Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-06-02
NO IMPROPER INFLUENCE
NO MONEY is BEING HANDED
OUT BY OPPONENTS OF THE
NEW TARIFF BILL.
One LOBBYIST" IS FOUND
M'MuRRAY, WHO HOLDS INDIAN
CONTRACTS, POINTED OUT
AS THE REAL THING.

Washington, June 2.-The first sen
ators to testify today at the senate
investigation of the charge that lob
by is working against the tariff bill
declared they knew of no improper
influences being exerted; no use of
money and had not themselves at
tempted to improperly influence any
other senators.
All admitted having talked with
manufacturers interested in the tar
iff, and having heard protests, but
all considered such proceedings strict
ly legitimate and none could consider
the men with whom they talked as
lobbyists"
Senator Ashurst said, however, that
"a man named McMurray' had been
attempting improperly to influence
senators against the movement to
cancel certain Indian contracts by
which McMurray is said to stand to
receive $3,5OO,OOO Senator Borah re-
ferred also TO "the man Senator Ash
urst mentioned"
The United States senator's search
for a tariff lobby such as President
Wilson declared was operating in
Washington began today with the
senate judiciary subcommittee hold
ing open-hearings
Every senator was prepared to an
swer a series of II questions to deter
mine whether he has any personal
interest in the tariff or other legisla-
ton, and to find out what persons
have approached him in the effort to
Influence his action on schedules of
the tariff bill.
Before the committee met, Senators
Overman and Reed neld long con
ference with President Wilson. The
impression is that the president
might furnish list of names of those
he believes to be lobbyists"
Senator Ashurst was the first call
ed. He testified that he was not
personally interested in any manner
conceHning any pending Legislation.
He said he had not kept record of
those who had talked with him CON
cerninlg matters before congress, but
he would give the names OF all ne
could remember
The senator named Mr. Tomnn-
son, representing cattle men, and
William Kettner Of California, repre-
sentiag citrus fruit growers, but stat
ed that no improper suggestions were
made by them.
Senator Ashurst said he did be-
lieye. however, that "a man named
Z McAfurray had been attempting to in
fluence improperly the action Of sena-
tors with respect to preventing the
cancellation of certain contracts he
(McMurray) had with Cherokee In
dians fcs the sale Of land whereby he
would receive ss.5OO,OOO
.'He is the smoothest lobbyist
have ever seen," added the senator
.'He could carry a bundle Of cells up
stairs without dropping single one"
J. r. McMurray, an attorney Of Nc
Aleeter, Okla, prominently identified
with Indian legislation, has contract
with the Cherokee Indians for the
sale Of $s5,0Oo,oOO worth Of land, for
which he is to receive 10 per cent.
There is movement in congress to
annull his contracts.
Senator Bacon. who followed sena-
tor Ashurst, said that he owned a
small farm in Georgia on which
some articles might be raised that
were affected by the tariff. A sewer
pipe factory, street railway, gas
company. and an electric company
we're other industries in which Sena-
tor Bacon said he had some interest.
Il don't believe any Of them are
affected by any Of this legislation"