Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-30
HOUSE, TOO, MAY
PROBE MULHALL
LOBBY CHARGES
Representatives Named Are
Satisfied With Action by
Senate Alone.
UPPER HOUSE READY To
COVER TEN-YEAR PERIOD
Chairman overman's Process:
Dragnet Expected to Land
a Big Catch

WASHINGTON. June s0.--A seareh-
ing investigation of the so-calied
underground system" at the cap
itol, not only by the Senate lobby
committee, but by a select commits
tee Of the House also, promises to be
the first result Of the sensational
charges by Martin NJ. MulhaIl who
claims to have been the general field
lobbyists" for the National Associa-
ton Of Manufacturers.
Mulhall's startling allegations that
representatives. senator's and high
officials Of the government had been
reached or influenced" that the
lobby" conducted its operations from
room in the capitol, paid money to
employees there, took an active hand
in making up committees and went
out actively in the political CAM
paigns to defeat congressman who op-
posed legislation the lobby wanted.
have thrown congressional circles into
an uproar.
Congressman named in the Muihail
charges are issuing statements, some
of them denouncing the allegations as
malicious lies Speaker Clark last
night issued a statement confirming
the charge that the lobby" had
worked for his defeat. Many con-
gressmen mentioned, however. who
feel that they have been brought in
without any specific charges against
them. declare they will not be safis-
ned with the Senate lobby commit
tees investigation alone, but viii IN
sist on a select committee of the
House to sift the charges.
The Senate committee. however, fn-
tends to lose no time. A subpoena
already served upon MuIhall is to be
followed by others for the men named
in the published statements. Chair
man Overman believes that when his
process servers. get through they VIII
have spread a dragnet to bring in
material for an Investigation covering
the last ten years doings at the cap
itol at least If there Is any doubt Of
the authority of the Senate comnit-
tee 10 investigate that far Chairman
Overman intends TO have the Senate
extend its powers.
MulhalI's sensational Statements
were almost the sole topic of discus
sion in official circles today.
President Wilson discussed the
Mulhall charges briefly today with
said he believed the lobby on tariff
legislation had ceased to -embarrsss
anybody but itself"
When the President made his first
declaration that "a numerous and
insidious lobby was operating Il
Washington he had no idea that sue
charges as made by Mulhan would b
brought out, but he added he wa
in favor of investigating all charged
and had no doubt the Senate cor
mittee would have a free hand.
1 The President told his callers e
accusations in the Mulhall statement
had been called to his attention Just
| before their publication. 1t was
learned today that Senator Over
mans attention had been also called
to a portion of the charges.
1 Chairman Overman called his COM
mittee together for a short executive
conference early today, and at its
conclusion announced that full IN
vestigation of the Mulhall charges
had been agreed upon.
I'VE will go to the bottom of the
| charges" he said, and while | have
no doubt the committee has the au-
thority, if it hasn't, we win have its
authority extended.
| It was decided that no meeting Of
the committee viii be held until July
s. Charges by Chairman Lovett, Of
/ the Union Pacific board, that certain
men in New York had been imperson-
ating congressman, and in which the
names of Edward Lauterbach and
David Lamar were brought in, viii
be first taken up and the Mulhan
| charges will follow. =
| Representative Sherley stated ttrJ
day that he proposed to ask the
House on Wednesday 10 authorize an
4 investigation of its own and would
bring up the question as a matter
of the highest privilege affecting the
membership of the House
Chairman Henry, of the rules COM
uiittee. declared that any resolution
for investigation of the Mulha1
charges referred to his COMMITTEES un-
doubtedlv would be acted upon inn
mediately He said he favored an
investigation