | do mean TO say that | was not
active in behalf of the legislation and
80 far as | remember | never original
tl II ttik u ST tOH On llldt subject
Some Warm Conversation.
Did anyone tell you," askcl Mr..
Stevenson, that You should rot talk
ship subsidy on the floor of the
house"
Il think some member suggested
that once replied Mr.. McCleary.
Isn't it fact persisted NJ. Stec
nerson, that Il member of the house
would not sign petition You We're
circulating asking that You be APP
you were lobbying for ship subsidy?"
''Thc man who refused to sign the
petition did not have the courage to
state it that way and you are the
r;an," declared Nh. McCleary with
some heat.
Not GeImain to Investigation.
Chairman 0lcOtt announced that Mr..
McCleary's activity in endeavoring to
obtain an appointment as director of
the mint was not pertinent to the in
ed that it had a tendency to prove his
allegation that there was lobbying in
the house.
Mr.. McCleary said that his interest
in an American Merchant Marine dated
back to his membership in the house
and that he became particularly inter
ested wnen he was second assistant
postmaster general because OF The dit
ficulties he encountered in sending mail
and his inability to send it i'll Ameri
can bottoms.
In response to questions by MIR.
Stevenson, Mr.. McCleary admitted that
he delivered Il number of addresses 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, ne
said, was to New Orleans and Brm-
ingham, Ala On this trip Mr.. Me
Cleary said his expenses totaied $l2J
and that he was only paid 800 by the
| league.
Mac Knew Of No Subsidy Lobby.
Mr.. McCleary said he had no knowI
edge Of Il lobby for or against ship
subsidy. Asked by Representative Gar
rett of Tennessee if he knew of an
organization of foreign ship owners
who were successful in having their
views reflected in Washington Mr..
McCleary said he would not like to
answer such 4 question yes or 30. but
he believed that the arguments of for
.eign ship owners in the paid advertise
ments bore II striking resemblance to
some of the arguments against ship
subsidy made in the house.
He insisted, however. that he had
no knowledge of and did not believe
there was any improper influence.
PentOn on the Stand.
John A. PentOn, secretary of the
league, was the only other witness eX
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