The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-06-07
WILSON'S NAME
IN LOBBY PROBE
Senator Says His Activity IS
"ljndue Influence"
OLIVER BALKS At QUERIES
Pennsylvania Senator Tells OF His
Holdings In Steel, But Declines &c
Speak of Other investments.

Holdings In Steel, But Declines te
Speak of Other investments.
Washington, June An uneXpecteo
turn was given the senate's lobby III
vestigation, when Senator Townsend
of Michigan, Republican, declared On
the stand that the influence Welded by
President Wilson and by the demo
cratic secret caucus, upon the making
of the tariff bill, constituted the near
est approach to undue influence upon
members of congress that the lnVestll
eating committee would be able &c.
find.
Senator Townsend criticised ths
committee for not having asked mem
bers of the senate whether the presl
dent had sought to influence them, and.
declared that even though the presi
dent had not intended it, his recent
denunciation OF 'lobbies' working IN
support of changes in the tariff, wonle,
force certain senators to vote agalnaf
amendments they knew to be just.
ssWho are those senators?" demand
ed Senator Reed.
Il don't care to name anyone, re
turned Townsend
The two Democratic members OF the
committee present, Senators Reed ano
Walsh, Indignantly resented any lhti
nation that President Wilson had used
patronage or threats to force any one
to support free sugar or free Wools Of
to support the bill as a whole. Senator
Townsend insisted the committee rae
not asked any senator thus far whefhs
er President Wilson had tried to iTfials
ence him.
Il move" interrupted Senator
Walsh, that in view of the serious
statements made touching the execf
tive, that any senator who has already
testified may be recalled and interros
gated in reference thereto
81 am for that" said Senator Net
son, and members of the comnlittee
agreed.
Dragging President Wilson's tarifi
activities into the investigation some
what intentified feeling within ths
committee, and it is expected that 4
will make more searching the investt
cations still to be carried on.
Senator Weeks, of Massachusetts.
also a Republican, following Senator
Townsend on the stand, expressed fae
opinion that executives have had
more influence on bills than all the
persons who have come to Washington
put together"
Df
| told the probers that he was the owner
of 1000 shares of preferred stock {n
the United States Steel corpofationi
| but. he did not expect the tarfsf IN q lsz
way -to-rffe its value.
t--sssI alt1avs
of the tariff is concerned, the United
States Steel corporation is very much
less subject to menace than the small
manufacturers would be to change in
rates.
In addition to the steel stock, Mr..
Oliver said he had an investment of
$1,500,000 in two Pittsburgh newspa-
pers and ZOO preferred shares and
about fifty common shares in the Pitts.
burgh Coal company, whose product
might be affected by the tariff.
81 never sought to influence any
senator in regard to the tariff on any
of the articles in which l am concern.
ed," said he, nor has any one sought
to influence me improperly"
Persons who had called on him in
cluded: w. L. Claus, w. S. Strass
burger, A. F. Gaffney, John Pitcairn,
Auth
John H. Penny, Colin Livingstone and
w. l.. Kann.
Oliver declined to tell of his invest
ments in copper or in other lines that
he said were not affected by the tariff
or other legislation before congress.
'I am perfectly willing to giye the
public an inventory of everything
own," he said, "but do not think the
purpose of this investigation is to OBJ
tain an inventory of every senator's
property"
Oliver said he knew of no steel lob.
by and no Representatives of the steel
interests maintained in Washington tc
look after the tariff or other questions
Senator Dupont, of Delaware, said
he owned several farms, 1000 shares
in the Pennsylvania Steel company
1000 shares in the National Biscuit
company and no powder stock.
when | came to the senate | had
a small amount of stock in the Dupont
Powder company, but l disposed OF
that long ago." said he. q have never
felt it proper, however, for ME to take
part in any debates in the senate in
volving powder questions, or to tall
with senators about the subject"
Senator Dupont said that, though he
was a member of the senate military
committee, the committee had ac, e(
without his cooperation upon legisla