The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-06-25
WARNED, SAYS
TO HELP BICEL0W
Senator Testifies He Was Told
to Confirm BigeIow.
ADVISED ITO GET IN RIGHT

Sensenich Declares He Was Warned
He Would Get No Favors From
Tener Unless He Voted For Highway
Commissioner.
Harrisburg, Pa, June Ex-senator
Sensenich, of Westmoreland county,
informed the house committee which
is probing the alleged lobby on Capitol
Hill, that he was warned" by Walter
Gather, private secretary to Cover
nor Tener, that unless he voted for
the confirmation of E. M. Bigelow as
state highway commissioner he would
get no appointments or other favors
from he administration.
The senator from Westmoreland
cited as another instance of undue in
fluence" a promise made to him by
the head of the Jeanette Brewing
company, Westmoreland," that if he
voted for the Kline liquor bill the
brewing interests would see that he
got back to the senate. THAT was all
that was said," observed Senator Sen
SculCu, lOI lCJOluCu ludl hdu pOCh
elected. without the brewers help and
would vote against the Kline bill"
Senator Sensenich's testimony is the
most direct confirmation" thus far
adduced of the allegation that the ad-
ministration has brought pressure to
bear on recalcitrant members of the
senate and house. 81 was told that l
in ;nIf dac1arna fh O
Westmoreland senator. ''The advice
to me to get in right was made by
members of the administration and by
senator's
walter Gather, before the conf1r-
nation of Bigelow, came to me at the
rail of the senate and asked me if l
intended to vote for the highway COM
missioner. l informed him that l did
not think would. It was then that he
advised me to get in right. Gather
asked me for my reasons for opposing
Bigelow I replied that l was not sat
isfied with the way money had been
spent on the Philadelphia and Pitts
burgh pike in Westmoreland county"
1t was at this juncture, according to
the senator, that Gather gave him the
"tip that he need not expect favors
of the administration" Witness testi-
fled that when man named Morris
backed by him for secretary of the
board of mine examiners was appoint
ed by the governor, Gather declared
that it was not due to his (Sense
nich's Sd influence.
+,
Bradford county, declared that John
C. Digit in charge of the Finn pub
licity bureau, asked him to introduce
a resolution similar to the one which
was put in by Representative Bald
win, of Beaver county, which led up
to the present investigation now under
way.
Stone said: "Dight spoke to me two
weeks ago regarding the matter.
said that l was too busy with the
Judge Brumm case, and would have
nothing to do with the matter unless
I was furnished with evidence that
satisfied me that corruption existed
That was the last I heard of the mat
ter until the Baldwin resolution was
introduced" Stone suggested that he
was of the belief that the lobby probe
was inspired by a like investigation
begun in Washington.
A dozen members of the house were
heard, all declaring that they did not
know of any improper methods en-
ployed, and that they had not been
threatened or coerced by any one con-
nected with the state government.
Representative J. B. Martin, of Dau-
phin, said that he had received anony-
nous letters, threatening him for his
stand on liquor legislation, and Mr..
Runk, of Franklin, said DR.. Kalbfus,
secretary of the State Game associa-
ton, had sent articles attacking him
on his stand on the hunters license to
a newspaper in Chambersburg.
Rev. H. NJ. Chalfant, of the Anti
Saloon league, was accused of making
publications against Representative c.
G. Goss because of a certain attitude
on legislation. Mr.. Chalfant said he
did not consider the publication
threat, but Mr.. Goss testified that he
so considered it.
A number of witnesses testified to
having been in the refreshment room
and taking drinks.