Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-14
OXNARD'S BIG BILL
IN SUGARS BEHALF
Has Spent $50, 900 a Year for
Past % Years, He Tells
Lobby Probers.
"SUGAR AT A GLANCE"
PROMISES TO BE PUZZLE
Mystery in Publication of Docu-
ment-President Wilson Quoted as
Reassuring Beet Men.

Measuring Beet men.
Henry T. Oxnard, vice president of the
American Beet Sugar Company, and
multi-millionaire, testified today before
the Senate lobby committee that he had
spent In Washington on an average
$4,000 year for the last twenty three
years in behalf of the beet sugar indus
try. At first he estimated his expendi-
ture at 10000 q year.
at may be twice that" added Mr.. Ok
nard, land / would not be a bit sur
priSed if it was"
He declared not a cent had been spent
Illegally. Each year, when he was at
his home in Washington, he declared,
he came to the Capitol to watch legisla
ton and see his friends among the SEN
ators.
Senator Reed Demands Names.
Senator Reed demanded that the wit
ness give the names Of senator's who
were his friends
Most all the senator's" replied Mr.
Oxnard.
You need not include me in that list"
declared Senator Reed.
Y never thought Of doing So
Give the names"
We'll l call Senator Overman one of
my friends, and Senator Cummins there
and do not know so much about
Senator Overman asked Mr. OXnard IL
he had ever called upon him at his
Office or house, or If the senator had
ever attended any of Mr.. Oxnard's en-
tertainments.
MI. Oxnard replied in the negative.
The committee adjourned until Mon
day without finishing Mr.. Oxnard's ex-
animation.
Represents Hill System.
John H. Carroll of St Louis, attorney
for the Hill system Of railroads, was
tho first witness today. His only tariff
activity, he said. was the filing of a
brief for the Great Northern and Bur-
lington roads, dealing with creosote
oil.
II want to say that the so-called
ington trying to influence legislation"
said he. Mr.. Carroll added that James
j. Hill and possibly other officials OF
the Hill roads had been in Washing
ton recently. but that they did not
come in connection with Legislation.
Mystery as to Document.
testified about the orders for printing
Sugar at Glance" an anti-free sugar
argument prepared by Truman G. Pal
mer, representing beet sugar interests
and circulated free in the mails by hum
dreds Of thousands OF copies under the
franking privilege of Senator Lodge. The
committee has developed testimony on
whether Palmer was permitted to change
the document after the Senate had or
dered 1t printed. Void told of the pro-
cedure OF printing a public document,
and turning to Senator Overman referred
to a previous conversation about the in
cident and added:
II told you then somebody had been
monkeying with orders here and I still
Void couldn't throw much light on the
situation and other Senate employees may
be called.
Clash at Committee Table.
When F. r. Hathaway of the Michigan
Sugar Company took the stand hostilities
broke out again between Senator Reed
and Senator Nelson. Reed insisted on
having the witness answer in one way
and the witness persisted in answering
another. Chairman Overman sided with
Senator Reed and Senator Nelson sided
with the witness. The Minnesota senator
finally quit his place at the committee
table and took a seat with the audience.
Senator Nelson returned to the table
after Reed ended his examination and
took Hathaway in hand.
Quotes President Wilson.
Hathaway read several letters that
passed between himself and w. II. Wal
lace and H. A. Douglas explaining what
they understood the position Of Presi-
1. 49,
election.
douglas wrote Hathaway that after d
meeting In the Detroit armory September
70. 1917, he had seen Mr.. Wilson, and
had been assured that the beet sugar
interests need have no fear.
You need not be one bit afraid Of me,
sir" Douglas quoted the President as
saying.
In the letter to Wallace about the con-
versation Douglas added after the quota
ton:
take any steps that will annihilate or
retard a legitimate industry as ours is.
He impressed me with his earnestness
in this"
May Broaden Inquiry's Scope.
In an executive session last night 1t
was decided by the investigating COM
mittee to submit to the Senate the
question of broadening the scope Of the
inquiry. If the Senate agrees. lobbying
as a fine art, with all its various rami-
fications, will be investigated by the
special committee. 1t Is believed that
the time limit OF twenty days imposed
upon the committee will be extended.
chairman Overman said at the con-
cluslon Of the meeting that 1t was i'm
possible to say how long the tnvestiga-
ton might take If the Senate grants
an extension of time.
During the session yesterday after
noon Truman G. Palmer. representative
Of the United States sugar beet industry.
declared that plate matter campaign
much similar to the one conducted in
the new schedule by him had accom-
panied the campaigns of the President
and Representative Underwood before
the Baltimore convention.
Senator CumminS crosS-examined Mr.
Palmer at length about details of his
NEWSPAPER campaign, and developed that
to the best knowledge of the witness
many Of the big interests of the country
were engaged In similar efforts to mold
the opinion Of the country.
On Stand Several Hours.
Mr.. Palmer had been on the stand for
several hours when Senator Cummins
led him into discussion Of what he
knew Of other publicity campaigns like
his own.
Il understand the same concern that
We used, the American Press Association.
was Used by both Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Underwood In their nominating CAM
gaigns, In the same way" said the wit