The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-03
Senators Are First Given Op.
portunity to Tell What They
Know of Activities of
Interested Parties"
OLD GUARD TO REGISTER
MANY complaints"
Political Party Heads TO Collect
Extensive Campaign Ma
terial at Hearings

worn lODuJ 49,, tue HuHlluB Oh one y.
8. McMurgay as being a type OF what
two senators thought was a good eX.
ample OF the species, and general dis
chalmers that they had been improp-
erly approached by tariff lobbyists,
comprised the gist OF testimony glveL
by senator's today before tue special
committee investigating the influences
which President Wilson charged were
banded against the tariff bill
Six senator's were examined dndcc
oath In the first session. None tXcept
Bristow gave any detailed list OF those
with whom he had talked ON tariit
matters, although few OF the soions
remembered discussing geneIdl!ti.S
with a few individuals Ashurst ana
Borah both named McM1rray as /,
lobbyist" 1who was attempting TO
avoid cancellation By the indian com
mittee OF Indian contracts, which AS
hurst said would net McMurray So
100000.
1t was the first time in the history
OF the government that senators had
been asked 10 swear 10 their own
personal business interests All ex-
amined today swore they had no in.
terest in any business affected di-
rectly BY the tariff. Several listed
their life insurance as being within
the proposed Wilson Underwood bill.
A number remembered talking with
various men who wanted sugar rates
changed, but none desired 10 char
acterize their callers as lobbyists.
Senator BristoW gave the names Of
a number of callers on WOO and
sugar whom he said all acted in a
perfectly legitimate manner.
They are all pretty good fellows,
he explained. Il uon't think any OF
them are crows or blacklegs
The committee determined today
to hold hearings from 10 TO |. from
s 10 .. and from 20 10 clock.
Senator Ashurst, OF Arizola. was
one OF TIE first persons to appear al
the hearing room, which was Jammed
by spectators. and among these, lobby
lists were prominent The sug II LOBBY
apparently had most OF the members
OIL hand.
The committee was late in arriving,
and this yisiUly lrritated Senator
Bacon, OF Georgia, who was second on
senator fumed around, glancias at the
clock and then pronounced me ar
rangements for the nearing absurd
and ridiculous" lie took particular
umbrage at the raised oias arrang q
for the witness chair, ana Jeeled AZ
the committee while they were being
snap-shotted in pleasant poses b. the
omnipresent new spaper photcgra-
piers.
Ashurst Denies Lobbying.
Senator Ashurst, the first witness,
denied having any interest IN any Oh
the commodities in the tariff Dill.
Il have never been financially inter
eSted In any bill before congress, ne
said II have never tried TO influence
any senator or representative lor OF
against passage OF any legislation.
Chairman Ove.m man read the next
question, requesting the names OF all
persons with whom the witness hao
talked on the tariff BILL
Ashurt smiled al the bro.dness Oh
the query and remarked.
I'll try 10 do SO far as possible, al
thought kept no list. Representative
kettner, OF California, came To me
and asked whether any further reduc-
ton in the duty on lemons was likely
TO be made by the senate. ] asked
Senator simmons about II and he SAID
ne thought there would be none. / SO
informed Mr.. Kettner. When talked
TO Senator simmons. | made 1t PLAIN
that had no interest whatever In the
lemon matter"
Continuing, the senator described
how Mr. Mccarthy had asked aim
10 learn from Senator Stone Wncther
there would be any reductions on mo-
hair rates. Ashurst said he gave dc
Carthy Stones reply that Stone hi.i
urged no increase and hoped as lohs
az he was in congress never TO urge
any increase In tariff RACES. ne
next incident the senator remember
ed. was brief conversation on a
street car with Senators Smith, oil
Georgia, and Swanson. OF virginia III
regard 10 the glove rates
A Mr.. Mcclure and Mr.. Tomlin'
son, of Arizona, called In regard 20
cattle and wool rates" he said.
tolc them would always favor plac-
ing Arizona's products first on the
free list. Neither gentleman said any
thing that might be construed as I'M
proper
II also recall that a senator, whosc
name do not remember. asked me 10
visi, President Wilson with hiIn ana
ask the president 10 relax his views
regarding free sugar. replied 70
HIM that I heartily agreed with the
| president on that point
Ashurst declared that no one hah
improperly approached him on mat
ters affecting the tariff bill.
My knowledge Of public aha!rs
would lead me To believe, however.
he added, that d man named Mcfur'
ray Is using improper methods 10 IN
fuence congress to prevent canceiis'
ton or contract thai means three
and a half million dollar Zee to MIN
He appeared before the Indian coI'i'
nittee. | vii sss Tor Mr. McNurrhN
that he Is -ths smootheft propositioii
IN the world He could carry load oil
cells upstairs and rover drop one.
Ashurst's definition OF a lobbyist
wes any man who attempts TO inNi'
ence the passage Of any hill
The most odfons type,.he added
rs the Kind which makes residence
ia Washington and from time TO time
Champions various measures as the
commissions are given him. -
The Arizona senator said ne vss
mot interested In any business out Of