Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-20
HOT TALK IN HOUSE
Messrs. Rainey and Austin
Engage in Wordy War.
SEQUEL TO FORMER CLASH
Tennessee Members Alleged Interest
in Water Power Franchise.
HIS REPLY TO ILLINOISAN
Rainey's Char > of Lobbying Bitter
ers Brought Into Controversy.

For nearly two hours today the III, se
debate between Representative Rainet OF
Illinois, democrat. and Representative
Austin of Tennessee republican. in which
each charged the other with consortias
with water power trust lobbyists anG
with m.sstatins facts. So bitter was th'
feeling between the two men that tht
sergeant-at-arms occupied a front seat il
strategic position.
The clash grew out of recent col
lision on the floor over water power site
legislation pressed by Mr.. Austin. On
that occasion Mr.. Rainey insinnated that
tho balls were drawn in the interest OF
the water power trust and announced
his. intention of blocking all such iegisla-
ton IN the future until some general plan
had been drawn.
MIR Rainey read from a carefully pre-
pared manuscript seeking to connect Mr.
Austin directly with the trust. The lat
ter spoke eNtempOraneoEsly and with pit'
ter empna sis. branding the charges made
against him as ..untruthful statements.
Mr.. Rainey's Charges.
Mr. Rainey charged that Mr. Austin was
personally interested in water power
legislat On. that he was one of the incor-
porators of big company in the vicinity
of Knoxville Tenn. TO be benefited b!
pending legislation, and that "a well trod-
den trail'' led from the congressional Of
flee Of AIr. Austin to the offices of the So
called water power trust.
. {ae
betwee the two members referred to. Mr.
Rainey objected to certain bills intro
duced by Mr. Austin. end Mr.. Austin re-
taliated by calling Mr.. Rainey dreamer
and a demagogue.
Mr. Rainey said Mr. Austin made the
statement that if he a representative
had favored the water power trust he
would consider that he had disgraced
himself. and if l could produce the proof
of his guilt he would resign"
Missed by Lobbyists.
II do not ask the gentleman to resign
from this body" said Mr.. Rainey, to-
day. II do not think, however, that the
cause Of water power conservation in
Tennessee would suffer ifthe gentleman $
connection with the House would cease
The gentleman will be missed. if he re-
signs. however. by water power lobbyists
But those interested in water power con-
servation will not regret his absence
from this body
One of the bills introduced by Mr..
Austin to which Mr.. Raney objected pro-
yided for seventeen dams, including
seven in the Clinch river. in Tennessee.
one in the Powell river and two In the
congressional district of colleague
Representative Sells. who knew nothing 9
of the bills until after the subject had
been discussed in the House, according
to Mr.. Rainey.
PERSONALLY" said Mr.. Rainey. Il care
nothing about the gentleman from Ten
nessee. nor his references to me. but
propose, IL ] can to make 1t Odious here
after for any member Of this body to in
troduce and promote in this House a
water power bill which does not provide
for the protection Of consumers and tolls
to the national government"
Attacks Knoxville Power Company.
Mr.. Rainey referred to what he called
the absolute bad faith of all these Ten
nessee enterprises and said he knew
"of no better illustration as to what un-
scrupulous water power manipulators car
do with a water power proposition than
the illustration furnished by the Knox
vile Power Company.
This company" he said, made the
Vile and all of that territory to the
water power trust. 1t had five incorpo-
rators. The records OF the secretary OF
state of Tennessee show that Richard w
Austin was one of them. the same Rich
ard W. Austin who now represents the
second district of Tennessee"
Mr.. Rainey said that prior to Mr.. Aus.
tins congressional career the Knoxville
Power Company had turned over to
nanipulators and managers of interna-
tional reputation" that 1t is possible tc
produce at any time the admission OF
the gentleman from Tennessee that he
had been authorized to assist former
United States Treasurer Charles II. Treat
in dispOsing of the franchise" and hs
said that "a Washington lobbyist and
promoter was able to accomplish much
and in his efforts was ably assisted by
the gentleman from Tennessee. who. ac.
cording to his own statement at tina,
time. was interested in the rivers OF his
state-not personally, but only as a mem
ber of Congress
Mr.. Rainey said that Charles II. Treat
George r. Sullivan and Richard w. Aus
tin Nav T. 1910, gave to r. r. Weller OF
Washington an option to dispose of the
holdings OF the Knoxville Power Com
pany for 100000. which. August ~. 1910
was accepted by the Aluminium Compan,
Of America, closely allied with the Gen
eral Electric Company, the very larges
of the six water power groups in the
United States.
Completion of the Sale.
Mr.. Rainey said the sale was completed
by George r. Sullivan and Mr.. Austin
that there was a disagreement betweeI
them as to the fee to which an attorney
Jerome Templeton, was entitled; tina
Templeton brought suit against the Knox
willie Power Company. George Sullivan
and Austin and won in the Tennessee
supreme court.
.Out of Difference to Mr.. Austin's pub
lie position Mr.. Rainey alleged, "th'
suit was so managed that no opinion Wa
rendered by the Tennessee supreme court
the decree being merely modified by direc
payment to Mr.. Templeton.
NO member OF this House is on close
terms of business relationship with th'
representatives of the great water pOwe
trust than the gentleman from Tennes
see." continued MIR. Rainey. THE trai
from, his ron ores siOnal office here leads II