The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-06-03
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

washington, June 2.-Search for a
tariff lobby such as President Wilson
had declared was operating in Wash
fngton began today with the senate
judiciary subcommittee holding open
hearings.
Every senator was prepared to an
swer series Of eleven questions which
constituted a "grilling'' to determine
whether he has any personal interest
in the tariff or other legislation, and to
find out what persons have approached
him in the effort to influence his ac-
ton on schedules of the tariff bill.
1t has been estimated that hundreds
of men interested in manufacturing or
other business affected by the tariff
have been in Washington during the
last few weeks, and many senators
claim it would be impossible to re-
member all the persons who have
called upon them to make appeals for
changes.
The first senators to testify today at
the senate's investigation declared they
knew of no improper influence being
exerted; no use of money and had not
themselves attempted to Improperly
influence any other senators. All ad
nitted having talked with manufac-
tlirssta Interested in the tariff having
heard argumentsT and prcfeSts, but all
considered such proceedings strictly
men with whom they talked as lob
byists."
Senator Ashurst said, however, that
a man named "McMurray" had been
attempting improperly to influence
senator's against the movement to can
eel certain Indian contracts by which
McMurray is said to stand to receive
SO, 500,0 900. Senator Borah referred also
to "the man Senator Ashurst men
toned"
Just before the committe began TAX
ing testimony, Chairman Overman and
Senator Reed conferred with President
Wilson. 1t was said the president
would not be called before the COM
mittee, but would transmit any infor-
nation he might have on the subject
of a lobby"
BRisToW CALLS NAMES.
Senator Bristow gave a list of nearly
q dozen men who called on him.
1T is my duty to hear all views and
get all the information / can said he.
F. c. Lowry, of New York, "an en-
ploye of the Federal Sugar Company"
saw him in favor of free sugar. H. N
Oxard, Of New York, saw him in favor
of tariff on sugar. A. D. Baldwin,
Honolulu; Jules Godchaux and e. r,
Dickinson, Louisiana, also discussed
sugar. H w. Mcclure, Salt Lake City,
came to his Office in regard to wool.
Henry Lasson, a Wichita miller, asked
for an equalization of the wheat and
-four rates; w. D. Baird, of Detroit,
another caller, was an expert builder
OF Deet sugar factories, an0 -. III. COW
an, Fort Worth, Texas. made the
usual argument against placing cattle
on the free list"
Senator Ashurst said he did believe,
however, that a man named McMur-
ray" had been attempting to inf1u
erce Improperly the action of senators
with respect to preventing the cancel
lation of certain contracts he (McMur-
ray) held with Cherokee Indians for
the sale Of land whereby he would re-
ceive s3,500.000.
SOME LOBBYIST.
He is the smoothest lobbyist / have
ever seen," added the senator. "He
could carry a bundle of eels upstairs
without dropping a single one"
Senator Ashurst said he considered
any man or woman a lobbyist who |
"buttonholed senators or members of
congress and urged them to vote for |
certain mea sures or suffer reprisa1s in |
the election
'T do not consider a man a lobbyist |
who files legitimate arguments with |
congress about matters in which he is |
the senator said.
Senator Bacon, who followed SEN !
ator Ashurst, said that "out of an |
abundance of caution" he wanted to |
tell the committee that he owned a |
small farm in Georgia on which some |
articles might be raised that were af- |
fected by the tariff. A sewer pipe fac |
tory, a street railway, a gas company |
and an electric company were other in |
dustries in which Senator Bacon said |
he had some interest.
Il don't believe any of them are af- |
fected by any of this legislation he
said. Il am sure 1 want no duty on
sewer pipe"
J. F. McMurray. an attorney of Nc |
Alester, Okla, and prominently identi-
fed with Indian legislation, has a con- i
tract with the Cherokee Indians for
the sale of s35,000, 900 worth of land |
for which he is to receive 10 per cent.
There is a movement in congress to
annul his contracts.
NO INFLUENCE TRIED.
Senator Bacon said he had not tried |
to influence members of the senate ex-
cept in a general way to urge a reduc-
ton Of the tariff on articles of general
use.