The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-02
Inquiry Into Operations OF
Paid Press Bureaus Ex-
pectsd = congressman
Bdsy Securing New
Information

, Washington July with witnesses
xheaded for Washington from many di-
i ections to testify on the newest develop
n rent in the Senate's lobby investigation,
Chairman Overman gave hint tonight
qf further sensations in the committees
lactiyities. An inquiry has ibeen under
way for some time, it is understood,
into operations of paid press bureaus con-
Quoted by large corporations and inter-
sFts and the committee expects to deter
ptine to what extent paid publicity agents
Are employed to attempt 10 influence pub
nc opinion or direct federal legislation.
The charges by Martin NJ. Mulhal for
mer representative of the Manufacturers
association. regarding his lobbying opera
tions will not be opened formally until
next Tuesday. Toinorrow's hearing will
be devoted primarily to the testimony
of Wall street men believed to have in
fr:nation as TO lobbying activities in New
York In which the names of congressman
are freely used.
Securing New Information
Developments today indicated that Of
lobby committee have been busy secretly
~for several days securing new informa-
tion, the nature of which is now con-
cealed. Senator Reed, who went TO New
York yestei day, is said TO have acted
for the committee unofficially in the OBJ
tanning of the names of the desired VIII
nesses
Interest centered again today about the
aVaA fAF
lner members of Congress contained in
the correspondence Mulhall has made
public covering his eight years of sery-
ice as an agent of he National Associa-
tion of Manufacturers. Former President
Parry and Kirby of that organization,
who were to have sailed today from San
Francisco for Australia, cancelled their
passage on the demand of the officials
and will come TO Washington to testify.
demand will be made in the House to-
morrow by Representatives Sherley OF
kentucky and Nicely of Kansas for an
immediate investigation of the Mulhali
charges by that body. Both Representa-
tives propose a special committee OF five
to take up the allegations made by Null
hall that the Manufacturers association
fins need campaigns, elected and defeated
congressmen dictated legislation and con-
trolled the make up of committees.
Secure Mulhall Papers
The Senate committee has secured the
Mulhall papers. however, and proposes TO
hold them for its inquiry. subpoenea
sserved on 1.ouis J. Seibold of the New
York World required him 70 produce tue
raass of letters aud documents turned
ever to the World by Muhall and James
A Emery, representative of the National
Association of Manufacturers in Washing
ton, also has been subpoenaed to bring all
his papers bearing on legislative activi-
ties.
Senator Overman declined to reveal the
extent of the proposed investigation into
paid press bureaus further than to say
that .other developments are coming.
The committee learned during its interro-
cation of so-called sugar lobbyists" that
large sums had been spent for publicity
and for contracts covering certain kinds
of news service II is understood that
efforts VIII be made to determine the ex-
tent and character of all paid news serv-
Ice connected with the influ icing of
legislation.