New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-14
Did a Public Service in Trying
to Influence Legislation, He
Tells Investigators.
SAYS WATSON GOT $1,000
Considered Representative
Good Man for Outside Work,
Being a Good Talker,
New Yorker Testifies.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington, Aug. I3-Henry r. Towne,
who UP to a few months ago was presl-
dent of the Merchants Association OF
New York. told the Senate lobby com
m,ttee to-day that he considered he had
a perfect right to come here and seek 10
influence Senators and Representatives
regarding legislation I'm which he was In
terested. In fact. Mr.. Towne said he
considered he was doing public service
when he did 20.
Mr.. Towne was before the committee as
the treasurer OF the National Tarin COM
mission Association. one Of the o1shoots
OF the National Association OF Manufact-
urers. to tell OF the payments OF money
made to ex-Representative James r..
Watson. who was employed. by his assoc
ciation 10 help get the tariff commission
bill through Congress.
Mr. Towne said he came here frequently
to sec members of Congress and Senators
about legislation.
Did t. ever occur to you, Ire was
asked. that you did not have the right
individually or through representatives
TO express your opposition to legislation
20 the principles of which you were an
tagonistic?'
ION the contrary" Mr.. Towne replied,
IL conceive not only that | had right
10 try TO reach Representatives and Sena-
tors in regard to such matters. but that !
was rendering public service one ~hich
rested on me and other citizens VINO nave
reasonable liberty as To their time ann
work. an obligation to endeavor 10 on
tighten our Representatives. In Congress
concerning public sentiment In regard TO
bending matters 81 legislation, and par
ticularly where such matters were techni-
cal in their character and outside or the
usual field of the experience Of members
Of the Senate and House. and where pos
sibly my own personal experience was
larger, and therefore might be useful and
helpful TO them In forming their conclu-
sions"
Mr.. Towne said he knew nothing about
Mr. Watsons duties or the reasons when
prompted his employment by the Tariff
Commission Association.
The ex-Representative. he said. had re-
celved $3.50 week for his work, when
began April H. 1909. and ended June OF
the same year. All told. Mr. Watson han
received 800, he said. The manufact-
urers' association had contributed 1l.o0 OF
these funds. In that It paid this amount to
MIR Watson when ne was engaged ana
later donated the amount tn the Tariff
Commission Association. lie also said
that the Merchants Association Of New
York had loaned moo for that purpose.
Although he had no part In engaging
Mr.. Watson. Mt. Towne said he Thought
Mr.. Watson was q good man for outside
work. being a good tnlker and thus being
able 20 mould public sentiment
Senator Cummlns tried To bring out the
ppint that the Republican leaders OF tho
Hous. at that time were all opposed 10
tariff commission, although they were
close friends 81 Mr.. Watson. and that the
latter wa, really engaged for some other
purpose. but Mr. Towne would not see II
that way.
Nr. Towne declared that James a.
Emery. the chief lobbyist Of the National
Manufacturers. had no connection with
the National Tariff Commission Associa-
ton. although number Of letters read
showed that he and Mr.. Emery had some
correspondence on pending legislation a,
the capital