The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-08-30
Wants to Tell Congress How
Railroads Tried to Beat
Antitrust Law.
MAKES OFFER TO OvERMAN
He Hasn't Been Arrested Yet,
Although Indicted 43
Days Ago.

Morgan 4 Co. and other Wall Street
firms, but who never has been arrested,
has stepped once more into the limelisht
in Washington by addressing letter to
Senator Lee Overman Of North Carolina,
chairman Of the lobby investigating COM
mittee.
Mr.. Lamar insists that ne has an ar
ray OF facts regarding the present activ-
tiles OF a railroad lobby in Washington
He charges that this is the continuance
Of a similar railway lobby which in 1909
was exceedingly active In an effort TO Sc
cure the adoption and passage by the
Senate Of certain amendments to the COM
merce court railroad bill.
Evidently Mr.. Lamar got his dates
mixed. as the commerce court railroad
bill did not come before the Senate until
1910. Mr.. l.amar's letter to Senator
Overman is as follows
DEAR SIR: l am prepared to furnish
the investigating committee OF which you
are chairman. with evidence proving the
existence of lobby supported by the
leading railroad corporations Of the coun-
try for the purpose OF controlling the
enactment Of legislation In the Senate.
HIT at Anti.Trust Law.
MY testimony will show that in 1909
this lobby was very active in an effort
TO secure the adoption and passage in the
Senate of the commerce court railroad
bill in n form which would repeal the
Sherman antitrust act and. furthermore.
give to these railroad corporations the
lawful right to consolidate or merge two
or more competing lines OF railroads : and
that this lobby thus supported continues
In existence in Washington up to the
present time. engaged in an organized
eRort to accomplish the very same pur-
pose which would have been efYectuated
had the lobby been successful in pro-
curing In 1903 the enactment OF the leg.
islation ! have referred to. vixi: Nuiiifi-
cation Of the Sherman anti-tr"st art and
the right to exercise a single control Of
competing railroad companies.
AS my testimony would make neccs.
sary the immediate issuance OF process
to obtain the attendance AS with. sses OF
number ofsother persons IL is most
desirable In order to eueo; the service
OF such process for the committee to hear
me at an early date.
II am staying for the present at the
, Continental Hotel IN Washington. and
. thanking you in advance for the courtesy
OF a reply. l remain, respectfully
DAVID LAMAR"
When seen By THE Sun correspondent
tonight Senator Overman said:
Probera VIII Hear HIN.
| II have not vet received David Lamar S
letter. but as he apparently has furnished
the press with copies of II ] do not be.
| lleve ! am transgl essing the courtesies
in saying that II Mr.. Lamar thinks he
has some facts tending to prove the exist
ence OF a strong railway lobby 10
Washington the committee will be very
! glad indeed to hear from him. Mr.
Lamar suggests that he be heard at an
early date and l see no reason why he
should not be given the opportunity al
least to outline what he hopes to pro
| duce."
| Senator Overman accepted with n laugh
| the suggestion that Mr.. l.amar's previou.
experiences and exposure before the
| Senate lobby Investigators might not per
| haps predispOse the committee in favor
| Of careful review Of his allegations
But Senator Overman feels that u Lamar
is able to suggest names of individual,
representing the railway companies a.
legislative agents in Washington and t,
| suggest members Of the House and Senat,
who have been approached on behalf o
the railway companies the present com
mittee, empowered so broadly by tn,
original Cummins resolution, would dt
well to look into the matter.
! Lamar busy at Capital.
Lamar has been in Washington almos
| continuously since his appearance he
fore the Senate lobby committee late II
June. He has made the Continental Hote
his headquarters and has had daily con
ferences with his two associates. Henr,
Il. Martin secretary Of the so-callet
Antitrust League. and Herman Schultei
counsel for that organization.
The rumOr has been prevalent in Wash
ington that Lamar's continued stay II
this city has been based upon his fea
Of prosecution under the New York indict
ment.
L.amar's latest move Is regarded her
as an obvious attempt to make thing
unpleasant for some OF the men whom
he holds responsible for the smirchin,
Of his name and that of Edward Lauter
bach before the lobby committee. 1t I
believed here that Lamar intends to US
his appearance before the lobby com
mittee AS means Of further attacl
on the Union Pacific officials and othe
prominent railway men.
| within the last few days there ha
been a renewal In Congress Of the agi
taton for a Congressional inquiry int
the dissolution of the Union Pacific South
ern Pacific merger. Representative Kin
del of Colorado has introduced a rssolu
ton into the House calling for such a
investigation and questioning the choic
of Louis Krauthoff, an attorney Of Ne,
York city, AZ commissioner OF the Cir
cult Court to see that the letter an
spirit of the antitrust law were adhere
, to by the railroad company In It's disso
luton.
The Kindel resolution cOntended tina
the selection OF KrauthOn was unsuita
bic by reason Of the fact that he ha
served III counsel for Kuhn, Loeb l. Co.
.Attorncy-General Mclteynolds. who