The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-19
Orders Union Pacific Rail
road Official To Be
SubpOenaed
SEVERAL LETTERS
MADE PUBLIC
Robert S. Lovett Must Explain State
ment Credited to Him;-Palmer
Letters Feature An Excit-
ing Session

Washington, June 1S.-The Senate lopDy
Investigating reached out into new fields
today when the Senate, acting on a reso-
luton presented by Senator Norris, Or
dered the overman committee to subpoe-
ma Judge Robert S. Lovett, chairman OF
the board of directors of the Union Pa
cific railroad, to explain a published state
ment credited to him yesterday in New
York that lobbyists had sought to secure
employment from the Union Pacific on the
ground that they would be able to infiu-
ence settlement OF the Union Pacific
Southern Pacific dissolution case in Wash
ington.
Earlier in the day the committee had
made public, over the protests of a lawyer
representing Henry T. Oxnard and Tru-
man q Palmer. a series of letters written
by these two beet sugar representatives
showing a long continued effort to infiu-
ence legislation in Washington to con-
troll congressional committees, and to d.
rect national political affairs in support
of the continuance of protective sugar
tariff.
warren Is ouUintOuCu
Chairman Overman hau not determined
tonight when the railroad phase of the
investigation would be opened. A sum-
mons was sent today TO Charles B. War
rem of Detroit, president of the Michigan
Sugar company and one of the men to
whom many of the Hamlin letters. pro-
duced yesterday, were addressed. Mr.
Nya m haf
committee tomorrow and it is expected ht
will be asked for more details for The
beet sugar publicity Campaign.
Late in the afternoon the commtts
abandoned temporarily the sugar protec-
ton lobby and took up the free sugar side
calling Frank C. Lowry of New York who
directed much of the free sugar publicity
under the association name of the com
mittee of wholesale grocers." Mr. Lowry
| admitted he was employed by the Federal
Sugar Refining company and under ques-
ticns Wy Sepator Cumming agreed that
1 free sugar would benefit the cane sugar
reiiners.
| The Oxnard-Palmer letters, produced al
| the close of the committees morning ses-
sion, were the chief feature of an ex-
citing day. They covered a period from
1906, when Philippine free trade came up,
through the balance of the Roosevelt adj
ministration, the political campaign OF
1908 and into the Taft administration.
Most of the Oxnard letters were writ
ten in long hand and signed Henry I
Oxnard." Some of the Palmer letters
were typewriter carborn copies, but
We're identified by Harry A. Austin, clerk
in Palmer's offices.
Assurances that certain senators would
be on the Senate Philippine committee;
that mo stone was being left unturned
to get real protectionists'' on the House
ways and means committee: and that
strong pressure could be, and was being
brought to bear upon members of both
houses to accomplish various ends, ap-
peared frequently in the series of let
ters.
Chairman Overmans first effort to read
| one of the Oxnard letters when the COM
mittee began its session brought a pro-
| test from John T. Yefkes, an attorney
representing Oxnard and Palmer. He de-
clared the committee had no right to GO
| into private correspondence dated be-
| fore the present session of Congress. III
| a long executive session the committee
decided that the letters bore directly upon
| the attempts of Oxnard and Palmer tc
| influence legislation and they at once be
made public.
Grant Stones Request
| The committee tonight granted the re-
quest of Melville r. Stone of New York
general manager of the Associated Press
who asked to be allowed to testify to-
morrow regarding claims made in some
of the Hamlin letters. produced yester-
day, as to the publicity the beet sugar
interests hoped to secure through the
Associated Press
The free sugar forces. which fought
Oxnard, Palmer. Hamlin and other anti
free sugar men for many years, got their
first innings when Lowry took the stand
He testified that he was general sales
agent of the Federal Sugar Refining com.
pany, that his salary was $4,000 yeai
and that commissions brought his tota
earnings close UP to $4,000 per annum.
He said he really was employed by
Smith & Shipper of New York, firm
which acts as agents for the refining
company. He thought that the refiners
| paid $4,000 of his salary and the agents
| the remainder. Senator Cummins, who
conducted his cross examination, brought
| out that Lowry is connected with the
| committee of wholesale grocers." which
| has figured largely in the fight for free
sugar. or a reduction in duty on thai
| article.
Il have never received any money fol
any tariff work at ALL said Lowry
| The witness said he couldn't remember
| whether he went into the sugar fight al
| the suggestion of C. A. Spreckels, presi.
dent of the refining company, or whether
he suggested that Spreckels go into the
| fight He said the refiners were interest.
| ed in free sugar, or reduced duties, be.
cause 1t meant an increased consumption
of refined sugar. After many questions
by Senator Cummins, he added the re.
finers would get more business If the
duty was removed and beet sugar produc-
! (COutinued ON Page Tcn.)