The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-06
To Appoint Committee of
Seven to Make Vigor-
Gus Investigation
OPPORTUNITY TO
EXAMINE LETTERS
Under Blanket Clause in Resolution
Power Will Be Given to Probe
All Lobby Activity, Past
or Present

Washington, July 5.-The House wres
tied several hours today with propose
for lobby investigation on It's own ac
count and finally deferred vote unit
Wednesday, Although debate had beer
limited to one hour. 1t ragged througoui
the entire sitting and ignoring wa51ipgs
of Republican Leader Mann to "get dowr
to business" adjournment was forced on
lack of a quorum.
Apparently sentiment was almost unan-
imous for an investigation. resolution
from the rules committee proposed not
only an investigation by committee of
seven of Martin NJ. MulhaHs charges
that Congressman had been influenced
by the lobby of the National Association
Of Manufacturers, but a probe of the
whole 'lobbye situation. Before the
House adjourned all amendments accepted
had been to broaden. the scope The
House Investigation probably will be dis
tinct from thai of the Senate.
The most noteworthy feature was the
elimination of provision for tlle em-
ployment of csunsel by the House com
mittee. Representative Levy of New
York, opposed to the Investigation, sug.
gested the possibility that Samuel Inter.
meyer. cokrasel fpr the money trust
committe kigsft be contemplated Rep
resentatiVeN NAIenry OF Texas defended
UnteI2neyer and lauded his work, addine
that <hs had no idea who was eontem.
plated as counsel for the lobby inquiry
Finally the provision for counsel wa,
H.. NJ. 1T
renew the fight for employment of coun
sci.
An unsuccessful effort was made t
limit the time for report of the committe,
to September l, next, and an amendment
was still pending to specifically requir,
all hearings to be open.
Washington, July "a lobby investi
cation by the House to cover particularly
Martin Mulhalrs charges that the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers in,
fluenced present and former congressman
but broad enough to include all ALLEGED
lobby activities before Congress. was pro
yided today by a resolution from tn
House rules committee.
1t would direct a committee of sevel
members appointed by the speaker to IN
quire whether the National Association o
Manufa cturers or any other organization
or corporation or association or persol
does now maintain or has hitherto main
tanned a lobby for the purpose OF infu
encing legislation by Congress and ascer
tain and report TO what extent and il
what manner II at all legislation has beei
improperly affected or prevented by rea
son of the existence of said lobby, |
it be found to exist at all now or here
tofore.
Senators Reed and Walsh, after an ex
animation Of the mass of Mulhall letters
kilograms and expense accounts, sub
poenaed by the Senate lobby committee
have determined to introduce all of tn
papers as testimony before the committe
next week.
To Examine Letters
Every opportunity will be given tn
House to examine the letters. Under
blanket clause In the resolution the Hous
committee would have almost plenar
power to probe all lobbying activity pas
or present. Regarding the specific charge
of Mulhall the resolution provides tina
the committee shall determine whethe
the lobbyists of the National Associatio
of Manufacturers or the association itsel
did in fact commit error or In fact sup
pressed interstate commerce by public in
terrupton of wires, or committed error i
sympathetic reasons along states rights
and II SO, Wnom were lnt guilty pttSoii
and In what degree. The resolution fur
ther provided that the committee shal
also inquire whether money was used o
improper influence exercised by the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers o
any agent i'm anywise seeking to accomp
lish the defeat or election of any in
dividual candidate for Congress, whethe
members of Congress, have been employe
nv the association for the accomplish
ment of any improper purposes whateyes
and also whether improper influence wa
exerted by any person to secure the az
pointment or selection of the committee
of the House.
Chairman Henry of the rules commit
teee presented the resolution to TN
House. An understanding was reaehe
to allow an hour of general discussio
and opportunity for amendments OF
fered.
Reports Resolution
Representative Kelly of Pennsylvania
a progressive, reported the resolution
saying the question TO be known wa
"Whether this government instead {
being by and for the people" ha
changed into one "By and for disones
big business
Representative Levy of New Yor
made a vigorous speech opposing II
investigation.
I'VE have had enough Investigations
he said "They have caused unrest All
depression In the business world an
have caused the depreciation of a bi
lion dollars in securities like the pro
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