The Washington times., 1913-08-31
N'DERhOTT INQUIRY
PRACT|CALLYAT END
Relative of Congressman to
Take Stand tuesday 10 Tell
of Alleged Contributions.

After devotinG two weeks 10 an M
quiry into Cong Assman McDermotts
alleged alliance with lobbyists, the House
lobby investigating committee win take
up Tuesday some other phase of its
ihquisition. Chairman Garrett said to-
day the "McDermott end of the in
vestigation was practically concluded,
although he may hear one or two addi-
ticnal witnesses acquainted with the
Illinois Congressman.
Mr., Garrett mas in prospect for Tues
day the testimony of John McDermott,
Of Illinois, a distant relative of Con-
gresham McDermott. and an official in
q brewers association. Colonel Null
hall and /. H. McMichael have quoted
the Congressman as saying that he was
to get s., coo from his namesake for cam
paign expenses, and the committee
wants John McDermott's version Of the
affair. Congressman McDermott en-
phatically denies the allegations of Null
hall and McMichael, whom he accuses
Of a frame up"
p. J. Ryan, local labor leader, may
also be heard by the lobby committee
following the testimony of George D.
Horning that Ryan aided the pawn
brokers in their fight against the loan
shark" bill
When the House committee adjourned
late yesterday Attorney Easby-Smith,
representing Congressman McDermott.
was Informed that substantially all
testimony was in concerning his client
Mr.. Easby-Smith wifi go abroad next
Saturday. and will not make his argu-
ment before the committee for several
weeks. That the Illinois Congressman
Will be given a clean bill of health is
the expectation of his counsel. E..
Testimony Conflicting.
The testimony late yesterday was of
conflicting character regarding the So
called secret room" in the Capitol
basement, which Colonel Mulhall says
McDermott turned over to him. The
committee had a hard job attempting
to reconcile the testimony.
Jerry South, Chief Clerk OF the
House, testified McDermott had applied
to him for keys to room No. g, the So
called secret room which has figui ed
IN the testimony. Mr.. South said he
wouldn't furnish McDermott the keys
until he had talked with Chairman
Rothermel, of the committee controll-
Rothermel. according to ffr. South,
said il was all right to give Mr.. Nc
Dermott the keys and he ordered the
House locksnith to supply the Illinois
member.
Later, testified Mr.. South, he ascer-
access to an adjoining room, No. z,
occupied during the early part of 1911
hy the Rev. Henry N. C1udep, House
chapiain.
there were thines around the room that
didn't go well with a Preacher"
Could Not See.
But Mr.. Couden il blind; how could
he see what Vas in the room?'
IT guess he could smell all right"
said Mr.. SoutlL who subsequently tes-
tilted he found number of empty bot
ties in the room
After the Chaplain turned in his
KEYS" continued Mr.. South, he came
hack and asked ire to get his Bible,
which he had left in the room. 1 went
for il, but there wasn't any Bible In
lie room then" Committeeman and
spectators laughed.
Mr.. Couden said the minister's room
was later used by Clyde Tavenner. who
xas getting out campaign literature.
ard that Chairman Lloyd, Of the Con-
gresSional Commttt &c, suggested II De
Inrnsd over TO him. McDermott, he
said, mad a key to this room as well As
No. g adjoining.
Complicating matters, Mr.. Rothermel
took the stand and said he didn't re-
member having any conversation with
the chief clerk of the House. The Penn
syIvanIa member said he had given Mr..
McDermott two keys to No. g and one
key to No. "a, both of which belong to
the committee headed by Mr.. Rother-
mel.
Must Be Mistaken.
"Mr. South must pc mistaken" said
Mr. Rothermel. II went to the lock-
smith and had the keys made. Our
committee didn't have any use for the
rooms, and gave Mr.. McDermott, who
was on my committee, the surplus
keys"
Mr.. McDermott then took the stand
and fatty contradicted the testimony of
Chief Clerk South. He said he had
never mentioned the subject of keyI to
that official, and that he had no keys
made for the room. Mr.. McDermott
Mulhsu had a key IL evidently was
slipped to him by /. H. McMichael
while McDermott was out of Washing
ton.
Attorney Easily Smith, representing
Mr. McDermott- said hat Mr.. Trimble.
clerk of the House, ard Mr.. South, chief
clerk, had both had "run-ins" recently
with Mr.. McDermott, and that the tes-
timony OF Mr.. South was prejudiced.
Mr.. South denied this. but said thet
'McDermott recently quit speaking to