Norwich bulletin., 1913-08-16
Lobby Work
 From The Inside
PICTURESQUE WITNESS TELLS HIS TALE TO COMMITTEE
"GOT THE DOUGH"
Former Chief Page of the House Tells How He Worked With MulhaII and
 Representative McDermott of Illinois

Washington, Aug. 15,-A story of how lobby work for the National As sociation of Manufacturers was done from the inside of the house of repre- Investigating committee by J. J. Mo Michaels, former chief page of the house. Nattiiy attired in a sumrnery oatlt of blue and white serge. Me Michaels blew clouds of cigarette smoke in the faces of the members of while he discoursed in vivid and pie turesque language.
 On MuIhaII's Payroll.
 From the fall of 1909 until January. 1912, McMichaels said, he was almost constantly on the payroll of Martin M Mulhall, the National Association of Manufacturers field agent, at $50 a month, while he was successively dem ocratlc chief page of the house, att tendant in the house press gallery and elevator conductor in the capitol. He told of introducing Mulhall to Repre- sentative James B. McDermott of Illinois for whom he worked as a kind | of secretary, and said that McDermott worked with Mulhall and provided the l latter with a room in the basement of l the capitol where McDermott, Nc Aaichaeis and Mulhan conferred. Did you ever see any money pass l between Mulhall and McDermott?" ?" | asked Chairman Garrett
 Believed Money Was Passing. q never seen any money actually pass between then,'' said the witness, 1 leaning back in his chair and pallsing | to puff at his cigarette. But I had reason to believe that plenty of it was passing. got mine over and above board"
 Why did you say you had reason to believe money was passing?"
 Dough Don't Grow on Trees. The witness leaned forward and | pounded on the committee table l Pm not a fool'' he declared vigor- 1 ously. When two guys like me and l McDermott sit down to a table and the two of us ain't got penny, and a | third guy comes in and we have eats and drinks and get up with the dough I know that dough don't grow on trees or on the table,
 The witness said that he, McDermott and Mulhall, after conferring at the l capitol, would adjourn to a dining room in a small hotel near the capitol for extended sessions" H edescribed the room provided in the capitol for the l conferences as a good place to sleep | off drunkS.'
 Smile Meant Much.
 "How would you or McDermott know about the other having money after l these conferences?" asked Chairman l Garrett.
 We'd just smile at each other" he said. Both of us was careful not to let the other know about how much money we had. If Mulhall gave me two bills I'd hide the larger one and | flash the smaller one, because every time I flashed anything over two dol- lars he copped half of it. He would go to the cashier and give him his money and draw two dollars and come back to where I was. I'd say to the cashier: For Gods sake. don't let Mac see this.' We were both doing this"
 Made Committee Laugh.
 The committee and the spectators laughed heartily at McMichaels' de- scriptions of these transactions.
 At this time your relations with McDermott were confdential?" asked Garrett.
 fOh, yes" said the witness. He said that a hotel cashier named Began had made affidavit as to these transactions Began will appear later.
 The money he received from Null hall on these occasions, the witness said was always deducted from his monthly stipend.
 Kept MuIhaII Posted.
 He said that his employment by Mul- hall was for the purpose of keeping l y, for the National Association of Manu- lecturers, advised of the status of leg fslation in the house and in various committees and supplying documents to National Association of Manufac- !, turers' officials,
 District of Columbia Fund.
 In addition to the charges already made McMichaels swore that the Chi cago representative told him that ht received $7,50o out of a fund of $10, ,00t raised by the pawnbrokers of Wash ington to oppose the bill passed in thu last session of congress regulating in terest rates in the District of Colun1bis
 Concluding his testimony, McMich aels testified that McDermott, since th' Mulhall expose, had endeavored to ge him to conceal McDermott's part il the transaction.
 Throughout McMfchaels' recital Rep resentative McDermott, with his coun sel, sat immediately opposite the wit ness, chewing on a cigar and watching his erstwhile confidential man with { steady gaze. He expressed neither sur prise nor indignation at any point il the complicated story
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