The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-04
SUBSIDY LOBBY IN CONGRESS-
STEENERSON SAYS THlT ~ rs
INTIWIDtTING MEMBERS.
De ghsrE~s Tha, Large sums oG Moae,
Are Be,RE sed To EmplOy writers
aHd mat ThrrHIs Have Been Made to
Publish Things Absat RIS NRalrs.


League ~ Republican Clhhs. and J Sloat
Tassert Representative in Congress from
tie Thirty third New York district may
te summoned to appear before the House
Committee on the Judiciary tn tell What
they know about alleged improper meth
ode said to have been used by certain
PERSONS in an attempt TO force the pas
cage 81 q ship subsidy hall through the
House at this session Representative
steenerson. a Republican from Mime
sofa. will ask that these two witnesses he
called
Mr.. steenerson u the author ~ a resolu-
tion introduced in the Hcuss to-day direct
ing the Speaker tn appoint a special com
mistee to inquire into charges that officers
Of the Merchant Marine League 81 Clsv@-
land. Ohio. have -Consplred and federated
together for the purpose 81 unduly and
improperly influencing Congress and the
members thereof in connection With sub
sidy legislation and creating hostility
against all persons oppoaed- ~ this
legislation IN a statement authorized
tonight Mr. Steenerson made It clear
that while he proposed ~ introduce 'he
names ~ Mr. Hammond and Mr. Fassett
into the case " was only for the purpose
- adducing from them facts that might
tend tn support the contention that
lobby had been formed in one instance 10
further legislation and in another posi-
Wy To ohstruct " According 20 Mr.
Steenerson the Information that Mr.
Fassett has knowledge on the snhjec
came direct from the New York member
himself
After the resolution had heeu referred
% the COMMITTEES ~ the Judiciary to-day
Mr. Steenerson said he was approached
by Mr. Fassett who said that h" had
'esson 90 believe that foreign steamship
interests with ofhc~s in New York main
'sined q bobby m Washington for the
pufpoSs u defeating ship subsidy legis-
lstion Mr. SteenerSon said further
that Mr.. Fassett ,nsreupon announced
\ pa-pcse % offer resolution directing
an Inquiry into this phase II the subject
That will he Unnecessary Mr. Steener-
son said he tod Mr. Fassett NV resolu-
ticn n SUFFICIENT. ! shall ask that You ~
summoned by the committee
To tina suggestion Mr. Fassett assented
President Hammond ~ the League
u Republican Club. according ~ Mr
Steensrson. was induced 81 hecnme
Interested in ship subsidy legislation
! shall ask that he no summoned "
appear before the COMMITTEES n tell what
ever he may know a. TO the means adopted
- further subsidy legislation said Mr.
Steeners1n.
The Stsenerson resolution 10 pretty
warm document II docs not e. INTO
particulars. merely outlining IA general
wAy that improper means are haing used
~ pFs-s subsidy Legislation and tint
large "siims' ~ money hs W. been and ~
eng used and expanded - SIMPLIFY
writers Tor the press 10 prepare articles
tvors hle 20 ship subsidy and u employ
.bbyists. - solicit and interview mem
lers an sid matter and 20 paw cam
pniRn contributions ." political partv
organizations and Influence election Of
members and others
MT Steenerson further charges that
members Who showed a disppsition -
hCht subsidy Legislation have been IN
Inundated and terrified m an EFFORT 10
force them IN change their positions
he charges that during the last f-N years
me parties TO the alleged conspiracy
have sent their agents INTO ms district
nth a view 70 inducing MN TO favor
snd support said Legislation and to az
prs~s himself thereon Further that
m" parties 70 the alleged conspiracy sent
money 20 a citizen o! Cro, X stOn. Mlnn
vhsre S'rnn~rson ro-des m order to
obtain Information about MS private
AFaIrs ard that after obt4inins the ~.
format"n the conspirators cent him
information that ~ was TO ~ published
All ~ this was done Mr. SteeuerSpn saw
in furth"ranc" # the conspiracy
Whether th.. SteenersOn resolution will
result IN Congress probing the subsidy
lobby remains ca he ssen speaker can
non construed IN" resolution to con
stitute = question - general privilege
ana permitted 10 INTRODUCTION m open
house On motion ~ Mr. Pawn" ~ N-w
York u was REFERRED to the COMMITTEE IN
the JudiciaVy
N ~ assumed that n tho hearing On the
resolution before the Ho,nss COMMITTEE Mr.
St~~nerson will make an cx pArte cs.s@ N
the evidence submit - IL sufficient 10 war
HAtn hFNiNu an iiifAutFN NANA'fiAtNf"ilN
Will ~ ordered Thus was the procedure
followed N tho cp-a 81 the resolution
presented by Mr. Lriiav of Connecticui i'm
m~diat-ly preceding the submarine boat
NcFndal Mr. LIll"ys charges that cor
rIpt methods had h"~n us-d IN influence
ING members ~ Cougress 70 vOt. for sub
Inf rine- WEI" embraced IN p resolution tho
form ~ which WIS changed ~ tha request
NJ meninoTs OF tn" COMMITTEE. on Rules
VI Lilly hF1 hearing bof"r" the corn
mite u" -ucr~, i'd M a0nv rcrnR re
m mhs ~ thst au inquiry would disclose
corruption ard scr' riinglv IN Invss'iRa-
tIsn Vas auihOriN u
Mr StNg nsrEon Insists that rhs state
Dsnts -et forth ~ hrs resolution together
nth other Information m his gossesa,or
rill warrant the Housc m creating corn-
Tnitt-e n inquiry "a this cass
Earthquake NJ sarHRse Lake.
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