The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-12
HOUSE AUTHORIZES PROBE.
ALL PHASES OF LOBBY TO RE IN
VESTIGATED.
While Lower Body is Planning Probe.
Elder statesmen Delve into Affairs
OF Sugar, Wool and Cotton Inter-
estS-SOme Interesting InfOrma-
ton.

washington, july "a lobby in
vestigation Of extraordinary scope was
authorized by the house today TO
supplement the senate probe already
under way. With the adoption Of the
Henry investigation resolution. q spe-
cial committee Of seven members
was appointed by Speaker Clark, with
Representative Garrett Of Tennessee
as chairman. The committee will
meet tomorrow to make plans for the
institution Of the probe.
While the house investigation was
prompted largely by the allegations
Of M. NJ. Mulhall regarding the leg
islative activities Of the National AS
sociation of Manufacturers, the reso-
luton as finally adopted so enlarged
the scope of the inquiry that all efforts
to control members of the house or
influence legislation by any person or
organization will be subject to the
inquisitOrial power of the committee
/
man Garrett, Representatives Cline or
Indiana, Russell of Missouri, Roden-
berry of Georgia, Democrats; Willis
of Ohio and Stafford Of Wisconsin.
Republicans, and Representative No
Ian of California, Progressive. Repre-
sentatives Cline, Willis and Stafford
are out of town, but probably will re-
turn soon. Chairman Garrett expects
to begin hearings on Monday.
The special senate committee today
continued its inquiry into the activi-
ties Of lobbyists concerned with the
sugar and wool schedules of the tariff
bill. The committee has not begun
its probe Of the Mulhall charges al
though all Of the correspondence and
documentary proof has been classified
and arranged for USE
Many Of the witnesses summoned in
the Mulhall charges already are in
Washington. Among them are several
former members Of congress and the
officers Of the National Association Of
Manufacturers. The latter have asked
Senator Overman to call about 40
j former and present members Of con-
gress, among them former Speaker
Cannon, former Senator Aldrich, for
mer Representative Watson of In
diana and others mentioned by Null
hall. Those witnesses undoubtedly
will be wanted by both the senate
and house committees. Printed cop
les Of the Mulhall correspondence
have been prepared for the house in
Quisitors The resolution adopted by
the house provides that all of the
hearings of the committee shall be
open to The public.
The fight against the resolution was
led by Representative Levy, who op-
posed particularly the reinsertion of
provision allowing the committee
to employ counsel. This was done by
a vote of 1O2 to 104.
In the debate Representative Nc
Dermott of Illinois made a state
ment denOuncing the use of his name
in the Mulhall letters
William Whitman Of Boston, former
president Of the National Association
of Wool Mar ufacturers, was on the
stand n part of the day before the
senate committee. Mr.. Whitman told
about his interest in tariff, beginning
| in 1873. He got only so far as the
Dingley bill in 1897, when the COM
mittee adjourned. Whitman said he
had been especially active at the
time the Dingley bill was before the
house ways and means committee.
Senator Reed tried to make him ad-
NIT that the duties he wanted appear
ed in the bill.
II never got what 1 wanted" in
sisted the witness.
Whitman said he enjoyed friendly
relations with Senators Aldrich, ALI
son and Piatt of Connecticut and with
Representatives Clifton and Brecken-
ridge of Arkansas.
He produced more than a hundred
letters and kilograms that passed be-
tween himself and s. y. ID. North in
1896 and 1897, when North was sec
retary of the association and also a
clerk for majority members of the
senate finance committee. Senator
Reed read many Of the letters into
the records. These showed North's
relations with Whitman while he was
working for members OF the finance
committee. Whitman promised To pro-
duce correspondence mentioning 9TH
er public men tomorrow. They may
be made public.
a. ID. Baldwin, an attorney of Cleve-
land, was the first witness today be
fore the senate lobby investigating
committee. He said he was interest