Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-02
Inquiry by Judiciary Com
mittee is Begun at
Washington.
WILSON TAKING A HAND
Conference With President Held
Before Hearing Starts
To Be Searching.

Washington, D. c., June 2-The f1rss
senators testifying today in the SEN
ate investigation of the lobby working |
against the tariff bill declared they |
knew of no improper influences being !
exerted, no use of money and had not !
themselves attempted to improperly !
influence any other senators. All ad- |
mitted having talked to manufacturers |
interested in the tariff, of having
heard arguments and protests, but all
considered such proceedings strictly
legitimate and none considered the
men to whom they talked lobbyists"
1t has been estimated hundreds of
men interested in manufactures or
ether business affected by the tarln
have been IN Washington the last few
weeks, and many senators claim 1t
would be impossible TO remember all
of the persons who have called upon
them to make an appeal for changes.
A schedule has been prepared limit
ing the questioning of each senator to
Is minutes and providing for sessions
of the committee until IL each night
Before the committee met, Over.
man and Reed went to the Wnrte
house and had a long conversation
with the president. Both declined to
| talk of the visit, but the president
tCld inquirers he had made sugges-
tions which would be developed in the
course of the inquiry.
BACON OBJECTS fO-CAMERA.
fsA Before the hearing opened some
newspaper photographers ordered the
committee members around in a busi-
ness-like way while a picture was
taken. Bacon and Ashurst moved
aside. Il don't care to get into sucn
a picture" said Bacon.
The committee made the first effort
to secure a list of socal.ed lobbyists
or persons who talked with senators"
about the tariff bill. Ashurst said he
did not keep a record of those who
talked with him, but was prepared to
give the names of all he could remem-
| Der. The first was William Kettner
of California, who asked him to find
out whether there would be any fur
ther reduction of the tariff on lemons
and fruits. The senator asked Chair
man Simmons of the finance commit
tee and the latter said he thought the
Underwood rates would stand.
NOTHING IMPROPER SAID.
But l told him." said Ashurst, 81
wanted it distinctly understood in ask
ing the question | was not urging that
the tariff would not be reduced"
A Mr.. Mcclure, representing west
ern men, and a Mr.. Tomlinson, repre-
senting cattlemen, Ashurst said, call
ed on him to show that the sheep and
, cattle business would be hurt by the
bill.
Nothing improper was said to me
, by these men and what they did every
American citizen has right to do
to talk to their senator's about their
business AFFAIRS" said he. Not one, he
declared, had tried to improperly in
fluence his action.
DEFINES A LOBBYIST.
t Ashurt said he considered any man
! or woman a lobbyist" who button.
holed senators or members of congress
! and urged them to vote for certain
| measures or suffer reprisals in cleo
/ tons"
Il do not consider man a lobbyist
who files Legitimate arguments with
/ congress about matters in which he is
r interested said the senator.
: sMooTHEsT EVER.
Ashurst said he did believe, how
! ever, that man named McMurray'
had been attempting to influence i'm
properly the action of senators in re
: spect to preventing cancellation oi
! certain contracts McMurray held with
7 the Cherokee Indians for the sale oi
) land whereby he received s3,500.0 900.
He is the smoothest lobbyist have
I ever SEEN" added the senator. "He
: could carry bundle of eels upstairs
without dropping a single one"
/ Bacon followed Ashurt. He told the
committee he owned small farm in
Georgia on which some articles might
be raised that were affected by the
: tariff. A sewer pipe factory. stree,
T railway, gas company and electric com
: pany were other Industries in which
: Bacon said he was interested. 81 don't
: believe any Of them will be affected By
this legislation. want no duty OF
sewer pipe. / have not listened 10 a
{ single man or heard a single argu
I ment on this tariff bill Bacon contin
: .ued. Il have received a great many
: letters. / have seen less effor: TO IN
fuence legislation in this bill than il
iDrevious ones 1t does not compare