Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-27

Washington, June 26.-Robert Scott
LoVett, chairman Of :he board of di-
rectors of the Union Pacific Railroad
| Co, told the Senate Lobby" inves-
| tigating committee. Wednesday. that a
long continued and determined effort
had been made to have Edward Lau-
ttrpach, a New York lawyer. retained
by his company ITO grease the
whocls" in Washington and prevent
urflcasant agitation in Congress
against the dissolution plan of the
Union Paifc- Southern Pacific systems
ordered by the department of justice.
Judge Lovett made no charge that
|any corrupt methods had been used
To secure the employment of LATTER
bach. He did swear, however, that
some one purporting TO be Congress
man Riordan of New York, over the
telephone, had urged the retention of
the New Yorker, and had suggested
the likelihood of difficulty in Congress
which might be averted by his en-
ployment as counsel. A similar tele-
phone converse ton had occurred. he
said, between man also representing
himself as Mr. Riordan and Maxwell
Everts. counsel for the Southern Paci-
fic.
Otto H. Kahn of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
a New York banking house interested
IN Union Pacific. the witness said, had
several conversations with Mr.. Lau-
terbach personally and the lawyer had
referred to what might be expected
from the Radical element" in Con-
gress in relation to the dissolution
plan of the two roads.
I4h f@I 10 mo
Judge Lovett. that Mr.. Lauterbach
had said in substance that motion
was about TO be made. I think in the
House Of Representatives, To oppose
this proposed dissolution. or the dispo-
sition of the stock of the Southern Pa
eific which is now held by the Union
Pacific, and that it probably would in
volve re-opening of the Money Trust
inquiry. I think, and some other mat
ter that had been more or less dis
cussed He said that the radical par
ty, as he called them, or the radical
faction We're about to commence these
Efforts and that they were going to
make a point about common banking
control-he mentioned some of the con-
yressmen who would lead in this and
indicated that he might be very helpful
were available if desired.
Did lie state what congressman they
veree' asked Chairman Overman.
Congressman Henry of Texas was
mentioned" said the witness, ''as the
leader of the radical faction as he call
ed it. I should like to- state in that con-
nection, however, that l have known
Mr.. Henry for great many years and
l never believed for a moment that
there was any connection between this
gentleman and Congressman Henry.
Mr.. I,oyett said he made no effort to
determine whether it was actually
Congressman Riordan who had teie-
phoned to him and TO Mr.. Evarts. He
lad not doubted. he said, until he
learned recently, that many Wall
Street financial men had been repeat
adly called up by men VINO falsely rep
resented themselves to be congressman.
II have now very serious doubts
that il was Congressman Riordan who
talked with me over the telephone
he added.
Questioned by the committee MT.
Iovett said Lewis Cass Ledyard. an
other New York attorney, had pee"
called UP by man 'purporting 10 ne
a congressman, but that Mr.. Ledyafu
investigated and found that ne was
not. The impersonator, he SAID, was
Seeking to have some other pefaoh
employed"
II have heard of a great many peo-
ME in wall Street being called up by
person purporting to be Congress-
man Riordan," Mr.. Lovett continued.
u am by no means the only one.
Judge Lovett said he ignored the
efforts to have Laugerbach employed
until he became convinced that a con-
spiracy had been formed that might
succeed in holding up the Union "a
cific- Southern Pacific dissolution plans
until after July /. The dissolution
plan must be arranged before that date,
he added to avoid receivership Oh
the stock Of the Southern Pacific,
which the Union Pacific now owns