Arizona republican., 1913-06-27
Pennsylvania Congressman Tells of Efforts Made to Create Impression That High Legislators Were Approachable
IS
 ON THE STAND
Denies He Ever Made the Claim He Had Unusual Influence With Any of the Members of United States Congress
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH


 WASHINGTON, June 26.-Thc story Of an effort to sell a gold brick to Wall Street and how il was foiled Was told in part to the senate lobby investigation committee tonight at one of the most sensation producing sessions held in it's stormy career.
 II was a tale of how influence can be eXertcd in the seats of the mighty n Washington to prevent unfaVorable investigations into the dOingS of the street, of now lawsuits that financial interests in New York did not like were to be prevented and how the gold brick seller generally protected the interests of the clients he sought in the political game at the capital
 Representative \. NJ. Mitchell Pal mer, of Pennsylvania, one of the rominent democrats of the house mentioned for secretary of war in the ure-inauguration days and a close friend of the president told the story and Edward Lauterbach. New York lawyer and Representative Daniel J. RiorGan. of New York gave the committee some light on the de- tails
 According to Palmer Louis cass LedEard, another New York lawyer. WdS the man Who was largely in-
  name of the man Who proposed io ao 7f 5he7- things in N-ashireron W-sls not given to the committee ai- thou2a Palmer acknowledged inc had strong suspicious of his identity Palmer told the committee thut re- presentations of influence in Wash ingtoE had gone so far as 10 bring in the name of the speaker. the ma joritH leader Of the house and at least two other prominent members whose names he did not give Palmer startled the senate lobby in- Vestigation tonight by testifying that efforts had been made by some per son whose name he did not give to create an impression in the high financia! circles of New York that he and Speaker Clark, Majority Lead er Underwood and other prominent democrats could be influenced in leg i islative matters in way that would please these interests.
 Palmer sWore that Lewis Cass Dedyard, New York attorney. told him of repeated telephone conyersa- tions with a man purporting to be Representative Palmer of PennsyI- vania." who said he possessed the confidence of leading democratic leg : islators After many telephone calls. Palmer said Ledyard met Edward Lauterbach another New York attor- , ney. who was supposed to represent the mysterious user of the telephone. | T-auterhach. he said, spoke Of this persons influence with high officials in Washington and named several.
 Lauterbach later took the stand and made a statement denying he ever claimed to have influence with con ! greSSmen.
 1 Lauterbach exrl dned his conversa- i tions with Mn Ledyard by saying that he talked with him about the alleged interest of Congressman Rior- dan in his employment by the Union Pacific
 Palmer took the stand on his own request.
 In view of the turn of your in yestigation by reason of Judge Lo- vett's testimony yesterday" he said T felt it my duty to acquaint you with an experience of my own of that kind so that you might have the benefit of it if you cared to pursue ] this branch of the investigation deeply.
 Early in February last while was at my home in Pennsylvania, was called to the telephone to an swer what my clerks said was a call ! from New York The voice at the other end of the wire said, This is MT. Ledyard'
 He spelled the name and said Lewis Cass Ledyard, you ought to know me for you have been talking to me over the telephone
 i T said you are very much mistaken ! Nr. Ledyard I have never seen you, have never spoken to you directly over the telephone, or had any com lmunication with you. You will have to explain yourself a little further He then went on to say if that is true it is very strange and a re markable conspiracy is afoot and i then went on to tell me what was to me q very remarkable story. He said he had been called to the tele- phone d short time before by gen l tIeman who after some hesitation about giving his name said he was Representative Palmer of Pennsyi- ! vania This person told Mir Led ward he was in a position by reason of his membership in the house and his relation with prominent members 1 (Continued on Page Five